Issue link: http://www.wacmagazine.com/i/352688
AUGUST 2014 | Washington Athletic Club Magazine | 33 estate.' Twelve matches came back. That tells you how early we were." If a thousand people had seen the same thing, 999 would have considered the internet a waste of time. One would have seen the opportunity. From that first Yahoo search, less than a year passed before Kip and a business partner founded OfficeSpace. com. "I started sharing the idea for developing a clearinghouse of listing information online," Kip recalls. "When enough people told me it was a good idea, I decided to do it." He became an internet pioneer. The company grew nationally and eventually became a global online platform for the leasing of commercial office space. Kip's industry connections exploded, as did his prominence among peers. After 15 years, Kip and his partner sold the company in 2010. Looking back on that success, Kip recalls a lesson learned from his grand- father. The elder Spencer started a logging company and saved money by purchasing used equipment. As the machinery failed, so did the business. Kip never made the same mistake. THE ONCE AND FUTURE CLUB Whether investing in an internet start-up or running a private club, Kip stresses long-term focus. "Driving new members to the WAC is really our lifeblood," he says. "Members drive every department. The real opportunity but also the chal- lenge is to keep the WAC relevant to a changing downtown demographic while preserving the history and heritage of the Club. Amazon is the largest client of the Inn. How do we make it easier for the Amazonian to come and utilize the Clubhouse? Do we have what they're looking for?" But there's a balance. The average WAC member is 55 years old. "We don't want to alienate anyone," Kip says. "At the same time, we don't want to lose that younger tech worker. That is where I want to focus a lot of my energy." "He's very in-tune with what's going on in Seattle, where we're growing, and who's growing it," Immediate Past Chairwoman Marilyn Boss says. "It helps us think about our Club in a new way and a very thought- ful way. He's also genuinely one of the nicest people I've had the pleasure of meeting with and working with." WAC President & CEO Chuck Nelson met Kip about 10 years ago and looks forward to his year as Chairman. "Kip brings an entrepreneurial yet thoughtful business perspective to the Chairman's role," Chuck says. "His multi-industry background, working in start-up tech as well as established business models, will be a wonderful help as the WAC continues to evolve and grow with a changing Seattle." Kip wants members to fuel that growth. "You talk with someone who is a Rotary member, and they tell you that you need to join Rotary," he says. "How do we drive that same culture with our membership? How do you evangelize the WAC? That's going to be part of my focus." Kip has had a constant presence at the Club for almost 25 years. Clockwise from top left: Kip talks with members Rick Page (in blue) and Tim Cowan (in purple) in Men's Fitness; attends the Father Daughter Banquet with Quinn; listens to a presentation at the WAC with members Tim Cowan, standing at left, and Krista Andrews, seated at right. (Also pictured is WAC server Jan Davies.) A FAMILIAR FACE OVER THE YEARS D A N L A M O N T ( 2 ) WA C A R C H I V E S