The bountiful professional development agenda offers curated information to help you thrive in your role, featuring concurrent education sessions, general sessions with keynote speakers, and optional Pre- and At-Conference Workshops.
65 Education Sessions Available
49% Percent of Speakers Who Are New
20 Earn up to 20 Club Management Institute (CMI) Education Credits
11 Number of Competencies in Club Management Addressed
8-12 Earn from 8 to 12 Association Activity (AA) Credits (varies based on your registration category)
4 Satisfy Your World Conference attendance requirement when you attend a minimum of four education sessions
Choose your pathway to professional and personal growth by selecting relevant topics by competency area as well as by track. Choose from Pre-Certification, Post-Certification, and Executive level to attend sessions most appropriate to your interests and career stage. Further your career and certification goals by attending all available sessions. The full schedule of topics and speakers will be available at the end of November.
Learn more about registration options and qualifying CMI and AA credits.
All Times Pacific Standard Time (PST)
*Separate ticket or reservation required
All events subject to change. Please check the World Conference App for the most up to date information on-site.
Last Updated: 9/30/2025
Combat tests you. Being a beat cop tests you. Life tests you. Three brothers and being the only girl…tests you. Vernice “FlyGirl” Armour has been tested her whole life. A gutsy trailblazer, her resume is an impressive collection of “firsts” including America’s first Black woman combat pilot. She served two tours of duty in Iraq as a Marine. She was also a diversity liaison officer to the Pentagon for Headquarters Marine Corps. After her military service, FlyGirl revved up her career in the private sector as an entrepreneur, consultant to business, and author of Zero to Breakthrough, The 7-Step, Battle-Tested Method for Accomplishing Goals that Matter. FlyGirl unleashes hard-hitting advice and amazing anecdotes from her adventures on the battlefield and in business. She helps individuals and organizations get gutsy and build a sustainable inner force and conviction, which results in accomplishing significant goals.
In 2007, FlyGirl launched VAI Consulting & Training, LLC. Through that work, she helps individuals and organizations make gutsy moves and create breakthrough results by applying her “Zero to BreakthroughTM” Success Model – a mindset that helped to propel her career and kept her safe in air combat. FlyGirl regularly takes her message to premier meetings and conferences worldwide and is a Gutsy Confidence Mentor for elite senior executive Women in Tech. She is currently working on her next book, The Gutsy Move.
As her newest business venture, in 2020 FlyGirl started FlyGirl Construction, a General Contracting Firm in the Atlanta, GA area.
As a Black gay woman and single mom, FlyGirl brings vital experience to her role as a member of the Forbes School of Business & Technology Board of Advisors and COMCAST/NBCUniversal Joint Diversity Council.
FlyGirl has two honorary doctorates and has received numerous awards as a pioneering pilot, including honors for her commanding role in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
Vernice “FlyGirl” Armour’s story has been featured in the media including on CNN, MSNBC, The View, FOX News, Oprah Winfrey, and many more, along with being a running back for the San Diego Sunfire professional women’s football team and two-time title holder of Camp Pendleton’s Strongest Warrior Competition.
Kick off World Conference by connecting with CMAA’s leadership and celebrating the accomplishments of our community. During the Candidates’ Forum, you’ll hear directly from the candidate’s seeking election to the 2026 CMAA Board of Directors. We’ll honor the professional growth of members achieving the designations of Certified Club Manager, Certified Chief Executive, and Master Club Manager in 2025, and unveil the 2025 class of CMAA Fellows. CMAA President & CEO Jeff Morgan, FASAE, CAE, will share key updates and milestones shaping CMAA’s future.
Gain new hospitality insights from Master Sommelier/Founder of Frasca Hospitality Group and Scarpetta Wines; co-author, Friuli Food and Wine; founding member, Independent Restaurant Coalition, Bobby Stuckey. As the founder of James Beard Foundation Award-winning and Michelin Starred Frasca Hospitality Group, he is one of the most decorated and respected operators and Master Sommeliers in the industry. A life-long hospitalian, Stuckey began his distinguished restaurant career in his home state of Arizona. Over the course of almost four decades, he has worked his way from busboy to award-winning Master Sommelier, restaurateur, winemaker, and cookbook author. In June 2024, Stuckey earned Food & Wine Magazine’s second annual Mentorship Award, presented at the Classic in Aspen, for his tireless work in the industry (and after the first-ever award was given to legendary chef Jacques Pepin).
