Bonnie Miske of Broken Oar Marina-Bar & Grill: Strict Operational Structure and Hands-On Leadership Built a Thriving Waterfront Destination

As a part of our series on “Leading with Heart: The Power of Authentic Women’s Leadership,” we had the pleasure of interviewing Bonnie Miske — General Manager at Broken Oar Marina-Bar & Grill.

Bonnie Miske is the General Manager of Broken Oar Marina-Bar & Grill in Port Barrington, Illinois. Since 2009, she has overseen operations at one of the Fox River’s most popular hospitality destinations, known for its expansive riverfront setting, live entertainment, and the largest beer garden in McHenry County. Bonnie played a key role in developing seasonal attractions such as the Arctic Winter Bar. Her background includes leadership roles in real estate and construction, including positions at Century 21 Sketchbook and Zurich Custom Homes. Bonnie’s experience in management and customer relations has helped transform Broken Oar into a vibrant community hub that blends dining, entertainment, and scenic views.

Thank you so much for joining us! Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career?

There are so many stories and experiences that it’s hard to pick just one. I would say the journey through the unknowns of the pandemic with a restaurant and live music venue, surviving it and coming out stronger and better than ever is something I’ll never forget. Our customers, our Oar family of staff, and members of the music community that supported us was a scene from “It’s a Wonderful Life.” It’s times like that and those summer Sundays when I step back on a pier and watch hundreds of people singing, dancing, and having fun, or people hugging me and thanking me for what I do, that make all the hard work worthwhile.

What do you think makes your company stand out? Can you share a story?

We are an extraordinary waterfront restaurant on 7 acres on the Fox River, surrounded by residential areas, with live entertainment, daily events, and some of the best people watching. I have had several customers tell me they travel the country and always look for another “Broken Oar” experience and have yet to find anything that offers what we do!

You are a successful business leader. Which three character traits do you think were most instrumental to your success? Can you please share a story or example for each?

I have been told my attention to detail has led to my success, coupled with my ability to multitask and to lead by example for my staff. I have spent the last 17 years analyzing and improving not only the facility but the efficiency of the operation. I have handled all aspects of annual improvements, administration, marketing, and band booking simultaneously. There is nothing my husband and I wouldn’t do to help the staff get through the day — that includes bussing tables and fielding minor repairs.

Leadership often entails making difficult decisions or hard choices between two apparently good paths. Can you share a story with us about a hard decision or choice you had to make as a leader? I’m curious to understand how these challenges have shaped your leadership.

I was a successful builder and realtor prior to jumping in for “2 months” 17 years ago to help my husband’s (my boyfriend at the time) failing business when he had a manager leave unexpectedly. I made the difficult decision, once I got involved in the business, to continue in the management role to “fix” the Broken Oar and have worked tirelessly to make it what it is today. It was with the sweat equity to build the business that it not only helped me to know every aspect of the business, but made me the leader I am today.

Ok, thank you for that. Let’s now jump to the primary focus of our interview. Can you share a personal experience where embracing your unique leadership style, which might not align with traditional expectations, led to a significant positive impact in your organization or team?

In our peak season, we have upwards of 125 staff. In order to keep all of the staff in alignment and “playing by the same set of rules,” we have to strictly enforce our policies and procedures that we have put in place. Although not all staff embrace the structure, it has allowed me to earn the respect of my staff, and allowed our staff to flourish with the increased business volume we have built over the years to this date.

In your journey as a leader, how have you balanced demonstrating resilience, often seen as a masculine trait, with showing vulnerability, which is equally powerful, but typically feminine? Can you give an example where this balance created a meaningful difference?

During the Pandemic, while all businesses were struggling, I was asked to film a short documentary to be the voice of small businesses. It was in that video that I explained our fight to survive without any knowledge of how long we would have the strict business limitations that were put in place and how we would come out of the pandemic. The sheer exhaustion of converting our business to “to go” orders and supporting our staff to get through to the other side of it resulted in an emotional interview that showed not only my strength but my resilience to adapt and survive. We came out stronger than before the pandemic and had a whole new client base as a result.

As a woman in leadership, how have you navigated and challenged gender stereotypes, especially in situations where traditional male-dominated approaches are the norm? What strategies have you employed to remain authentic to your style?

I am constantly compared to men in this industry. I have stayed strong, built the business, and become a premier music venue. The success of the business has earned me the respect of many who once criticized me and my leadership. I have always been involved in male-dominated businesses, and it has toughened me to stay strong and just focus on the business at hand.

How do you utilize emotional intelligence and active listening to create an inclusive environment in your team or organization? Could you share a specific instance where these qualities particularly enhanced team dynamics or performance?

As business owners, we have to maintain a fine line between management and staff. We listen without getting personally involved. We have policies and procedures in place so everyone is playing by the same set of rules, and most importantly, set expectations upon employment so that emotions don’t run overly high or low.

What role has mentorship played in developing your authentic leadership style, and how do you communicate authentically to inspire and empower both your mentors and mentees?

All of our managers have been promoted from within. Some have worked from servers to bartenders to managers to allow for additional opportunity. We work with them throughout their employment to become the best at their positions, and they know our expectations which allows them to move easily into the management role and work with their staff to follow to become mentors themselves to allow more staff to advance or grow from within.

Ok super. Here is the main question of our interview. Based on your experience and research, can you please share “5 Ways Leading Authentically As A Woman Will Affect Your Leadership”? If you can, please share a story or an example for each.

1. You lead with greater resilience and sustainability — with more to prove, we are stronger.
2. We expand the definition of leadership — we juggle more, multitask more, and expand the traditional leadership role.
3. Our decision-making process becomes stronger and clearer — we aren’t approval seeking, we are just forging forward.
4. We lead by example and create a safe environment for our staff — we aren’t hiding anything, we are taking risks and driving performance by others.
5. When we lead authentically, we build trust faster — it’s just that simple. My staff knows that I am in it for the long haul and “I got their back.”

Are there potential pitfalls or challenges associated with being an empathetic leader? How can these be addressed?

If you become too empathetic for some, you can lose the respect of others. There are always individual situations or exceptions to a structured management style in which empathy is necessary, but it’s best to stay the course with a large staff.

You are a person of great influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. :-)

I grew up in an era in which you earned everything you had; you worked for it. I think focusing on building skilled trades and workers is critical.

How can our readers further follow you online?

I am actively involved in our social media marketing which allows readers to follow our journey: www.brokenoar.com, Facebook, Instagram, and we will be active on TikTok soon.

Thank you so much for the time you spent with us today. This was very meaningful!