President, SNG Consulting
Name: Sara Nelson Goertel
Summers as a Camper: 4 summers
- Second Session: 1988 - 1991
- Family Camp: 2015 - 2019, 2021
Years as a Staff Member/Positions held: wasn't a staff member
Current Profession:
- President at SNG Consulting, a Marketing and Customer Strategy firm that I founded in 2005 (2005-Present)
Previous Roles:
- In addition to my professional career, my most significant role since Camp has been mother to my four now teenaged children, Charlie (19), Thomas (17), Abby (15) and Emily (13) and wife to my husband, Tim. I have also always been active in my community and alma maters as a volunteer. I currently serve on the executive boards at The Depot, our local teen center and for my children’s schools. I am also the President of the Penn Club of Fairfield County where I enjoy fostering a strong and engaged alumni network. Professionally, prior to founding SNG Consulting, I worked for Marketing Corporation of America and Peppers and Rogers Group consulting to companies like BMW, Jaguar Cars, Marriott Vacation Club and Regent Seven Seas Cruise Lines.
Current Responsibilities and Career Path
As President of SNG Consulting, I help businesses design and deliver exceptional customer experiences that drive loyalty and growth. I’ve had the privilege of working with leading brands such as Volkswagen, Audi, Saks Fifth Avenue, Vince, NARS, The Vitamin Shoppe and Purina. I'm driven by the challenge of helping companies connect with their customers on a deeper level and create experiences that truly resonate. This passion for understanding people's needs was certainly nurtured during my time at Seafarer, where I learned the importance of building strong relationships and creating a positive and supportive community. I graduated with a degree in History from the University of Pennsylvania, so ended up in marketing somewhat randomly. Ironically the case study interview for what ended up being my first job was marketing and customer experience related and it felt natural and fun to me. Seeing how important Change Management was fueled me to later get my Master's in Organizational Psychology from Columbia University. I love consulting because each client is different and I enjoy the challenge of immersing myself in new organizations, industries and business problems. The flexibility of the work (and the ability to scale up and down at times) has allowed me to do this while also raising my family.
Key Lessons from Camp
When we returned to Camp as family campers after such a long time away, it was like stepping back into a time capsule. Of course, there were facility upgrades (and the addition of the pool, which I absolutely love!), but the essence of Camp remained the same. Most importantly, the amazing counselors and directors still embodied Camp's core values: character, responsibility, kindness and honesty. Hearing those familiar sayings like, "You know what to do, let's go do it," or to “pack your suitcase full," took me right back to my camper days. Those phrases aren't just catchy slogans; they represent a spirit of initiative, resilience, positivity and hard work that has stayed with me throughout my life. It's been incredibly rewarding to see those same values embraced by my own children – Charlie, Thomas, Abby and Emily. We are all lucky to feel a part of the amazing network of people that make up the Seafarer / Sea Gull extended family.
Proud Achievements
Founding SNG Consulting just after having my first son and building it into a successful firm has been incredibly rewarding. It required a lot of hard work, resilience, collaboration and a willingness to embrace challenges head-on – qualities I believe were fostered during my summers at Camp. One thing I remember about Camp that is still true today is how campers could work all summer long on a goal, like Flying Scot Skipper, and not achieve it. That may sound disappointing but in this age of “everyone gets a trophy,” I believe there is real value in learning that you can give something your all and not achieve it the moment you think you should. At Camp I learned how to set goals, I experienced the glory of achieving some of them and the disappointment of not reaching others. Learning to handle disappointment and work hard for something without an immediate payout is something that has served me well in both my professional and parenting roles.
Influential Camp Mentor
Lynn Moss had a profound impact on me during my time at Seafarer. I was fortunate to have her watching over my own children as campers as well. She exuded warmth, enthusiasm and a genuine passion for Camp that was infectious. She taught me the importance of kindness, positivity and embracing new experiences.
Advice for Staff
Working at Camp is an unparalleled opportunity for personal and professional growth. It is hard to find other summer jobs or internships where you get the level of responsibility given to CILTs and counselors at Camp. It's a chance to develop essential life skills like leadership, communication, problem-solving and teamwork in a dynamic and supportive environment.
Embrace every moment of your Camp experience! Step outside your comfort zone, try new things and cherish the friendships you make. They will sustain you throughout your life if you let them. When I was back at Camp for Family Camp it was like stepping back in time – I’m walking around in my flip flops with nothing but a wet bathing suit on with a big smile on my face. The memories and friendships from Seafarer and Sea Gull will stay with you long after the summer ends.
