New Trustees Project Success

By Jake Ten Pas

MAC’s newest class of trustees are serious people. It’s not that they don’t have fun or can’t joke around when the opportunity arises, but when it comes to doing their part to propel Portland’s oldest athletic and social community into the future, they view their duties with the utmost respect.

Even when faced with a potentially silly question, “With what fictional character in cinema or television do you most closely identify?” their answers speak volumes about their thoughtfulness and lack of ego.

For Daniel Williams, it’s Martin Sheen’s character in Apocalypse Now, Capt. Benjamin L. Willard, a complex man charged with leading a boat full of disparate individuals up a dangerous river on a mission that changes shape and meaning with each new encounter. Remove the physical peril from the equation, and there’s an apt metaphor for the constantly churning needs of the MAC community. Williams’ commitment to serving the club’s mission echoes Willard’s pronouncement, “Never get out of the boat … unless you were going all the way.”

David Hanna’s flurry of responses speaks to a certain duality and self-awareness, from his Parks and Recreation comparison to Ron Swanson and Leslie Knope to Seinfeld’s George Costanza and Elaine Benes, and even Breaking Bad’s Walter White. Now there’s a range! Shannon Conrad reckons herself somewhere between Disney’s Moana and the doctors of Grey’s Anatomy due to her sense of adventure, focus on teamwork, and attention to detail, while Theodore Fettig’s imagination and inherent sense of justice take flight on the capes of Marvel movies, indicating the lofty ambitions and heroic drives all the trustees seem to share.

Beyond the large and small screens, swoop in for a closer look at what each of these dynamic individuals hope to bring to — and accomplish during — their time on MAC’s apex governing body.

Shannon Conrad

The superpower energy is strong with Conrad, even if her humorous description of her own profession reads more like a supervillain. “I basically stick needles in people and burn hot things on patients all day long,” she jokes before getting to the point of her acupuncture and Chinese medicine business. “I’m passionate about body/mind wellness and alternative approaches to healing.”

She spent years globetrotting in pursuit of expertise in her chosen discipline, from Denmark to New York to Beijing, along the way earning master’s-level degrees and certifications in Mandarin Chinese, Five Element Acupuncture, and more. She even worked as a journalist for 10 years with Voice of America in the Washington, D.C., area and says that training helped her learn to listen for the story beneath the story and notice the words unspoken.

“I often notice things other people do not,” Conrad explains. “All of these experiences have helped me know myself deeply and see things from multiple perspectives. I’m openminded, curious, and I love to learn. I enjoy identifying patterns, diagnosing issues, and helping others.”

When asked to apply for MAC’s Board of Trustees and speaking with some of the current group members, she decided that it sounded like an interesting and meaningful way to be involved in shaping club culture. “I’m excited to learn from current and past trustees, as well as from the Executive Leadership Team. I’ve treasured my committee experience and the chance to know people of various ages and backgrounds who I never would have had the chance to meet otherwise. I hope to continue this during my time as a trustee, and I hope it will be fun. I love fun!”

Conrad’s family shares her delight in making the most of their membership. Her husband, Brian Juckeland, has been a member of the club since his pre-teen years and swam for MAC growing up. Their children, Kieran (12) and Raina (9), learned to swim at the club, and are now on the swim team, and Kieran is in his third year on the MAC Basketball team.

“It’s fun to have that shared experience,” Conrad says of busy days spent supporting her kids’ athletic and social pursuits. “I also enjoy wine tasting, beach vacations, international travel, and reading. I love the performing arts, especially musical theatre, music, and modern dance.”

She’s applied her carefully honed aesthetic sensibilities at the club by being chair of the Culture & Style Committee and says she hopes more members can have this enriching opportunity in the future. “It’s been a great way to learn about all the efforts made in running an amazing club, and a fun way to get to know other members and help shape both our present and future.”

Theodore Fettig

Financial mastermind Fettig brings three decades of experience in banking and wealth management to the Board of Trustees table and says he is passionate about developing highly effective teams and working collaboratively to implement strategies that get results. While he says that he identifies closely with characters who wear capes, this behind-the-scenes combination of vision and planning sounds more like the role Professor Charles Xavier plays in the X-Men.

Fettig might not be psychic, but his eyes are focused on the horizon, and he’s determined to bring disparate individuals together to work toward a common cause. “Like any institution, MAC’s success depends on our ability to reflect the priorities of our increasingly diverse membership. My intention is to listen and be curious as we chart the future of the club.”

As Senior Vice President, Market Leader, for Key Private Bank, he leads a team of experts who help individuals, families, and nonprofit organizations throughout Oregon and Alaska with all aspects of their financial well-being and wealth management. At MAC, he’s served on a variety of committees, helping promote physical, social, and fiscal well-being through Culture & Style, Family Events, Member Events, Human Resources, Nominating, House, and Budget & Finance.

“As a servant leader, I believe strongly in giving back and helping the communities I care about,” Fettig says. “I appreciate the member-driven approach we have at the MAC, and I look forward to working with members to pursue a shared vision through collaboration and compromise. I welcome the opportunity to be part of a leadership team dedicated to making the club the best it can be, now and in the future, by listening to members, solving challenges, implementing effective policies, ensuring fiscal responsibility, and developing state-of-the-art facilities that will attract and retain a diverse membership for generations to come.”

