Behind The Scenes At Wellington’s International Polo Club
Polo is a quintessential experience, complete with high-stepping fashion, celebrities, posh guests, magnificent athleticism and clinking glasses. With all the pageantry front and center on the field and throughout the property, it takes a village to manage all the behind-the-scenes aspects of this equestrian undertaking. Here’s an intimate look at some of the key players on the management team at the International Polo Club Palm Beach.
With polo being the sport of kings, John Wash, president of club operations, acts as sultan of the Sunday scene. Heading up this equine adventure, Wash greets guests and members and welcomes VIPs with a warm handshake and a familiar smile every Sunday of the polo season.
He brings a wealth of experience to all aspects of golf, resort and country club service. After graduation from the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, N.Y., Wash transitioned to being a general manager and successfully headed up some of America’s finest private country clubs. At IPC since 2007, Wash has seen growth and excitement not only for the club, but also for the sport of polo. Wash is first and foremost a ubiquitous master of ceremonies, opening up the competition with the coin toss and happily mingling with guests on the field or in the club.
As box office manager, Maria Feola wears many hats. Her work schedule of 60-plus hours a week during season has her at the office from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. It’s almost ironic that her schedule parallels the protocol of a professional polo pony.
A veteran of the club since its inception in 2003, Feola handles all logistics of box-office ticketing (both public and private member transactions), group sales, valet, parking, police details and permitting, web site instructions and managing a staff of up to 100. On game day, Feola is in constant motion. Not only does she control the tickets for 8,000 to 10,000 guests and members each week, she and her team stand guard over the stadium, assuring that all guests are in their correct seats.
A native of Venezuela, Feola is instrumental in making sure the Sunday polo matches run as smoothly as possible behind the scenes.
Julie Pickens is the consummate hostess. As vice president of club hospitality and membership for 12 seasons, she is the force behind the Mallet Grill, the 7th Chukker Lounge, stadium food and beverage operations, and member services. A seasoned veteran of the hospitality industry with tenure at many high-profile brands — Hyatt, Marriott, Morton’s and the Breakers Palm Beach — Pickens is masterful in creating exceptional and memorable guest experiences.
Pickens has been pivotal in creating a setting where members, polo guests and equestrian enthusiasts can come together to enjoy all the amenities and excitement of a world-class, inclusive club. Her upbeat attitude, attention to detail and ability to organize all aspects of a function has led to hundreds of successful happenings.
On Sundays, everyone is welcome, and the club takes on a neighborhood feel. The other six days of the week, Pickens creates a private haven for members, their families and friends. Pickens is a gracious ambassador for IPC, along with her entire food and beverage team, who have worked together for more than 10 years.
The heart of any club experience is the food. “Food should be great company,” Executive Chef William Sellner explained.
For the past eight seasons, Sellner has been cooking delicious dishes for the club members and 25,000 grandstand guests attending polo matches. From running all the restaurants and preparing sandwiches and snacks for the spectators, to masterminding the member Sunday brunches and dinners and Friday night lobster buffets, Sellner is a culinary tour de force.
Despite his quiet and calm demeanor, his food speaks volumes to the discriminating members and guests. A native New Englander, Sellner understands the substance and authenticity of “going home” and reconnecting with the sights, sounds and tastes of familiar surroundings. Exceeding his passion for food, he embraces the simplicity of the ingredients and the detail and beauty of the flavors to evoke the best tastes and memories for his guests.
An expert on fine dining and discerning clientele, Sellner’s career includes tenure at Yale University’s private club; Mory’s, a four-star bed and breakfast in Maine; and the Mar-a-Lago Club Palm Beach. A plateful of Sellner’s food is like having your most beloved, home-cooked meal.
Farish Ensenat has served as the club’s special events manager for the past nine years. After graduating from Cornell University in 2001, Ensenat worked at the White House doing advance work and events, including campaign and inauguration details for First Lady Laura Bush.
At IPC, Ensenat is the stage manager for Sunday Polo. She outlines Sunday match timelines and writes a script for the announcer listing VIPs and special guests. She coordinates logistics for the singing of the national anthem and pregame festivities, autograph sessions, team tent setups, the parking of horse trailers and the unloading of ponies. Ensenat also makes sure that the tournament trophies are polished, displayed and ready for the awards ceremony.
Special events hosted at IPC also fall under her purview, including the International Gay Polo Tournament, equestrian shows and national sporting events during the summer and fall months. “Putting the puzzle pieces together is what I do,” Ensenat said.
Aaron and Julie Menitoff are the creative culinary masterminds behind the epic Sunday Polo Brunch at the Pavilion, including the Veuve Clicquot Airstream Lounge, Beerstream and the upcoming double-decker bus of food, festivities and fun. Catering to fashionistas, families and equestrian enthusiasts, They are passionate about the art and science of the Sunday scene. The champagne brunch buffet features more than 80 culinary creations for a sellout crowd of more than 700 guests.
At the club since 2012, Matthew Tarantino manages the IPC’s community philanthropy and catering sales for all social events up to 250 guests. Tarantino is gregarious, making him a natural for working with discerning clients. His savvy guest service skills were developed from years of being a personal assistant, real estate agent, tour guide and educator.
Tarantino cultivates events and good will for IPC. His domain for hosting weddings, dinners and cocktail parties is the exclusive member side of the operation — the Mallet Grille, the 7th Chukker Lounge, the Poolside Patio, the Spa Terrace and the Sports House, where he curated a fanciful “Croquet and Krug” reception.
As director of polo operations, Jimmy Newman is a 40-year veteran of the sport. Since his first part-time job with the Royal Palm Polo Club, Newman has been around horses — from working as a groom and learning to ride and understand polo to owning horses and playing in tournaments. The global scope of high-goal polo has provided Newman with a world of experiences and travel.
Newman arrived at IPC in 2003 with an impressive history in polo administration. In addition to managing the polo at IPC during the winter months, he also directs the polo at other clubs across the country during the summer. He has seen the polo stars of today grow up and achieve success through the international ranks.
Newman’s career highlights include managing five decades of U.S. Open Polo Championships and the legendary 1980 Cup of the Americas. Together, Newman and Tony Coppola, the voice behind Sunday polo, deliver enthusiasm, spot-on play-by-play commentary and witty banter for every polo match.
