Developing the Entire Club Team: GMCMA All-Staff Education Workshop

Entry Details

The Greater Michigan Chapter expanded its professional-development programming beyond club managers by creating an educational workshop open to all club employees. Hosted at Orchard Lake Country Club, the full-day program brought together chapter members, emerging leaders, department heads, and frontline team members for shared learning and development.

The workshop focused on practical skills applicable across club operations. Sessions covered creating engaging content, using video to tell a club’s story, and fostering personal growth, creativity, and renewed enthusiasm in the workplace. The program offered six CMI education credits and combined instruction with interactive exercises, including live filming and video editing.

This idea enhanced the chapter by extending its educational value to member clubs. Rather than limiting chapter programming to general managers and senior executives, the workshop helped members invest directly in their teams, develop future leaders, and reinforce a culture of continuous learning. An evening chapter social further enriched the experience by giving attendees additional time to network, exchange ideas, and build relationships beyond the classroom.

Implementation

The chapter partnered with Orchard Lake Country Club to host the workshop and secured an educational sponsor to support the program. Registration was priced at $75 per person, making it accessible for clubs wishing to send multiple employees.

The day began with breakfast and featured three coordinated sessions led by renowned speaker Ben Lorenzen. The morning focused on creating valuable, distinctive content. The afternoon included an interactive video-production workshop with live filming and editing, followed by a personal-development session focused on creativity, fun, and rediscovering professional passion.

The educational program was followed by an evening chapter social, allowing participants to continue conversations in a more relaxed setting. This created additional opportunities for managers and staff from different clubs to connect, share experiences, and expand their professional networks.

Chapter members responded positively to an educational opportunity specifically designed for the broader club workforce. Managers valued the ability to include staff members who do not typically attend chapter events, while employees appreciated receiving relevant professional development in an engaging setting. The combination of education and social interaction demonstrated the chapter’s commitment to supporting talent, collaboration, and professional relationships at every level of the private club industry.