 | | | Moraga Country Club General Manager Ron Haas Photo Vera Kochan | | | | | | A fixture at the Moraga Country Club since 2017, General Manager/COO Ron Haas is moving to the Aloha State to take the reigns at Mid-Pacific Country Club on Oahu.
Under his four-year guidance MCC has seen many improvements in operations: a 28% increase in operation revenue; implementation of a new Member App (Jonas Clubhouse Online); new online food ordering; an HOA work order app (Upkeep); full computer system migration; and a new mobile server table-side ordering (iPad). MCC is also in the process of a $12 million club facility expansion plan.
Haas has also boosted the social side of MCC with a spring and fall wine fair; the annual golf tournament; and the popular Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot with a registered 800 participants this year (proceeds were donated to Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano). Not forgetting the younger MCC members, he created Summer Kids Camp; sports camps; camp-out nights and movie nights. According to Haas, "I don't sell memberships; I sell an experience."
A Moraga resident, Haas lives with his wife Lea, son Prycen, daughter-in-law Jamie (both tennis coaches at Saint Mary's College) and grandkids Shado and Legend. He also has a daughter Kiana. Living local has kept him involved in the community. He's also on the Moraga Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and was influential in helping Moraga-Orinda Fire District's Chief Dave Winnacker create the first evacuation drill that took place on Moraga Way. Haas developed the Block Captain Program within MCC in which neighbors help each other through a fire emergency.
Haas' tenure at MCC hasn't been without its hiccups, and the month of October during each of his 4.5 years always brought challenges. Unfortunately for him and his wife, these always occurred while they were on vacation. In 2018 and 2021 the extreme rains caused minor flooding throughout the golf course with the occasional toppled tree. Smoke from the 2020 fires left the air unpleasant for any outdoor activities. The periodic Public Safety Power Shutoffs were a nuisance to MCC homeowners, but Haas had a generator working in the clubhouse that helped provide comfort to residences in the form of hot meals available from the restaurant (dubbed the Blackout Buffet), along with WiFi and an overall atmosphere of togetherness. The demands of operating through COVID were met with a positive attitude. "Everything we do is to minimize the risk factor," he stated. "Making this a safe haven made people more comfortable about using the club."
Making his final exit after the Dec. 11 Member Holiday Party, Haas stated, "I know it sounds very cliche, but I will miss both the MCC and Moraga communities. There are so many like-minded people here; family-oriented and ready to help those in need. I will really miss the people." |
Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA