307: Power of Inclusion - Max Orland

Speaker 1: 0:01

Hey everyone, welcome to private club radio where we discuss any and all topics private club, country club, city club, yacht club, golf club, all the clubs. We handle all the clubs. I'm your host, denny Corby. This episode I chat with my new friend, max Orlandt, who is making waves in the private club world. We talk about Max's challenges. You know what it was like for him growing up and going to school and also being able to find a school, a college and a group of people who have a mindset of inclusive education, welcoming in all different types of disabilities, abilities, and looking at you know people's strength and putting them in the position to succeed with their strengths and not seeing some of their possible. You know disabilities or limitations as limitations, but seeing what someone's really good at and what they're really good at and putting them in the positions to succeed. Max is super inspiring and shows that if you dream big and work hard, even if things get tough and they do. We talked about some setbacks that he had and just how we all had during the pandemic, but you can make dreams a reality and just really wants to help encourage people to be more open to all people with all different types of disabilities. He's currently down at Tiberon Golf Club working in the golf operations. He was in golf operations at the Winged Foot Golf Club over with CB called Burns. He was also at the club at Ebis and did many other really cool jobs and internships all around the sports arena, including interning at the Red Sox, which is funny because he said he played poker with Big Poppy, and for a hot second. I worked at the Reebok World Headquarters in New England and I got to sell shoes to Big Poppy and his kids. So Max got to play poker and I got to sniff Big Poppy's kid's feet. So I think we about even out there, but no, this is a really fun interview, a really behind the scenes, deeper interview, and now the story of Max, the guy who chases dream and caught it. Get it because of the baseball reference, I'll stop.

Speaker 2: 2:42

How are you, sir? I'm good. I'm great. Thanks for your time. I know you have a very productive, active and busy look lifestyle.

Speaker 1: 2:57

Now, where are you currently?

Speaker 2: 3:02

So right now I'm spending my winter in Naples, Florida.

Speaker 1: 3:05

Very nice.

Speaker 2: 3:06

We're going to look at that Timberman golf club. It's enjoying that, it's very. You know they have three major defenses so I'm excited, I'm enjoying that opportunity and it's more like a part of the tune Coop, the golf clubs on Brighton, and so it's a little bit more different than just a golf club private club. You know I interact with a lot of different people members to cast, hotel cast and you know been working hard there making it positive and back. And you know I've never been in Naples before, so at first I was anxious, concerned and not no expect. But you know anything in life you dig in and you learn a lot by yourself and the more you go forward and more learn about you know that area and you know you find mutual contacts and connections and you know I'm becoming more, it's becoming no more for me like anything would be, like the Dimmelon golf club, and making the most of it. So you know Naples being great and you know enjoying what I have to offer and this time of period of my life and you know it's when things laid up to something else. That's what life is about.

Speaker 1: 4:48

And I mean being in Florida. You're from up the north, where I'm at, so I'm in Pennsylvania, You're from Florida. You're originally Connecticut, right yeah.

Speaker 2: 4:58

So I live in Connecticut most of my life. I was born and grew up part of my life in Worcester, massachusetts, and I moved to Connecticut when I was in high school and been there since Westport, connecticut, and it's a great town, westport. It's cute and functional. I don't know what to do, but you know I'm enjoying being in Florida, of course, and to have it plus and for so long. But you know it's just going with the flow and you know it's all about. You know the journey and what comes on the journey and what you learn from the journey, and you know impacting the world and you know my journey. You know throughout the prevalence of add-on, being in Florida, but you know it's about the opportunity and chance and the experience that matters overall.

Speaker 1: 6:02

Now hold on. Let me just pull up my notes. I took some notes on you. I've been doing some research also, so You've always so you're newer to the golf world but always been in sports right, so you're like big, big sports fan.

