Building the Future of Club Management: Greater Illinois Summer Intern Program

Entry Details

The Student Development Committee developed a comprehensive summer program to engage student interns and faculty with the club-management profession through education, hands-on experiences, mentorship, and meaningful connections with industry leaders.

The program begins with an active, engaged Student and Faculty Engagement Committee of seven members and two chairs. This committed volunteer team creates a coordinated series of experiences that introduce interns to the many careers available in the club industry and help them envision a future in club management.

The summer program included a Chicago club-themed Mocktail Reception following the RCS Food & Beverage Bootcamp, featuring interactive Chicago-themed trivia, prizes, and informal networking. Interns then toured North Shore clubs and participated in a General Manager panel focused on capital projects at Indian Hill Club and Lake Shore Country Club. The Lake Shore visit also included lunch and a fun sundae dessert experience.

The program continued with a City Clubs experience featuring education on planning a career with Carrie Eyler, followed by tours of The Chicago Club and Union League Club. Interns also participated in a virtual session on club marketing and communications with Jillian Furchack of MembersFirst.

To provide exposure to large-scale event operations, the Chapter added a special tour and educational experience at Medinah Country Club. Interns received a firsthand look at the build-outs for the Presidents Cup and learned what it takes to prepare a club and its team to host a major championship event.

The program also connected students with financial support for their professional development. Interns were invited to apply for scholarships through the Chicago Club Managers Foundation, completing an application and interview process before participating in a scholarship-recipient luncheon with Chapter leaders.

Through this coordinated summer experience, the Greater Illinois Chapter strengthened the pipeline into club management, expanded student awareness of career opportunities, and built relationships among interns, club leaders, and future employers.

Implementation

The program was implemented by the Greater Illinois Chapter’s seven-member Student and Faculty Engagement Committee and two chairs. The committee planned and coordinated a summer schedule that combined social events, club tours, panel discussions, virtual education, career planning, major-event operations, and scholarship opportunities.

The summer packet was shared with the Chapter via email, website, and mobile app, and managers were encouraged to share with their interns.  We also extended an invitation to our Wisconsin neighbors.  Interns signed up for the summer experience via the sign-up form.  A minimum attendance of two sessions was required to be eligible for the scholarship. 
The program generated strong engagement by making learning interactive, social, and practical. Trivia, prizes, networking, tours, specialty food experiences, and access to respected club professionals helped create an environment where interns could ask questions and build confidence. The scholarship process and luncheon added another meaningful connection to Chapter leaders and demonstrated the industry’s investment in their future.