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From Classroom to Clubhouse: Brittany Basye ’12 Builds a Career in Luxury Hospitality

When Brittany Gregg Basye ‘12 walked the halls of Saint Martin de Porres High School, she had no idea that the lessons she was learning, both in the classroom and through Corporate Work Study, would one day carry her to a career in Florida’s luxury hospitality industry.

Today, Brittany serves as Director of Membership & Marketing at The Naples Sailing & Yacht Club, one of the area’s premier private yacht and social clubs. She leads the club’s membership growth, brand strategy, digital marketing, and community engagement initiatives, all with the confidence and professionalism she credits to her Saint Martin experience. “Corporate Work Study deeply shaped my confidence,” Brittany reflects. “Working in a professional business setting at such a young age taught me how to communicate effectively. I learned how to organize my emails, follow up, and handle myself professionally.”

Brittany’s Corporate Work Study journey began with placements in law and real estate, before transferring to the Human Resources department at Sherwin-Williams. There, she quickly made an impression, even earning a summer position managing archives and employee communications. Her senior year, she joined Cavitch, Familo & Durkin, where she gained further exposure to corporate professionalism and workplace culture. “Every manager I had was so dedicated and supportive,” she says. “They shared their experiences, gave me advice, and opened my eyes to conversations I didn’t always have at home such as careers, business, and strategy. I still keep in touch with some of my mentors on LinkedIn and Facebook. They’ve seen me grow up, get married, and build my career.”

After graduating from Saint Martin, Brittany attended the University of Akron, earning her bachelor’s degree in business administration, marketing, and economics. During college, she continued to lean on the networking and communication skills she learned through Corporate Work Study. A connection from her Cavitch supervisor helped her land a job at Westwood Country Club in Rocky River, where she first discovered her love for the private club industry. Later, she joined Firestone Country Club in Akron, working in various roles from front and back of house to administration.

Eager to take her next step beyond Ohio, Brittany saw her chance right across the street from Firestone. “There was the PGA Tour’s tournament office,” she recalls. “I told the director, ‘I want to work for you.’ I had hosted and bartended the tournaments with Firestone, but I wanted to learn the business side. That opportunity became my ticket out of Ohio.”

Brittany was hired as an intern, then as an assistant with the PGA Tour, working the World Golf Championships in 2017, where she helped manage an event that doubled its charitable contributions to $4 million. That success launched her career beyond Ohio, first moving to Ponte Vedra, then Naples, and Long Island.

Today, at the Naples Sailing & Yacht Club, Brittany’s leadership blends strategy, creativity, and the same poise she learned as a Saint Martin student. Her comfort in executive settings, she notes, traces directly back to her high school experiences. “When I worked at Sherwin-Williams, I spoke with Chris Connor, the CEO, every Thursday. That made me comfortable talking to executives and people from all walks of life. Saint Martin and Corporate Work Study taught me to feel at ease in any room and gave me exposure to people at the executive level.”

Reflecting on her journey, Brittany offers advice for current Saint Martin students. She shares, “Stay positive and grounded through adversity. Open doors closed by resistance with persistence. Don’t be afraid to put yourself in uncomfortable situations, that’s how you grow. You can come from any background, but it’s what you make of it that defines you.”

For Brittany, that belief, and the foundation Saint Martin gave her, continues to guide her success. She credits Saint Martin, the support of her mentors and the opportunities from Corporate Work Study for building her foundation in professionalism and purpose, which shapes her work today.