Bird Key Yacht Club Recognizes its Female Leaders In Honor of International Women’s Month

March 8, 2023 – Sarasota

In 1960, the Bird Key Yacht Club (BKYC) opened its doors. The first Commodore, effectively Chair of the Board of Governors, was Emmet Addy. For the next 39 years, all Commodores were male. In 1999, the first female Commodore in Club history, Paula Herod, assumed the Commodore title and leadership of the Board. In the next 22 years, 4 women led the Club as Commodore, with Commodore Lisa Adams holding the position today.

Joining Commodore Adams is a predominantly female management team of General Manager and Chief Operating Officer Tammy Hackney, Membership & Marketing Director Alyssa Ledonne, Catering & Club Events Director Rachel Picot and Tennis Director Jackie Bohannon.  These five women leaders run the daily operations of the Bird Key Yacht Club and are an exception in a male dominated Club Management industry.

They are a close-knit team of young, dynamic leaders with a strong vision and bias for action, who have fun along the way. Commodore Adams, originally from Maine, relocated to Sarasota in 2015 after a career in health care.  General Manager and Chief Operating Officer Tammy Hackney, CCM, a Texas native with extensive experience in Professional Club Management, joined the Club in 2022 with a mission to reinvigorate and reposition the Club as a premiere Sarasota Club destination.  

Alyssa, who has been with the Club since 2017, and Rachel, who joined the team in 2022, are charged with leading the drive with Tammy to make the Bird Key Yacht Club a sought after destination in the Sarasota area. Tennis Director Jackie Bohannon, voted nationally in 2021 as Americas Top Coach, has revamped and supercharged the Club Tennis program since she joined the team in 2020 from Longboat Key Club.

The Bird Key Yacht Club is as much a social and tennis club as it is a yacht club.  Its extensive member driven activities dominate the social events of the Club. In fact, Club members comment that to be a BKYC member, you don’t need to live on Bird Key, you don’t need a yacht, but you do need a sense of fun and friendship.

The BKYC has a strong tradition of community and community service. Over the years, the Club has harnessed the energy and generosity of members to support Mote Marine, Toys for Tots, Susan G Komen Breast Cancer awareness, Save Our Seabirds, Wounded Warriors, Sarasota Boys & Girls Club among others. 

With a collegial working style and a results -focused objective, these 5 female leaders are improving the Bird Key Yacht Club for the better. Under their leadership, a major renovation to the Club is planned that will transform the Bird Key Yacht Club for years to come.  Members comment on the renewed sense of energy and the positive “fun vibe” that permeates the Club. With a Club motto of “Anchored in Friendship”- these five leaders are making that happen every day. 

We salute you in honor of 2023 International Women’s Month.

Life is good…but it’s better at Bird Key Yacht Club.   www.BirdKeyYC.com