My First Season

My guest today is Jeff Schonhoff, who worked as a Ski Instructor for Club Med from 1996 to 1998. His first season was at Club Med Copper Mountain, where he worked under CDV Aureo Stern. Following that, he transitioned to Paradise Island as a Golf G.O. Jeff’s journey with Club Med began in 1993 when he visited Club Med Huatulco with his family. A friend later encouraged him to try out for a ski instructor role at Copper Mountain—and the rest is history! Before his Club Med adventure, Jeff earned a degree in Finance and Marketing from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Now based in Chicago, Jeff joins us to share fond memories from his Club Med days, highlighting how those experiences shaped his current career as a GNC franchise owner. He now owns three GNC stores in Aurora, Plainfield, and Naperville, and he’ll walk us through how this venture came about. If you're a 90s EXGO, you won't want to miss this episode! Jeff gives a shout-out to many familiar names from that era. Sit back, relax, and enjoy Jeff’s stories and insights! **My First Season podcast has always been ad-free and free to listen to and is available to download on: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Samsung Podcasts, Podbean App, Podchaser, Spotify, Amazon Music/Audible, TuneIn + Alexa, iHeartRadio, PlayerFM, Pandora and Listen Notes. And if you like what you hear, please leave a review on Apple podcasts. 

To see a video on the Copper Mountain 1997-1997 Ski Team, see the link below:

Club Med Copper Mountain (PART 1of 4) 96/97 Ski Team Video

My Guest today worked for Club Med from 1987 to 1992 and his first season was as a Snorkeling and Picnic G.O. in Club Med Paradise Island. He worked in Club Med resorts such as Eleuthera, Sandpiper, Turks and Caicos, and Sonora Bay. When he applied for his dream job, his application was sent back to him from Club Med with the note, “Not interested”. My guest did not take this lying down and you will hear what he did to change their mind! Even after he stopped working for Club Med, he continued to visit Club Med on vacation and has visited over 20 resorts! From beautiful California, please help me welcome, Brian Cargille! Brian attended UC Irvine, obtained a degree in Economics, earned a Master's from Indiana University, and did graduate work at Stanford in Industrial Engineering. As a late 80s G.O., Brian has a few stories, many of which come from a dream season in Turks and Caicos in 1988 with CDV, Michel Delamarre. Some notable highlights of that season are meeting Brooke Shields and her boyfriend Dean Cain, having future CDV Steve Reilly as a roommate, an innocent boat race that turned into "Thunderdome", and releasing iguanas backstage as a prank during the Paris Panache show. After Club Med, Brian worked for Hewlett-Packard for twenty-nine years and tells us how working for Club Med helped him in that job. He also explains the term, “highest self-admiration index”. Please enjoy this episode with Brian! **My First Season podcast has always been ad-free and free to listen to and is available to download on: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Samsung Podcasts, Podbean App, Podchaser, Spotify, Amazon Music/Audible, TuneIn + Alexa, iHeartRadio, PlayerFM, Pandora and Listen Notes. And if you like what you hear, please leave a review on Apple podcasts. 

I had the supreme pleasure of working with my guest today during an amazing season at Club Med Playa Blanca during the 1996/1997 winter season. His first season was at Club Med Paradise Island in 1995 as a Sailing G.O., and you could say his parents helped him get the job. In later seasons, he did Lighting and DJ and ended his career in Club Med in 1998 where it all started. In his life after Club Med, he played rugby for the Lake Brome Ducks where he was a two-time MVP. From Montreal, please help me welcome, Jeff Greene! Jeff was taught to sail with the sink-or-sail method by his father, which came in handy when his parents met the CDV at Paradise Island and helped Jeff land the job as a Sailing G.O. Jeff and I reminisce about our amazing time at Playa Blanca and all our shared memories. Jeff worked at Club Med Huatulco and a brief interim at Columbus Isle in 1996. He has stories from each of his seasons, so if you are a mid-90s G.O., you will love this episode with Jeff, please enjoy! **My First Season podcast has always been ad-free and free to listen to and is available to download on: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Samsung Podcasts, Podbean App, Podchaser, Spotify, Amazon Music/Audible, TuneIn + Alexa, iHeartRadio, PlayerFM, Pandora and Listen Notes. And if you like what you hear, please leave a review on Apple podcasts. 