In the immediate future, Fettig looks forward to continuing to spend time at the club with family and friends celebrating birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, and special events. “The MAC provides so many wonderful opportunities to connect and build community,” he adds, and it’s clear that this dual love of people and improving the world intermingle to drive much of what he does.

“My values center on fairness and integrity, which is why I’ve been active in a variety of educational, civic, and social justice organizations. As a parent, I am driven to give back because I want to make my community a better place for the next generation.”

David Hanna

A cross between Leslie Knope and Ron Swanson might sound like the perfect public servant. Bringing together the positivity, binder-busting research, and organizational agility of the former with the healthy skepticism and no-nonsense communication of the latter makes for a leader who gets things done in the most efficient ways possible.

When answering, “What’s your favorite aspect of life at MAC that you wish everyone could experience?” he cuts straight to the chase. “In a sense, this is a trick question! The beauty of MAC is that the club is so diverse with opportunities that people already do get to experience what they desire. Each member gets to be unique and pursue the very things that mean the most to them, all while their family does the same in another area of the facility! The club has so many athletic, social, and dining opportunities that families and friends can challenge their own aspiring interests, and then meet up together and dine while telling their stories of the day.”

Such a fitting encapsulation of the club’s value proposition shouldn’t surprise anyone given that Hanna has been engaged at MAC for more than 18 years as a member, driving organizer of the Professional Business Networking group, and part of club management for more than a decade. “Having this exposure to the club has given me a unique perspective and allowed me to appreciate the substantive challenges that the club faces. Both in my time at MAC as part of staff, and in my subsequent professional and volunteer roles, I have been a practitioner of governance, organizational development, project management, and team strategy.”

Currently the Director of Development for Willamette University, Hanna interacts with its many alumni, faculty, students, and staff. His main area of focus is experiential and financial philanthropy, and he describes himself as an agent of meaningful engagement through the building of interpersonal relationships within the Willamette community. “I look to expand the financial resources of the university, while increasing the affinity and connectivity of alumni through any number of means.” These include guest speaking, mentorships, governance roles (board and committee service), and the facilitation of internships for current students.

Hanna is also a proud family man with a wife, Sarah, and three daughters, Charlotte (17), Lorraine (12), and Adrienne (10), through whose perspectives he vicariously views MAC’s potential. An Ironman triathlete, amateur woodworker, youth basketball and soccer coach, and volunteer organizational development consultant, the sheer breadth of his skills seem tailor-made to guiding MAC’s multifaceted offerings forward.

“I view my role as a trustee to be that of an ambassador to the greatest good of the full membership base. Of course, I have my own unique interests, but I am first charged with stewardship of the club through the lens of representing the diverse perspectives of the full MAC community,” he says.

“I strive to be an individual who listens first and acts second, and like most people, I’m somewhere on my journey to perfect that skill set. That said, I’m not shy of offering my opinion and perspective. I don’t feel that I need to be right. I don’t feel that I need to win. I do, however, feel the need to be heard and understood. My role as a trustee comes with the expectation of being engaged and sharing my voice, and I intend to do both in this role.”

Daniel Williams

To borrow another phrase from Apocalypse Now, Williams comes off a bit like “a poet warrior in the classical sense.” A lacrosse hall of famer; West Point Military Academy Graduate; retired Army Colonel who served in Iraq and Afghanistan; and Policy, Quality, and Environmental Health and Safety Director at High Purity Product, he’s qualified to speak eloquently about the nature of leadership.

“Military life has been an invaluable crucible that instilled in me core attributes essential for effective leadership and decision-making. The discipline acquired during my service not only translates into a robust work ethic but also manifests in an unwavering commitment to excellence,” he says. “The ability to lead under pressure and navigate complex situations are skills honed during my military service that have seamlessly transferred into my civilian pursuits. Whether it’s managing time effectively or thriving in high-pressure professional settings, these experiences have shaped me into a reliable and resourceful member of any team.”

Clearly, Williams sees himself both as someone capable of leading when the situation requires it, but also collaborating with other key stakeholders for greater good of his fellow human, whether that be a military unit or MAC’s Board of Trustees. As a first-year member of the group, the latter may be the more immediately deployable skillset, which suits Williams just fine. MAC’s internal needs and ability to create change in the world are bigger than any individual, and that’s what piques his interest.

“I am keen on understanding the organizational dynamics and historical context that shape the present situation. Learning about the successes and challenges that have defined the organization’s journey will provide me with a holistic perspective. This knowledge will be instrumental in making informed decisions that align with the best interests of the organization and contribute to its continued success,” explains Williams, who’s also served on the Multnomah Athletic Foundation’s board.

“My inspiration to become a trustee is fueled not only by my personal values and experiences but also by the philanthropic contributions of MAC. Witnessing the club’s commitment to making a positive impact in the community, particularly in areas like mentorship programs, leadership development, and community engagement, has been a driving force. The organization’s dedication to supporting causes aligned with my passion for empowering youth and making a difference on a larger scale resonates with my own values.”

The husband of outgoing MAC Vice President Richard Maxwell, Williams also carries forward his spouse’s dedication to championing the club’s employees. “My favorite aspect of life at MAC is the genuine connections and interactions with the staff. I thoroughly enjoy taking the time to get to know them on a personal level and learning about their lives outside of the MAC. Building these connections adds a special touch to my experience, turning each visit into more than just a workout session. I wish everyone could experience the sense of community and camaraderie that comes from building these connections.”