New President Deepens Club Connections

By Jake Ten Pas

Recently ushered in as MAC’s new President of the Board of Trustees, Andrew Randles grew up at the club and — as he shared in his first Saturday email in the role — is enjoying experiencing the club through his daughters’ eyes.

That’s not to say he doesn’t continue to find new aspects of MAC to love himself. Randles sat down for a Q&A about his new position, the journey to get there, and the road ahead, illustrating his continuing education in club value during the conversation.

Randles has worked as a finance professional in industries from public relations to truck manufacturing to his current role as Financial Planning and Analysis Manager for law firm Foster Garvey. Regardless of company, Randles says clear communication is the biggest constant in every environment. “If you don’t communicate well, there are natural information gaps. It’s human nature to try to fill in those gaps, but in the process, folks may be inferring something that is not true using the only information they have available. I am a big believer that if you’re able to communicate well, you can avoid 90-95% of disagreements.”

What else does Randles believe? Read on to get a sense of MAC’s new president!

Jake Ten Pas: Was becoming President of the Board of Trustees something to which you aspired?

Andrew Randles: Not really. Going back to why I even joined the committee system, it really begins with a personal passion for tennis. It’s funny; I’ve always played tennis, but realized when I did so at MAC, I would always end up playing with the same six people. This made me realize, “You know what? I really want to meet more people in this community.” That’s when I joined the Tennis Committee, and it snowballed from there. I chaired Tennis, and then I went on the Athletic Committee after that. When a board spot opened up because a first year trustee stepped down, I was asked if I would consider the role midway through my term as Athletic Committee Chair. It was humbling to be asked, and the past year and a half on the board has opened my eyes to the inner workings of so many facets of the club.

Through serving on committees and now the board, I have had the privilege of getting to know many of the staff members who make the club the exceptional place that it is; they are truly the heart of the organization. The board defines the strategy for the club, but really, it’s the staff that makes it come to life. At the end of the day, they’re the experts; really the highest caliber in every area. From communications to food and beverage to operations to athletics, MAC staff knows what works. That synergy between having a bold vision driven by the membership mixed with having the right people to implement that strategy is arguably one of the main reasons MAC has been so successful throughout its more than 130 year history.

JTP: I’m beginning to wonder if not starting as a first-year trustee and joining later is actually an advantage in becoming president, because I think Holly Lekas did that.

AR: Could be, and Mary Turina.

JTP: Is there something about that staggered arrival that changes your perspective? Because you’re not there going through the initial wave of onboarding that everybody else is, and you have to sprint to get caught up?

AR: I would say there are advantages to both. As a new first-year trustee, you have the shared experience of essentially drinking from an information fire hose and getting up to speed with three other people. When I came in mid-first year, my fellow trustees in the first year already knew the lay of the land, so they were able to help me and give me valuable insights about what to expect as a trustee, in addition to the officer class and the second years. Coming in mid-year, I had the advantage of being surrounded by more people to give me information and get me up to speed, and I am incredibly grateful for all of their help and their warm welcome to the board.

JTP: How do you and your fellow officers work together? What personality traits, professional backgrounds or skill sets do you have that complement each other?

AR: Between Ryan [Chiotti], Jenny [Kim], and Jennifer [Strait], we have a diverse range of professional and committee experience, with a strong mix between social and athletics. While all four of us have different aspects of the club where we are most passionate, we align in making strategic decisions that are ultimately guided by what is best for the community as a whole — not for one or two individuals or groups. While some voices may be louder than others, it’s our goal as trustees to listen to as many voices as possible in order to make strategic decisions that are best for the collective MAC membership.

JTP: In your first Saturday email as president, you mentioned engaging with club micro-communities. With which ones in particular are you excited to engage, and what do you hope to learn?

AR: One of the first tastes I had of those micro-communities was through our board fitness program, where throughout the year, we would meet with a different community to try out a different sport or fitness activity. Last year, this ranged from handball to pickleball to MAC Fit to Pilates. I regularly walk by the Pilates studio on my way to the fitness room, and have always been intimidated by the reformer machines. Now that I have had the opportunity to go into the studio, meet with the instructor and committee, and take a class, I am less intimidated. Although, I can attest from experience that it was as hard, if not harder, than I had thought!

Really talking to them, you understand where they’re coming from. It’s hard to be ingrained in every single community at the MAC, but having those opportunities to spend time with other members, learn their sport, and listen to what makes them so passionate and how MAC can continue to support them, was an awesome experience.

JTP: There’s something to be said for being a generalist. You can’t be an expert on everything, but knowing enough that you’re able to see the connections and commonalities between MAC’s various groups seems crucial.

AR: Exactly. When it comes down to it, everyone is just trying to cultivate a positive athletic experience, regardless of area of interest. While some folks love to run three miles when they come to MAC, and others would rather play three hours of tennis or racquetball, everyone is in alignment in seeing their sport as a positive outlet to build community, improve health, and compete at their personal best.

JTP: Is there something about your experience in athletics and related committees that makes you the perfect president to lead the club at this phase in its long history?

AR: One of the big goals for the board this year is developing an athletic strategy. That’s exciting for me because it aligns well with my committee experience and with the way I have used the club for most of my life. “Athletic” is MAC’s middle name, and it is a crucial cornerstone of the club. It also often pairs with the social aspects that have been so foundational, especially in these past few years when folks have really desired greater connection and community.

For example, while my wife grew up playing sports, she will admit that she is also the least competitive person you could meet. She was initially apprehensive about joining one of MAC’s sport communities for that reason, but thanks to the support of friends, she now has a group who takes biweekly tennis lessons with Idriss, and will be the first to admit that she has loved learning something new in this community with friends. I think that is a great example of how there is a space for everyone in athletics, regardless of skill, competitive drive, or experience.

For me, it was the opposite. I started coming to MAC as a youth to learn tennis, then as an adult I joined USTA League, participated in open play, and through meeting more people with tennis and subsequently the committee system, was opened to more social aspects of the club. Whereas sport is what brought me to MAC, as an adult I have really developed some deep friendships through the club, and actually just got back from a trip to Indian Wells to watch tennis with some MAC friends.

JTP: What was the first sport that you fell in love with? Bonus points if it was a sport that you participated in at MAC.

AR: Not surprising from my last answer, but tennis. My mom used to be a tennis coach when I was a kid, and so she introduced me to the sport. When I was old enough, I would take the bus to MAC after school, go to the green gym, play there, maybe do some homework, and then take tennis lessons for a few hours. My dad would pick me up on his way home from work, and that became my regular routine.

JTP: MAC allows kids to mature, figure out who they are, and experiment with independence. This is a safe place where juniors can learn how to be on their own within a framework of accountability.

AR: I completely agree. Recently, I was talking about this with friends who are considering joining MAC and who have children the same age as my kids. I am obviously a big fan of MAC, but feel that I can say without bias that MAC is one of the best places for a family with young kids. The number of things that you can access from a young age — from ballet and gymnastics to tennis, basketball, and climbing —makes MAC truly a one-stop shop .

This might be the first place that a kid can actually be independent. Parents might just drop them off and go work out, and they’re on their own, and it’s their opportunity to be their own person, which is really cool to see. I already love watching my kids come into their own here, and know that is only going to grow in the years ahead.