Nick DeNofa – A hospitality hero, NFL enthusiast, and valued Bond Collective employee. As our Community Manager at Center City, Philadelphia, he plays a vital role with the daily operations, member relationships, and business development. We were lucky enough to snag him away for a few minutes to get his point of view as we interview him for Employee of the Month!
JA: Can you please tell us about your role here at Bond Collective?
ND: I am the general manager here at Bond Collective Center City in Philadelphia. I have been here since November 2021 so I’m coming up on one year soon which is exciting and kind of crazy how fast this year has gone by! It’s been a wonderful experience so far, my Bond family has been nothing but welcoming and supportive. Being outside of New York, sometimes you can feel disconnected but our team is always in constant communication with each other and the support is always there from the team. We’ll have a new Member Experience Associate starting soon who will help me fill the space to 100%!
JA: What was your very first impression of Bond Collective when you started?
ND: I would say my first impression of the space here in Philly was nothing short of jaw dropping. When Drew, our Director of Operations, showed me the space and we got to the Franklin Loft and the wraparound terrace, my first thought was “I can’t believe they’re going to let me run this space!” It made me think of something my friend of mine said years ago which was, “This place is way too nice for us!” I was ready to take on the challenge!
JA: What did you want to be when you were younger?
ND: When I was really young, I wanted to be a police officer. My uncle was a Philadelphia police officer for his entire career and I always looked up to him and just thought it was a really cool job. As I got older, in high school I wanted to be a mechanic because I was really into cars and then I started working at my first job at Rita’s Water Ice when I was 15. That’s where I really fell in love with hospitality because I enjoyed talking with customers and seeing a bunch of different people from all different walks of life. The one thing that really stood out to me, which is why I stay in this industry, is the people who work in it. The Bond team is a clear example of this but I found that to be the case in almost every restaurant, bar, or catering company over my last 16 years in the industry. I love the people who work in it!
JA: Who/what has had the biggest influence in your professional life?
ND: I’ve learned from many of my peers who I’ve worked under over the years and I owe it to all of them as they’ve shaped me to be the manager I am today and how I am professionally. I’m thankful for them and what they’ve taught me and their approaches to the smallest to most difficult situations.
JA: What makes your location special and unique compared to others?
ND: What makes my space unique is my porter, Blanca. She is amazing and I don’t know what I’d do without her! She keeps the space immaculate and keeps me up to date on everything going on. I constantly get praise on her behalf from members, she is just a wonderful part of what makes this location special. I’d also say our terrace is insanely gorgeous and offers views of the Philadelphia skyline that most people will never see. Being born and raised in North East Philly and being able to see the skyline and having our building be a part of it is really rewarding to me.
JA: If you could have a dream vacation, where would you go?
ND: I’m a beach guy through and through, I spent most of my life and summers at the south jersey shore and more recently cape may. I was just there for Labor Day weekend so I’m definitely a beach person. I’ve recently crossed off Mexico and Aruba on my lists so I think my next move would be Paradise Island in the Caribbean or Hawaii. Going to beaches that are so crystal clear are so different from what I grew up with, it’s definitely somewhere I’m hoping to visit soon.
JA: What are your favorite pastimes when you’re not working?
ND: I am a huge NFL fan, football overall. This is the time of year that I thrive. Penn State just won their first game not too long ago but above all else, I’m a die hard Eagles fan, go Birds! Their first game of the season is coming up and I’ll be throwing a party with friends and family. Once that TV goes on, I’m glued to it! I also love tailgating and since I live in South Philly, I’m very close to all the home games. People go crazy for sports here so it makes the experience ten times better.
JA: What is your biggest takeaway or learning experience from working at Bond?
ND: One of my biggest takeaways from working with Bond so far is how we can be one big cohesive unit which I guess also comes with being a slightly smaller company. Being in a company that feels a lot bigger is an interesting take especially because I worked for Marriott previously and the scope of them is worldwide. Everyone here gets it and it’s great to be able to have a team who is so responsive and available no matter what.
JA: Do you have any key memories from working at Bond so far (events, tours, etc)?
ND: I always try to create a great memory when someone comes in for a tour because they could be a potential member. One of the things I love about this job is getting to know and see your members consistently. It’s great to build relationships with them and I consider them all really cool and some have even come out to support my partner’s work as a stand up comedian. They come out to shows that feature her and seeing that support come back is a really great thing to have and I’ve never experienced that before.