Speaker 2: 6:18

So I grew up as a baseball fan. I'm a big baseball fan. I grew up as a Vesox fan. You know my loyal ambassador and my decided baseball correct I you know, but I'm new to the golf world. Of course the COVID industry took over the life of you know, of course, the COVID industry and first they had to fall back and step back and movement and everybody lives for the better, for the negative and for the change. And you know as much as I'm the baseball 10 years of my life and been involved with some amazing organizations and experiences and amazing, amazing relationships from working with the Vesox organization and Phillies and here with Imagine and you know, did you know also, you know I like pleasure working at XTNM and you know it's. You know, way before COVID hit, I did you know I was in New York and then moved home to Connecticut and I was fortunate enough, you know, to get involved with the confidence we had when for golf club. You know I had a couple of mutual. You know paths and you know things with it and calling burns. It's a big influence and knowledge in the industry and you know from you know Bill Mischol, who you know mutual contact and and getting involved with Winthropford and was on it and drifted to Winthropford as of now and you know be there when the cold is there and you know, really, you know, have a my impact and my driven as just a wonderful reaction at Winthropford that I think you know which the impact I really and power in the golf industry I think was big. I think exposer is key and think that members and and people around me realize what I've brought to Winthropford and where I can bring to the private, private golf industry and what I bring in life. And you know, I think anything that anytime you have exposure to different people and different cessation is always a tweak to the experience. But I feel like people, a lot of good people in the golf industry and nice, that takes me in for who I am and appreciate my presence each day, um, as if it's in the golf industry or notice being involved with sports and you know there's a lot of people that I I I've been involved in a lot of things, that I've been involved in, the lectures I made that people say you know, was happy to have me a part because of my, my dedication, hard work and driven attitude, and I think that's key throughout life because matter of it's golf, sports or just your ongoing life. And you know, I think my, what I brought to you know what my unique aspect to the golf industry is my personality, my people, skill and my past experiences. As you mentioned, it might not be in sport my golf but in sports. But you know, from the vision I have and I think you know, just made made a more creative aspect what I brought to the golf industry and you know what can I bring for it been great experience. I met a lot of nice people the membership, that's great been in a lot of nice members there and you know, and throughout my life they've been a lot of supportive people, from family to peers to when I was in college, inclusive education to work experiences to you know different people that I come across that you know really I'm an example for them and influence them. I'm there inspiring me to keep moving forward in life. That's what life is about. It's about inspiring and empowering each other to move forward and find ways to work together and, you know, kind of figuring out what's the best, this as in, and how I can make you know what's probably moving forward.

Speaker 1: 12:06

Cheers.

Speaker 2: 12:06

Cheers to that. Yes, so, like you know, like all the way back when I was in college you know it's very I was in the back land going to college and what I did I had an inclusive education, an inclusive experience that I could have been in this more interactual, more interact, set an immediate program where not exposed. That's where I started. I was in college from a family member that had a very big advocate out there that asked me to do this. I was lucky to have advocates that opened up to me and I can hopefully advocate and set the stands for others too.

Speaker 1: 13:25

You mentioned what is inclusive education. Can you shed a little bit more light on that?

Speaker 2: 13:32

I think, people with alternative type of challenges, but for me I talk about inclusive education and intellectual disability and people that have challenges being more included in all around mainstream classes and not just around people with their own challenges or disability. More about everybody coming together and being involved in the first year of college, being on campus being a day to day thing, being involved with other college students. I was first and then enough to be involved with a baseball program there and basketball. That was a terrific way to be involved and learn and make people learn from me. It was a good structure. That's key in life. I've been a structure and I've been a sports system. I find my passion through sports and I feel like my peers that help me in class or in sports management major or in a baseball, basketball program and athletic department kind of help me lift myself up and help men. I think I would have the same wide resource or friendship if I was going to a more selective program with not as much as outreach of different interactions and different type of people on me Because of the cessation. But it might change now because of graduate college 2010 and that's back then. That's why I advocate for the United Kingdom because I always have a desire and goal and aspirations to start a family and I would love to start a foundation and raise money for people that financially, resourcefully and sportsively. Thankfully I have from family and people on me might not have, and I love a great foundation and I have this kind of money for education or disability or even some of the perfect places I have worked in my sports career and now golf. People have the opportunity and chance because they don't have the support financially or resource. So if I can create a foundation and it can raise money for good cause to support people and give people opportunity to have a broader experience in college and university and different opportunities in the work field with challenges, that's my desirable, that's something I'm driven to the stars about and I want to do. But at the same time I realize that the step goes to everything and yeah, I mean you can keep asking me questions. I mean I'm just going on and on.

Speaker 1: 17:35

No, no, this is. It's really funny because I was having all of my own notes from doing my own research and you hit all of you hit so many of my questions already and I was like, well, I'm not going to stop the flow, but it's really funny. You know, I was just with Colin Burns. I saw him speak at the club championship conference a few weeks ago in DC. So entertaining, so funny and such a nice guy. So much information and you know I was going to ask you, I was doing the research and you went to university at Delaware in the inclusive education and then you already started bringing that up and I really appreciate you. You know, talking back in around 2020, you know, when you said you had some setbacks, I think all of us had setbacks and I know for myself there was many and plenty of sense then too. But you know, just, you know working through all of that and actually just gave a workshop, did a full day workshop with the group about innovation, and that's pretty much the common theme that I've been getting from you, which is change is good. You have to. You know, take it for what it is work through the journey, you know and just having an amazing support system around you. Now, did you and correct me if I'm wrong, but I feel like it's having being around a community and it sounds like when you were at UD and having all these amazing people around you? It was it's hey, let's look at everyone's positives and what they're good at and let's put the spotlight on that instead of hey, we really don't care about what some of like your not great aspects are, but let's focus on what we all do really well and put people in the positions to do them well and so, in that way, we all succeed.