Before opening Frasca Food and Wine, the flagship restaurant of Frasca Hospitality Group, Stuckey worked in some of the most acclaimed restaurants in the country. During his five-year tenure as a sommelier at The Little Nell in Aspen, the property received numerous awards for wine and hospitality, including Mobile Travel Guide's Five Star Hotel and Restaurant Rating, Wine Spectator's Grand Award, and a nomination from the James Beard Foundation for Outstanding Wine Service.
In 2000, he moved west to work with world-renowned chef Thomas Keller at The French Laundry in Yountville, CA. Within his first year, he led the acclaimed restaurant’s team to earn the James Beard Foundation's Outstanding Wine Service award and San Francisco Magazine recognized him as "Wine Director of the Year.” Under his direction, The French Laundry also received the James Beard Foundation Award for Outstanding Restaurant Service (later renamed Outstanding Hospitality, thanks to his suggestion when he accepted the award on behalf of Frasca Food and Wine in 2019). Stuckey also met Lachlan Mackinnon-Patterson, his future business partner, while working at The French Laundry.
With the goal of creating “the best neighborhood restaurant in the world” and reminiscent of the Italian frascas they had visited in Italy’s Friuli-Venezia Giulia region, Stuckey and Mackinnon-Patterson opened Frasca Food and Wine in August 2004, in Boulder, CO. In 2007, the partners launched Scarpetta Wines to help share their love of this region with others. Initially focused on Friulian white wines, Scarpetta’s portfolio has grown to include red, rose, and sparkling varietals. They released their first cookbook, Friuli Food and Wine, in 2020, another love letter to this unique region of Italy that bridges the Alps and the Adriatic Sea, featuring 80 recipes and wine pairings.
Since its founding more than 20 years ago, Frasca Hospitality Group has intentionally and thoughtfully expanded with Italian- and European- inspired restaurants in Boulder and Denver, including: Pizzeria Alberico, a full-service, contemporary pizzeria inspired by the traditional pizzerias of Naples and named after the family of Bobby’s wife, Danette; Sunday Vinyl, a restaurant and wine bar that pays homage to the great wine regions of the world with a vibrant menu and all-vinyl, highest quality analog listening experience; and Tavernetta, a recipient of the Michelin Bib Gourmand in Denver’s Union Station neighborhood, which celebrates Italy’s vast culinary influences and authentic regional dishes. In summer 2024, the group opened Osteria Alberico, a neighborhood restaurant in Englewood (just south of Denver), highlighting a love for Italy’s culinary traditions, including Napoletana-style pizza, rustic pastas, and rotating proteins and Tavernetta Vail, in partnership with Four Seasons Vail, opened in December 2024. Frasca Food and Wine has been nominated as Outstanding Restaurant by the James Beard Foundation Awards in 2025.
When he’s not on the floor bussing tables or opening a bottle of wine, you can find him at home with his wife Danette, listening to vinyl and drinking a bottle of something great, running a marathon or advocating for a sustainable future for independent restaurateurs, their employees, and communities they support as a founding member of the Independent Restaurant Coalition.
“There’s nothing more powerful than a human being who believes that they matter.”
Zach Mercurio works with individuals and organizations worldwide to forge purposeful leaders who cultivate more meaning, mattering, well-being, and performance. He is a positive leadership and organization researcher and Honorary Fellow of Psychology in the Center from Meaning and Purpose at Colorado State University. He is also the author of The Power of Mattering: How Leaders Can Create a Culture of Significance and The Invisible Leader. His research has been awarded by the Association for Talent Development and The Academy of Management, and he contributes regularly to international media outlets.
During his 14-year career, Drew Bledsoe had his eyes set on a post-game plan. Upon his retirement in 2007, he returned to his hometown, Walla Walla, WA, to plant his original estate vineyard, McQueen, on the southern end of the Walla Walla Valley AVA. In 2008, Bledsoe and his wife, Maura, launched Doubleback as an estate-focused winery with the goal to produce world-class cabernet sauvignon—the winery’s name a reference to his return back home. His very first vintage was named a Wine Spectator Top 100 Wine of the World. To make his dream a reality, Bledsoe hired Josh McDaniels away from Figgins Family Wine Estates, who is his CEO & Director of Winemaking to this day.
