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Competency Areas

CMAA's curriculum is based on competency areas covering every aspect of a club management professional’s job and responsibilities. These professional competencies represent the skills and knowledge that are highly valued and required for success in the club management career path.

Below are competencies announced in June 2020. The Professional Development team will introduce the changes in the competency areas into the Business Management Institute curriculum. Once adequately covered in BMI curriculum, the update will be reflected in the Certified Club Manager (CCM) exam. Adequate notice will be provided to the membership before that change is implemented.

Conceptual Skills

Educates board on best practices; GM performance reviews; Board self-evaluation; strategic planning; club mission and vision; governance succession plan; board and committee orientation; roles and responsibilities; board goals and objectives; club elections and bylaws; promoted fiduciary duty; record retention; GM/COO role; meeting management; forecasts and explains club industry challenges.

Transparency; active listener; timely and constructive feedback; tactful; self-aware; builds rapport; effective presenter; speed reads; diffuse conflicts; negotiates effectively; effective communicator; articulate; builds a network.

Personal strategic plan; self-improvement; time management; ethics;, critical thinking skills; change management; innovation; industry trends; diversity and respect; coaches; mentorship; delegation; empower others; core values; personal mission and vision; inspiring; motivation; collaborative; philanthropic; empathetic; role model; represents club brand.

Administrative Skills

Understands financial standards; data analytics; annual audit; financial statements; budgeting; capital; data collection systems; forecasting; variance analysis; benchmarking; ratios; lease vs. buy; labor costs and compensation; communicates data; internal controls.

Compliance; legal concepts and requirements; applies applicable laws; safe and secure working environment; compensation laws; independent contractors; copyright, tax, health and safety laws; tax status; private status; federal forms; data protection and privacy; licensure; zoning; permitting; waterways.

Employee policies; employee recruitment, selection, orientation, and onboarding; employee culture; compensation program; employee performance reviews; human resource strategy; succession planning; correction action plans; employer of choice; confidentiality; compliant.

Member and guest service management program; marketing principles; traditional and digital media; societal trends; publicity; public relations; membership retention and recruitment; societal preferences; situational analysis; marketing research.

Technical Skills

Risk management, liability, and safety issues; maintenance; facility assessments; renovations; construction; reserve analysis; building permits; construction contracts; legal responsibilities of contracting parties; capital project communication; trends; plans for maintenance and capital projects.

Food/beverage purchasing, receiving, storing, and inventory control; dining strategies; consistent food and service quality; F&B operating budget; forecast need and track monthly progress; responsible service of alcoholic beverages; food-related allergies; foodborne illnesses; recalls; understand F&B competitors; F&B laws; menu planning.

Golf, wellness, sport, recreation, spa, fitness, aquatics, family and youth programming; conduit of trends; retail offerings; amenities are offered, efficiently managed, maintained and operated; facility infrastructure; amenity financial planning and operating budgets; sport emergency protocol; fairness in sport; working knowledge of sport; sport etiquette.

Integrated technology; technology strategy; technology management; cybersecurity; back up and disaster recovery plans; reservation systems; member data management; software selection; planning for technology.

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