My guest today worked for Club Med from 1994 to 1998. His first season was in Club Med Ixtapa as a Petit Club G.O. During his time in Club Med, he was also a Circus, Sailing, Windsurfing, Waterski, and Ski Instructor. He was a pole vaulter and nationally ranked springboard diver in high school, and he has a very famous cousin. From Fort Collins, Colorado but now living in Florida, please help me welcome, Dan Bittle! Dan graduated from Arizona State University with a BS in Exercise Science/Physical Education, and it was a postcard from Club Med sent to him by a friend that started Dan on his Club Med journey. Dan worked in the Club Med resorts of Sandpiper, Copper Mountain, Sonora Bay, Punta Cana, Eleuthera, and Cancun. Dan is a 90s G.O., so he comes with a lot of stories and I hope you are ready! Please enjoy this episode with Dan! **My First Season podcast has always been ad-free and free to listen to and is available to download on: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Samsung Podcasts, Podbean App, Podchaser, Spotify, Amazon Music/Audible, TuneIn + Alexa, iHeartRadio, PlayerFM, Pandora and Listen Notes. And if you like what you hear, please leave a review on Apple podcasts. 

Mon invitée aujourd'hui est Amandine Allain, qui a travaillé en tant qu'assistante aux ressources humaines pour le Club Med de 2022 à 2024. Sa première saison s'est déroulée au Club Med Turks and Caicos. Avant de rejoindre le Club Med, Amandine a étudié l'administration des affaires à HEC Montréal, l'une des meilleures écoles de commerce de la ville. Amandine est liée au Club Med depuis l'âge de quatre ans et parle couramment l'anglais, le français et l'espagnol. À l'origine, ses parents avaient prévu  l'appeler Audrey, mais ils ont changé d'avis après sa naissance, une histoire que nous approfondirons au cours de notre conversation. Originaire de Lyon en France, le parcours d'Amandine au Club Med l'a également conduite à Charlevoix, au Québec, pour la saison 2023-2024. Elle partagera avec nous ce qu'est la transition d'un G.M. à un G.O. Au départ, Amandine aspirait à travailler dans les ressources humaines au siège de Lyon, mais on lui a conseillé d'acquérir une expérience pratique dans les villages afin de mieux comprendre la vie dans les stations. Nous parlerons de ses saisons en détail et elle nous racontera de nombreuses anecdotes sur son expérience. L'histoire d'Amandine vient boucler la boucle, et vous devrez écouter pour savoir pourquoi ! Profitez de cet épisode avec Amandine Allain! **Le podcast My First Season a toujours été sans publicité et son écoute est gratuite. Il est disponible sur: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Samsung Podcasts, Podbean App, Spotify, Amazon Music/Audible, TuneIn + Alexa, iHeartRadio, PlayerFM, Pandora, Podchaser et Listen Notes. Et si vous aimez ce que vous entendez, veuillez laisser un commentaire sur Apple Podcasts.

Veuillez suivre Amandine sur TikTok:

Amandine Allain (@amandineallain4) | TikTok

My guest today is Amandine Allain, who worked as an Assistant HR Manager for Club Med from 2022 to 2024. Her first season was at Club Med Turks and Caicos. Before joining Club Med, Amandine studied Business Administration at HEC Montréal, one of the top universities in the city. Amandine has been connected to Club Med since she was four years old and is fluent in English, French, and Spanish. Originally, her parents planned to name her Audrey, but they changed their minds after she was born—a story we’ll delve into during our conversation. Hailing from Lyon, France, Amandine's journey with Club Med also took her to Charlevoix in Quebec for the 2023-2024 season. Amandine will share what it's like transitioning from a lifelong G.M. to a G.O. Initially aspiring to work in HR at the head office in Lyon, Amandine was advised to gain hands-on experience in the villages to understand resort life better. We'll discuss her seasons in detail, and she will share numerous stories from her experiences. Amandine's story comes full circle; you'll have to listen to find out why! Please enjoy this episode with Amandine Allain! **My First Season podcast has always been ad-free and free to listen to and is available to download on: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Samsung Podcasts, Podbean App, Podchaser, Spotify, Amazon Music/Audible, TuneIn + Alexa, iHeartRadio, PlayerFM, Pandora and Listen Notes. And if you like what you hear, please leave a review on Apple podcasts. 

