February 2026 Monthly Column – #1
From the Desk of Paul Kornfeind, MCM
Stewardship at The Austin Club
Why Stewardship Matters — Today and for the Next 100 Years
Leadership, at its core, is not about ownership — it is about stewardship.
Every day at The Austin Club, I am reminded that we are temporary caretakers of something far larger than ourselves. A historic institution. A place of gathering and belonging. A community shaped by generations of members, leaders, and staff who came before us. The decisions we make today will quietly shape experiences long after we are gone.
That responsibility is not lost on me.
The Austin Club is more than a venue or a dining room. It is a living institution housed within the historic Millett Opera House — a structure that has stood at the center of Austin’s civic and cultural life for well over a century. Preserving that legacy while ensuring relevance for future generations requires intentional leadership, thoughtful planning, and a deep respect for tradition balanced with modern hospitality.
Stewardship means asking different questions.
Not simply, “Does this work today?”
But rather, “Will this still matter tomorrow — and decades from now?”
It means investing in people, culture, and systems that allow excellence to endure. It means understanding that hospitality is not transactional; it is relational. It is built on trust, consistency, and genuine care — for members, guests, staff, and the community we serve.
This philosophy extends beyond the Club itself to the work of the Millett Opera House Foundation. Preservation is not a short-term effort. It requires long-range vision, disciplined stewardship, and a belief that historic places matter — not as relics of the past, but as active contributors to our shared future.
Stewardship also shows up in quieter moments. In mentoring a young professional. In empowering a team member to lead with confidence. In making decisions that may not be the easiest in the moment, but are the right ones for the long term. These moments rarely make headlines, yet they form the foundation of lasting success.
This column will serve as a place to share reflections on leadership, hospitality, preservation, and the moments — both visible and unseen — that define our journey at The Austin Club. It is an opportunity to document not just what we do, but why we do it.
We are entrusted with something special here. My goal is simple: to ensure that when future generations walk through these doors, they feel the same sense of pride, belonging, and purpose that has defined The Austin Club for more than 130 years.
That is the work of stewardship.
And it matters — today, and for the next 100 years.
— Paul Kornfeind, MCM
General Manager, The Austin Club