Gabriella Tripicchio
Gabriella has built a decade-long career in hospitality and club management by creating meaningful experiences rooted in community, connection, and service. Her journey into the industry began while earning her hospitality degree, where she completed two internships that ultimately shaped her professional path. After briefly working in the rental car sector, she quickly realized that side of hospitality was not where her passion lived. Instead, she found her calling as a hostess and event coordinator at a community-based club in Florida, where she developed close relationships with members and their families. What began as a college job soon became something far more personal as she immersed herself in the daily lives of the community, celebrating everything from golf outings to bocce tournaments alongside the members she served.
Over the years, Gabriella spent the majority of her career in private country clubs before transitioning into the city club environment, where she currently serves as Assistant General Manager at the prestigious University Club of Chicago. In her role, she helps oversee hospitality operations for a membership of roughly 3,000 members and a staff of more than 300 employees, managing everything from private events and dining experiences to athletic facilities and day-to-day member engagement. She believes hospitality is about creating warm welcomes, meaningful follow-through, and memorable moments that leave people excited to return. Her leadership style is grounded in honesty, service, mentorship, and continual learning, values that have helped her grow into a respected leader within the club management industry.
Beyond operations, Gabriella is deeply passionate about mentorship and giving back to the next generation entering hospitality. A recipient of scholarships through the Club Management Association of America, she credits much of her success to mentors who gave her opportunities, encouraged her growth, and trusted her to learn through experience. Today, she pays that support forward by mentoring young women interested in hospitality and event planning, including high school students who discovered a passion for the industry through summer work opportunities. She also dedicates time to philanthropic efforts through organizations such as Holiday Heroes, supporting hospital visits and community programs. Whether leading a team, mentoring future professionals, or creating unforgettable member experiences, Gabriella remains committed to building environments where people feel welcomed, valued, and connected.
• Certified Pool Operator
• Florida Gulf Coast University
Bachelor's degree, Resort and Hospitality Management
• Two scholarships from Club Managers Association of America
• Club Managers Association of America
• Holiday Heroes Board
• Holiday Heroes Board Member
• Mentoring two young women through alma mater and Club Managers Association of America
• Speaking at local grade schools and high schools about career development
• Angel Wings Association domestic violence shelter diaper drives
• Can drives for unhoused shelters in Chicago
• Backpack drives for children without school supplies
• Fundraising for Jerry's Cafe (raised $65
• 000 one year and $80
• 000 another year)
• Fundraising for Israel Cancer Research Society (raised $50
• 000)
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to the mentors who gave me a chance when others said no. I remember just trying to find a job after COVID and hearing nothing back from individuals, or hearing no, we're not hiring right now. But then I heard one yes, and that was from a mentor of mine named Tony, who said, you know, I don't have what you might be looking for, but I think you'd be a great asset to this team. It might be a step in not your career direction, but I have a job. That was probably the greatest yes I took. It might have seemed on my resume as a step down or different, but it really catapulted me because I was learning and trying new things, and my mentor put me in a position to say yes and to try and to learn and fail through it, with him alongside me. It was really beautiful to be able to step out of my comfort zone, have somebody pushing me, have somebody who was willing to take the time to meet with me one-on-one in my young 20s, just to say, like, I'll give you the time, what do you need? I want you to be successful. To the point of, when that individual was switching locations and careers, they asked me to come along with them. I saw them put through so many other strong women through other clubs, whether they were promoted surpassing him to other organizations, or just helping them get where they were going. I was really grateful that I kind of fell underneath that umbrella and his team. What I'm really grateful for is someone helped put me where I am today, and I've had some of the opportunity to populate the industry with other young women.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I think the honesty is the most important, and realizing that some of the maybe myths about hospitality are just that, myths. You won't have to work every holiday when you make a really great team. Sure, in the start, you'll be maybe late for Thanksgiving dinner with your family, but you won't miss it completely. I love just having honest conversations with individuals, also talking about the world is changing, and there's boundaries that you as an individual looking for a career can put and can say and state. I've seen a lot of drive and heart in these young women. One's this lifelong learner and continuing to get her doctorate or her master's degree in hospitality, and for me, I said, she's aspiring to me because I didn't even know one could do that. And she's like, I'm still figuring it out, and until I do, I want to keep learning, and I think that's beautiful. Another is saying, I'm raising my hand and doing anything my boss might need, and I'm coming in my day off if people call off, and I was like, you know, you're a great person to lean on, but just be careful what you need and how you feel when you do those things, or how you feel you add to the team, and just make sure you speak up for what you want and for what your value is. They're just really beautiful and raw conversations.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me are community, giving back, and creating meaningful connections. I went to a small private school in Illinois, and I think my love for community really stemmed from that. I had only 30 people in my graduating 8th grade class and only 112 in my graduating high school. I loved seeing the same people, I knew everything about everybody, and now I'm in clubs, and it's the same thing, it was this community-based experience. I'm around like-minded individuals, just in another realm of that. My job is to make the members and the team have magical moments every day, making sure they're greeted with warm welcomes and they're leaving feeling great for the rest of their day and wanting to come back for more. I've been really lucky to put forth some organizations that I have some heart with through my club experience, whether it's the Angel Wings Association for domestic violence awareness, can drives for unhoused shelters in Chicago, or packing backpacks for children who don't have school supplies. I've had the pleasure to raise about $65,000 one year and $80,000 another year for Jerry's Cafe, which employs individuals with disabilities. After the age of 21, when individuals graduate high school with disabilities, there's not a lot of careers out there, so this cafe employs 30-plus individuals. I've also raised $50,000 for Israel Cancer Research Society. These clubs have provided the opportunity to get involved philanthropically, and it's really beautiful. I want to reach my hand back and pull other women forward, either introducing them into hospitality or just helping them along the way for where their journey might take them.