On the Water -- Ron Banaszak

Paul Clinton

For most of his life, Ron Banaszak has had goals.

He dreamed of managing his own yacht club by age 30. He hoped to win

election as director of the Board of the Club Managers Assn. of Southern

California by 35. He also told himself he would wed his bride by 30.

The only goal he won’t achieve is the latter, but not by much. Less

than two weeks after he turns 30, in late August, Banaszak will marry.

But it’s his middle goal that Banaszak has been proud of lately.

Earlier this month, the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club manager was elected

to the club managers association, a trade group representing managers

from approximately 95 private clubs.

It has been four years since Banaszak took over the managerial reigns

at the yacht club, where he had previously served as the food and

beverage manager.

Banaszak takes his marching orders from the club’s 11-member board.

The club is structured similarly to a Fortune 500 company, with each of

the 420 members owning a stake.

“It’s like a corporation,” Banaszak said. “I’m more like the chief

executive officer.”

In his role as head of the day-to-day operations of the club, Banaszak

must coordinate all the club’s varied functions.

The heat gets turned up between Memorial Day and Labor Day, when

children get out of school and waves of boaters hit the club for

relaxation and fun.

Banaszak attended Cal Poly Pomona, where he graduated with a degree in

hospitality management. He has held management positions at Santa Ana

Country Club and Marbella Country Club in San Juan Capistrano.

The Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club is at 1601 Bayside Drive in Corona del

Mar.