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Amandine Allain (@amandineallain4) | TikTok

My guest today worked for Club Med from 2016 to 2020. His first season was in Club Med Sandpiper in 2016 as Landsports Supervisor. During his tenure at Club Med, he also held Sports and Animation Manager and Assistant CDV positions. Before Club Med, he was a Division 1 Varsity Men’s Tennis team player and Team Captain at the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University, where he graduated summa cum laude with a degree in Management and International Business, and he has almost completed his Master’s degree from Northwestern University. Please help me welcome, from Cincinnati now living in Chicago, Adam Reinhart! Adam worked in the resorts of Turks and Caicos, Punta Cana, and Marrakech and was supposed to go to the resort of Club Med Sanya in China, but he explained the somewhat complicated process to get a Chinese work visa. Adam shares with us what it was like arriving in Marrakesh in 2019 during Ramadan and discusses his six-month season there as an Entertainment Manager. Adam and I talked about whether working at Club Med helped him in his current job and if he still misses dress codes. Please enjoy this interview with a very entertaining person! **My First Season podcast has always been ad-free and free to listen to and is available to download on: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Samsung Podcasts, Podbean App, Podchaser, Spotify, Amazon Music/Audible, TuneIn + Alexa, iHeartRadio, PlayerFM, Pandora and Listen Notes. And if you like what you hear, please leave a review on Apple podcasts. 

My guest worked for Club Med from 1989 to 1997. His first season was in Club Med Punta Cana as a Petit Club G.O. only twenty-four hours after finishing university with a degree in Hotel and Tourist Administration! He has spent time with legends like Diego Maradona and Jacques Cousteau, and he is yet another EXGO who met their future wife in Club Med, and we will talk about that as well. Please help me welcome, from the Dominican Republic, Carlos Dipres! Carlos and I talk about many things, and he happened to be at Club Med Punta Cana when that famous ship broke into two on the reef. We discussed meeting Diego Maradona in Punta Cana and Carlos visiting Jacques Cousteau at his home in Eleuthera. Carlos tells the story of how he met his wife and the proposal. We reminisce over being Picnic G.O.s in Martinique with girlfriends and talk about the Club Med reunions Carlos has been to. Please enjoy your time with Carlitos! **My First Season podcast has always been ad-free and free to listen to and is available to download on: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Samsung Podcasts, Podbean App, Podchaser, Spotify, Amazon Music/Audible, TuneIn + Alexa, iHeartRadio, PlayerFM, Pandora and Listen Notes. And if you like what you hear, please leave a review on Apple podcasts. 

My guest today worked for Club Med from 2015 until 2021. Her first season was in Club Med Sandpiper as a Mini Club G.O. Before Club Med, she attended Tulane University and graduated cum laude in Spanish Language and Literature with minors in French and Psychology. She was also a member of the Tulane Cheerleading Squad and don’t roll your eyes at me, but of course, we will talk about the movie Bring It On! After Club Med, she went to work at The Four Seasons in Tamarindo, Mexico as The Director of Leisure Activities and we will talk about that as well. Please help me welcome from Florida, Sarah Paster! Sarah worked at the Club Med resorts of Punta Cana, Albion, Cancun and Miches. She was destined for a life of teaching when she took a detour through Club Med. She was about to leave for France to teach English to French high schoolers when she decided to explore the Club Med route further. Sarah shares a rather memorable first season Memorial Day story with us and we talk about her Sports Manager stage in Opio, France, and which EXCDV mentored her during her first interim CDV. Please enjoy your time meeting Sarah, because I know I did! **My First Season podcast has always been ad-free and free to listen to and is available to download on: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Samsung Podcasts, Podbean App, Podchaser, Spotify, Amazon Music/Audible, TuneIn + Alexa, iHeartRadio, PlayerFM, Pandora and Listen Notes. And if you like what you hear, please leave a review on Apple podcasts. 

My guest today started as a G.M. in 1983. His first season was in Club Med Sandpiper in 2002 as a Reception G.O. Fun Facts: He started working at Club Med when he was 45 years old. He wrote something called, “How Club Med Saved My Life: A True Story” and we will talk about that and many other things as well. Please help me welcome, From New Jersey, Daniel Koellhoffer! Daniel worked in the Club Med resorts of Sandpiper, Turks and Caicos, and Crested Butte. He takes us from his early days as a G.M. to his rewarding career as a G.O. Many laughs were had during this interview and none more so than Daniel trying to explain to your podcast host what an "Atlantis 16:00 Tea Party" is! Daniel also shares with us his fitness journey and what led him to write his short story about how Club Med saved his life. Please take a moment to listen to Daniel’s feel-good interview, you will not regret it. Please enjoy! **My First Season podcast has always been ad-free and free to listen to and is available to download on: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Samsung Podcasts, Podbean App, Podchaser, Spotify, Amazon Music/Audible, TuneIn + Alexa, iHeartRadio, PlayerFM, Pandora and Listen Notes. And if you like what you hear, please leave a review on Apple podcasts.