Speaker 2: 19:15

Well, what all the stuff that I think that a possibility of the value I brought to tell the university and to the program and to the baseball program and overall experience. It's what I did, knowing what I did before and thankfully I was living off campus near my dorm and at a roommate I was able to know financially and it really came out on campus so it's why I could bring you to the program and my story that can be for a time future for SOA. So, if ever I can, and how can we make this work, how can we tweak the association to really make the best fit for you and make it a tackle and make it a. It might be a little tweak but at the end we can both add on value for it. The university is telling me that going there, every opportunity to go there and probably service to you, is related, was related to my sister. You know my sister went to college university and she met someone that husband her husband, father was baking to disability politics and advocate and helped write the ADA disability act and unfortunately he passed away last November. But you know, kind of, here's the door open and they're saying listen, this is the opportunity I brought to the university to deliver to the athletic programs and you know, with a little help and Matt Wabbe is saying the head of the sports management major program was helpful. And back then you know a couple other people, steve and Mike who was in the education department and they really came together and said what value can bring positivity where I can do? First day I went to the ED and really pulled together something that fits around me and really add on success to what I brought to the programs and what brought to my life education. And if you have a passion, if you're driven, if you've applied something, you can exceed it almost anything. I feel like I'm driven and I feel like that happened in Delaware and thankfully at the University of Delaware baseball program. Since I graduated I have an award in math with me.

Speaker 1: 22:22

Get out.

Speaker 2: 22:23

That's the only rookie of the year award.

Speaker 1: 22:25

Hell yeah.

Speaker 2: 22:27

Being a lecturer in the left and in the recognition I left on the program and others. I still go back to the alumni programs and so show my respect to them and coaching staff at Myers Chains and baseball, basketball and the athletic department. But I still go back to the faculty, going back to ski and as much as new coach that I got across the path through it when I first started investment when you left, you kept going. So that's a very special thing that I'm very honored and that shows the impact it caused when I was in Delaware and part of the program. I'm still a family of blue hens and you know that's a very special, very special reputation and legacy I left on the program and that means a lot. You know from that time, from coaches to the program to the players and from my experience at Delaware and baseball program. That's just a part of you know the legacy I left and that shows a lot to me and that shows a lot the meaningful impact I caused to people around me.

Speaker 1: 23:49

What was it like interning for the Red Sox?

Speaker 2: 23:55

And doing the rest of the talks was a great experience. I always had a dream and decided to work for the rest of the talks and I hope people would have seen I have quite a bit of a person side to say freeze Did my feet hurt, freeze, nope, you're good. I'm a little bit of a freeze on this side. So in doing the rest of the talks it was amazing and I don't think people actually wouldn't post the sides, believe that it's going to happen, but it was a great, great experience. You know, at first I was soft rock and I got used to it. The first person I saw the next year was Theo at S sign, the GM back then with S socks. You know I was working in front of Mayas and that's why one thing I'm excited about now being in Naples and go back there and see them. But it was a really good experience and good thing to take in and being around the players, being around the staff and being in an equipment room from. Mayas to Major Leagues and it was very interesting and it was very cool being around, the cool atmosphere that I was able to first be involved with that many people don't have the opportunity to be around the player personnel Right and in the club association I think I was the first one to do that and one of the guys, and you know, really gave me the end. You know you don't see the end always because you can't see the odds on TV, but it gives me the end to the out of really what it takes the operations and day in and out, what it takes to put on daily days of a practice or game or preparation for things, and makes you appreciate, create appreciation that comes with it, seeing these players, major Leagues, appropriate for day in and out being. You know what it goes in the fitness, the fitness, the absence, the stats, the management, the club boss guys or the front office, what it takes to put on an everyday process from spring training to all the above, being involved with a major experience. I remember like one time I played poker at 10 foot ease, bigpox. It was a good experience and you know, you know, like you know, it was going down, bigpox. I put it down. But it was all experience. The first tip, one of the tips I got, was from John Lackey. Came here, nice tip and like wow. And then you know, you know the new experience that you can involve in it. And I formed my leadership with Terry Fingorn and I still keep a touch with him from this day and you know I Terry Fingorn is a great guy, great man. He's always through his ass to see my family, see me and always ask him about me. He has a lot of empathy and he cares about so much, about not just players but people around him. And Terry Fingorn has been a great role model and I still keep him touching. You know his legacy and he left on the game and well, who knows where it ends up next within, if it's baseball or whatever it is. He decided to move on. But you know I met some great people from you know clubhouse staff to players, to personnel and thankfully I'm able to continue the relationships and people move on. So working in the strip of the rest of the experience made that experience nothing that I never thought would be possible. My professor with the sports management program at Delaware University made a call to someone in the conversation and I don't want to say the name but and say, okay, we'll make this happen for Max. And when they told me that I'm going to go to Spring Green in for two months, as soft track as it was like, it was heartfelt, because being out of college working for your favorite team in the middle of being on all the players. It was like a dream come true. That's what started my career in Boston, working with the rest of the team. One thing leads to something else. I could not have that experience if it's not because going into first Delaware and if it's not for people that live in to make things happen and burn minds together to say how can make this possible, from max to pedin幣, not only in the university but in the go-rockers, and making something happen, but making things happen, but in the internship with the rest of the team. And one thing leads to something else and that's what life is about is how can I make things happen and burn minds together and let's go out of comfort zone and call the rest rocks. And it was an amazing experience and met some great people over all and thankfully and gratefully I have been involved with it and formed some great relationships that still, from this day, I go back and feel like I never left.

