Issue link: https://www.wacmagazine.com/i/1544632
SPRING / SUMMER 2026 35 club life teamworks Team Members of the Month Lead Laundry Attendant Neelam Tamang was named February team member of the month. Neelam oversees the washing of almost all material in the Club, from table linens to bed sheets and beyond. Some days, that equates to 5,000 pounds of laundry! Neelam is especially good at keeping all the laundry equipment in top shape and makes a point to learn new systems, like an upgraded ironing machine. Still, there's something special about the basics. "I really like to fold towels," she says about her favorite part of the day. Neelam moved to Seattle from Bhutan in 2012 to be closer to her family. She plays volleyball and soccer in her free time, a holdover pastime from when she was a sports teacher in her home country. Neelam leads a multilingual team with skill and compassion, keeps operations running smoothly, and brings exceptional care and attention to staff and equipment. Her commitment to quality, teamwork, and the success of her department shines through every day. "I get to work with so many wonderful people," she says. "e WAC is like my second home." We are grateful for Neelam's dedication and proud to celebrate her contributions. Washington Athletic Club painter Jonathan Maguire was named January team member of the month. Since joining the WAC team in October 2025, Jonathan has delivered premier-quality work. "I enjoy the standard of excellence and the oppor- tunity to make a historic location as beautiful as possible," he says. Jonathan has worked in painting and wood finishing for 25 years and his expertise shows—stop by Torchy's to see a special finishing effect he created for the space during a recent upgrade. "My favorite part of my job is completing a difficult task successfully," he says. Jonathan handles a heavy workload with ease, consistently improves spaces, and brings high-caliber painting talent to the Club. "I strive to add to the nearly 100-year legacy of the WAC every day," Jonathan says. In his spare time, Jonathan likes to read, golf, and spend time with his family. Please join us in congratulating Jonathan on this well-deserved recognition! J A N U A RY F E B R U A RY e Charles Webster Service Excellence Awards The Washington Athletic Club's team member recognition awards were recently renamed The Charles Webster Service Excellence Awards. The awards honor longtime doorman Charles Webster, who represented the WAC values of leadership, excellence, integrity, service, and sensitivity. Charles passed away suddenly in December 2025 at age 66 and was remembered in a standing-room-only memorial service held in the Crystal Ballroom. An installation honoring team members of the month and recognizing Charles' 25-plus years of WAC service is set to be installed later this year in the WAC lobby.