An energetic spokesman for the hospitality industry. A devoted mentor for multiple generations of club management practitioners. An enthusiastic supporter of Collins College. All of those phrases describe Gregg Patterson, the retired General Manager of the Beach Club in Santa Monica and retired adjunct faculty member of the Collins College.
Gregg and his wife, Elaine, recently announced a bequest from their estate to establish an endowed scholarship fund for future generations of Collins students. Their bequest is a way to honor Gregg's passion for hospitality and their life-long belief that education is everything, giving people "the curiousty to seek, the eyes to see and the tools to do", from undergraduate school to adult education.
Gregg never expected to find a career in hospitality when he rode his motorcycle to Los Angeles and took a security guard position at Hillcrest Country Club. But it didn't take long for hospitality - and club management in particular - to become his life's work.
Gregg's focus on education and hands-on work began at an early age in a small town in central Maine where he became an Eagle Scout and class valedictorian while juggling part-time jobs and playing high school athletics. He earned a B.A. in British Imperial History from Colgate University, spent time living and working in London, England, and ultimately decided to head west.
His short stint as a country club security guard led him to Bel Air Country Club where his journey continued as a busboy, waiter, captain, and Maitre d'. Its there that Gregg began to see club management as a professional calling but felt he needed additional education and credentials in order to succeed. He returned to school, earning a master's degree from the Hotel School at Cornell University, where he continued to combine academics and experiential learning, working as a weekend bartender at the Moose Club in Ithaca, NY.
Gregg returned to Bel Air Country Club as the Assistant General Manager and ultimately landed a General Manager position at The Beach Club. He led the BC for 34 years, transforming a "funky" little seasonal beach club into a premier year-round destination recognized for its family friendly atmosphere, loyal multigenerational membership, and devoted long-term staff.
Gregg was invited to deliver a guest lecture in a Cal Poly Pomona Club Management course in 1986-87 and subsequently was invited to join the Collins College as an adjunct faculty member. He taught courses in Club Management, Tourism, and Business Planning for the next 14 years.
As his experience and insights accelerated, Gregg felt the need to spread the message about "Buzz, the Love, and the Glow" he found in clubs. His beloved "preaching and teaching" role grew into delivering presentations and seminars in club operations, leadership, employee development, communications, club governance, creating culture, and board relations. Gregg has brought his unique energy and message to clubs, hotels, colleges and associations around the world, on every continent except Antarctica. He has won numerous achievement awards from the Club Management Association of America and Boardroom Magazine along the way.
Although no longer teaching at Cal Poly, Gregg is a regular guest speaker as part of our regular student programming, delivering messages from "Increasing You Like Factor"to "Priming for the Interview Experience" at the Collins College, and was the 2024 Commencement speaker.
"Over the past 30 years, I've seen Collins grow from a construction site on the hill to a powerhouse in the industry. I've been witness to the way faculty and staff devote their energy to helping students succeed and the way talented students transform their lives by graduating from Collins. Elaine and I share a commitment to education in our philanthropy and we are delighted to know that our legacy will help sustain the College for decades to come."
