Life & Work with Melanie Sauer of Pasadena

Today we’d like to introduce you to Melanie Sauer.

Hi Melanie, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
The Rose Bowl Aquatics Center was born out of a legacy moment. After the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, leftover funds were intentionally set aside to create lasting community impact. As a way to ensure the Olympic spirit lived on through access, excellence, and opportunity. The RBAC was a recipient of some of those funds. With this legacy contribution plus support from local individuals and the City of Pasadena, that vision became reality in 1990, when the Rose Bowl Aquatics Center opened its doors in Pasadena.

Over the past 35 years, we’ve grown into one of the most respected aquatic centers in the country, welcoming athletes of every age and ability, from first-time swimmers to world-class competitors. Our pools have hosted legendary athletes such as Olympic champions Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte, Diving icons Sammy Lee and Felix Grossman, elite water polo players, national competitions, and Olympic exhibitions. At the same time, we’ve remained deeply rooted in our community, partnering with Pasadena Unified School District on the critical 3rd Grade Water Safety Program and expanding access to lifesaving swim education.

Today, the Rose Bowl Aquatics Center is more than a pool; it’s a hub for health, safety, and belonging. With robust lap swim, water fitness programs, comprehensive swim instruction, competitive training for youth and adults, and community partnerships, we continue to fulfill our founding promise: to make aquatics accessible, inspire excellence, and save lives. As we celebrate 35 years of impact, we remain committed to shaping the next generation of swimmers, athletes, and water-safe families, because what started as an Olympic legacy has become a lifelong one for our community. And as we look ahead to LA28, the Olympic legacy comes full circle once again, with the Rose Bowl Aquatics Center selected as an official venue to host Olympic Diving.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Has it been a smooth road? Not always…but it has been a meaningful one.

As a nonprofit and a 35-year-old facility (turning 36 in June), the Rose Bowl Aquatics Center has faced many of the challenges common to mission-driven organizations, often amplified by the scale of our operations. Serving more than 400,000 visits each year means our pools are in near-constant use, placing real demands on our infrastructure, staff, and resources.

One of our greatest strengths, our best-in-class coaches, lifeguards, instructors, and staff, is also one of our greatest responsibilities. Rising labor costs, coupled with the need to recruit, train, and retain highly skilled aquatics and administrative professionals, require ongoing investment. At the same time, the operational costs of running a world-class aquatic facility continue to climb. Heating large pools year-round, maintaining water quality, and managing the rising costs of chlorine, utilities, and facility maintenance are significant and ongoing challenges, especially for a nonprofit committed to affordability and access.

We’ve also navigated the realities of aging infrastructure. A facility built in 1990 requires continual upgrades and preventative maintenance to remain safe, competitive, and welcoming, while still meeting the needs of athletes and community members alike.

These challenges have shaped who we are. They’ve reinforced our commitment to innovation, partnerships, and disciplined stewardship, and they’ve deepened our connection to the community we serve. Every obstacle has been met with the same guiding belief that launched us more than three decades ago: that access to aquatics saves lives, builds confidence, and creates opportunity.

The road hasn’t always been smooth, but it’s been purposeful. And it’s because of our people, our supporters, and our community that we continue to move forward, stronger and more resilient,

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My work is centered on building strong, mission-driven organizations that can thrive for the long term. As Executive Director of the Rose Bowl Aquatics Center, I lead our overall strategy, community partnerships, and long-range planning, making sure we stay true to our mission while adapting to the realities of operating a large, highly used nonprofit facility. At our core, we’re about wellness, water safety, competition, and connection and my role is to help align our people, resources, and vision to support all of that.

I’m known for bringing a steady, thoughtful approach to leadership, especially at the intersection of finance, operations, and mission. Before stepping into this role, I served as RBAC’s Chief Financial Officer, and that background continues to shape how I lead. I specialize in helping organizations think strategically, make smart financial decisions, and build sustainable systems that allow programs and people to flourish.

I’m most proud of helping organizations grow stronger without losing sight of why they exist. Throughout my career, whether at the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, Southern California Public Media, Pacific Oaks, or across higher education institutions, I’ve focused on creating clarity, stability, and trust during moments of growth and change. At RBAC, that means supporting a best-in-class staff, stewarding a now 36-year-old facility responsibly, and expanding our impact while remaining accessible to the community we serve. And now preparing the community and staff for the changes, albeit good, that LA28 will bring to the RBAC.

What sets me apart is the combination of financial expertise, operational experience, and a deep commitment to community-based work. I genuinely care about the people behind the mission, our staff, patrons, and the families and athletes who walk through our doors every day. I also believe strongly in civic engagement, which is why I stay involved locally through board service and volunteering. Leading RBAC feels like a natural extension of that commitment: doing meaningful work, in a place that matters, alongside people who are deeply invested in making a difference.

Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
I’ve learned over time that mentorship and networking work best when they’re rooted in genuine relationships, not transactions. Some of the most meaningful mentors in my life didn’t start with a formal title; they were people I respected, learned from, and stayed curious about.

I stay connected by showing up. I attend chamber, city, and nonprofit events, stay engaged with professional organizations, and make time to build relationships with other nonprofit executives and community leaders. Not because I’m looking for something specific, but because I truly believe in being part of the ecosystem. My team hears me say this often: all ships rise with the tide. When our community is strong, our organizations are stronger too.

What’s worked well for me is approaching networking as listening first. Ask good questions. Learn what others care about. Follow up. Be generous with your time and your knowledge. Mentorship often grows naturally out of that. When someone sees your commitment, your curiosity, and your consistency, they’re far more likely to invest in you.

I’d also encourage people to seek mentors at different stages and in different forms. You don’t need one perfect guide for everything. Some mentors help you think strategically, others help you navigate leadership challenges, and some simply model the kind of leader or community partner you hope to become.

Above all, be authentic and stay engaged. Relationships built on trust, shared purpose, and mutual support are the ones that last, and they’re the ones that will open doors you didn’t even know were there.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://rosebowlaquatics.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therbac
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheRBAC
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/rose-bowl-aquatics-center
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/rbac_updates
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@rbacweb
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/rose-bowl-aquatics-center-pasadena
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@therbac

Image Credits
RBAC Staff Photos