Speaker 1: 30:52

I love it, buddy.

Speaker 2: 30:57

I'm always trying to get myself out there and speak more about how more people have been involved in this field challenges and masters and what it is like to do me and my success in the workplace and the sports and more people have gone to college and university and my success in the work environment and workplace if it's sports or golf or something of a passion for it. So I hope I can get out there again, as COVID set back things. But I just want to thank you time and your effort and your time is crucial. Can you get time back and everybody making an investment and if it's talking to someone or being involved with someone in life and that's. I just want to thank you for your time and I appreciate it. I'm going to keep continuing reaching to the stars and changing the golf community and impacting each other in sports and I have a lot of appreciation and desirability and thank you. And I'm seeing a French shanjana, by the way, in Naples season Naples, oh, I forgot yes, I'm having Tim and him. So catching you in the morning and catching them at night is like that's so funny. That's so funny you bring to the world to his powerful effect, he brings to his bowl, and from seeing Colin and Cup days ago, like you know, you're all so busy in your time, but when things come together, things come together so nice. Yeah, so things happen. So anything you want to ask me?

Speaker 1: 32:55

No, I think I got most of it and I'm sure we're going to talk again because I think there's some really good conversations here. And I didn't realize we were in New England the same time. So I went to school in Boston also and for a hot minute I worked at the Reebok World headquarters. So I've actually sold shoes and helped a big poppy and his kids like try on shoes and like help them get a bunch of stuff. So you're like, oh, I had played poker with him and I was like, oh well, I sniffed his kids feet.

Speaker 2: 33:26

So yeah, well, I haven't interacted with anybody. Yeah, I haven't interacted with anybody, and even Petroia, and you know, it's a special moment and that's what you and the people piss us off, and I'm working on some things right now, so we'll see and yeah, so hopefully we can have more interactions as more things come my way, and you know, and that's more things, good for it.

Speaker 1: 34:01

And I have a place down in Florida now around Venice. So next time I'm down in town we'll have to go for some dinner and drinks too.

Speaker 2: 34:13

So where's Venice at?

Speaker 1: 34:16

Maybe about 20, 30 minutes away.

Speaker 2: 34:20

Perfect, I mean, as I'm now to April and we'll see what life contains and adapts before that. But it's always nice when people come through and you know it's something you never take pride for and that's what it's nice about life, that just it defaults. And then this world where it's going on and you know people come through and you know, but that'd be great.

Speaker 1: 34:49

Alright, sir.

Speaker 2: 34:51

My birthday is next week, by the way, so oh, happy early birthday. Thank you, and I'm going to be on. I'm going to be on being on 37 and it's not by the age about. I do with the range and you know, and I'm glad I'm catching you in my last week of this ever and I'm excited for the next ever.

Speaker 1: 35:18

My birthday's in three weeks, four weeks, about a month yeah, about a month, and I'm going to be 35, so I am right behind you and it all just adds to part of the journey. So thanks again, sir, really.

Speaker 2: 35:35

Yeah, first of all, and I appreciate it. So I had you saw and I'm going to connect again soon. Thank you for your time and your and your and your efforts. I agree.

Speaker 1: 35:45

Wow, hope you all enjoyed that episode. I had such a great time chatting with Max and, no, we are going to chat a lot more in the future. Thank you so much for sharing all of that with everyone. You can check out Max Orland on LinkedIn if you want to connect with him there. He also does some speaking. So if you're interested in connecting with him on that arena, as always, if you enjoyed this, or know somebody who would please share it with them and always like share, subscribe any and all. Engagement means the absolute world helps move our need a little bit forward. Until next time, I'm Danny Courtney. Thanks for listening to Private Club video. Catch you on the third of July.