Meet Scott Steilen, a Chicago native who fell in love with the gracious charm of Sea Island, a southeast Georgia-based Forbes Five-Star resort.
In his 12 years as President and CEO, Scott has honored Sea Island’s 96-year tradition of excellence, blending high-level operations with personal, meaningful interactions. His ability to lead, while connecting with every team member he encounters, remembering personal details, and making everyone feel valued, underscores why he is a deserving recipient of the 2024 Commitment to People Award.
“He sets the example by greeting all employees by name and gives them his undivided attention when speaking with them.”
Scott’s leadership style is rooted in genuine care and effective communication, setting a powerful example for the entire organization. His nomination form gave many examples, such as:
- Scott is the number-one champion of Beekeeper, an app that facilitates quick access to essential information for all team members. He personally and actively uses this platform to celebrate employees’ birthdays, work anniversaries, and update everyone on significant company initiatives. With Scott consistently the “Top User” on the leaderboard, this tool has enhanced communication, fostering a stronger sense of belonging and engagement within the team.
- Scott made it a personal mission to revitalize Sea Island’s commitment to “Enriching Lives,” emphasizing the importance of team members, club members, guests, and the community. This renewed focus transformed the company culture, improved the overall experience of being a team member, and strengthened Sea Island’s community relationships. His “Great Eight” initiative further pushes the boundaries to foster a culture of belonging, recognition, work-life balance, and competitive compensation.
- The resort’s “Coffee and Conversation with Scott” program brings randomly selected team members together for candid discussions, ensuring their voices are heard, diverse perspectives are valued, and their ideas contribute to the company’s success. Scott explains operational updates with regular “Fireside Chat” videos, and personally attends weekly New Hire Orientations to welcome new team members and share Sea Island’s mission and values.
Known for his fun-loving nature, Scott participates in company events like dunk tanks at family picnics and belly flop contests. He also organizes celebrations such as the Turkey Toss, where Sea Island distributes over 1,000 turkeys to team members and the local community.- Scott ensures that Sea Island has a wide range of tuition reimbursement available for the team’s personal development, scholarship opportunities with the local college, and a financial fund to assist team members in times of crisis.
- Outside of Sea Island, Scott’s efforts have led to substantial community projects, including a campaign to address food insecurity.
Congratulations to Scott for leading a culture of respect, kindness, and gratitude!
Sea Island opened in 1928 as a hotel and golf destination on the barrier islands of coastal Georgia. Modern-day Sea Island is a luxury resort comprised of five lodging accommodations, three golf courses, multiple dining and retail outlets, spa and fitness center, and thriving club membership. The 2,000 employee organization is known for its high-level service. Throughout its history, Sea Island has received 80 Forbes Five-Star Awards.
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