Bledsoe played quarterback for Washington State University before being selected number one overall in the 1993 NFL draft by the New England Patriots. He played in four Pro Bowls, is in the Patriots Hall of Fame, and was in the top 10 overall for a number of QB statistics upon his retirement. Today, he and Maura and their family happily reside in Whitefish, MT.
Presented in Partnership with Club Car, a CMAA Executive Partner
Celebrate and recognize the individuals and Chapters who strive for excellence and growth within the CMAA community. Featured award presentations include:
After the awards, learn from Elizabeth Dixon, a purpose driven business leader, speaker, and serial entrepreneur who helps organizations elevate their customer experience, clarify purpose, and build thriving cultures. She brings two decades of leadership experience from Chick-fil-A, where she served in Strategy, Hospitality, R&D, and HR. In 2022, she created the Trilith Foundation, a philanthropic initiative focused on human flourishing, and today continues her work through keynotes, workshops, and consulting. Elizabeth is the author of The Power of Customer Experience, The Strength of Purpose, and The Strength of Purpose Handbook. Dixon is currently the CEO of Slumber Sleepwear, a luxury sleepwear brand. She has partnered with brands such as The UPS Store, Ritz-Carlton, Zappos, Crumbl, and Southwest Airlines.
Please note: A ticket is required for entry to this event. This event is ticketed separately from all registration categories and capacity is limited. Breakfast is available at 7:30 a.m., and the celebrations begin at 8:00 a.m.
Focus on the future during this forward-looking final assembly. The official 2026 Board of Director election results will be announced, and the 2026 Board of Directors will be installed. Hear from the 2026 Chair Janine Budzius, CCM, CCE, and honor the contributions of the 2025 Chair Richard LaRocca, CCM, CCE. We will look ahead to the excitement building for the Centennial World Conference and Club Business Expo, February 7-11, 2027, in Chicago, IL.
Finally, gain valuable insights from advisor, researcher, keynote speaker, and the former Head of Go-To-Market at OpenAI, Zack Kass. At OpenAI, he led the teams responsible for sales, partnerships, and customer success, turning the company’s cutting-edge research into real-world business solutions. He has personally advised executives across dozens of industries on deploying AI at scale.
As an executive business advisor, Kass now works with Fortune 1,000 boardrooms and leadership teams—including Coca-Cola, Morgan Stanley, and Amgen—to help leaders navigate the rapidly evolving AI landscape.
His mission is to ensure individuals, businesses, and governments are active participants in the AI-powered future by making the technology both understandable and actionable. He is recognized as one of the foremost thinkers in applied AI, with his insights featured in Fortune, Newsweek, Entrepreneur, AdAge, and Business Insider.
Beyond his advisory work, Kass also supports AI education and research at the University of Virginia. He holds a BA from the University of California, Berkeley, and currently resides in Santa Barbara, CA.
Kass and his team also help organizations navigate the complexities of AI adoption, providing leadership with the strategies and frameworks needed to drive real business impact. As AI strategists and business transformation experts, they work closely with executive teams to identify challenges, assess opportunities, and implement AI solutions that prepare companies for the future of work.
Through boardroom advisory, executive workshops, and strategy consulting, Kass provides the insight and practical guidance needed to integrate AI effectively. While the team is committed to delivering successful business outcomes, the broader mission is to contribute to an optimistic AI future by empowering organizations to innovate, operate more efficiently, and ultimately expand human potential.
February 14 through February 16—The Bicycle Chautauqua
Offsite
Members: $125
Non-Members: $225
The Bicycle Chautauqua is a three-day, Pre-Conference riding, reflecting, and bonding opportunity for managers who are looking for insights into life, operations, and career.
Interspersed amongst three days of bicycling will be three, one-hour, pre-ride Upbriefs and three, two-hour, post-ride Debriefs focusing on that day’s “issues of consequence.”
The bicycle Chautauqua will start and end at a hotel near the Anaheim Convention Center and will, using “hub and spokes tactics” (that is, leaving from and returning to the same hotel each day), head into the California countryside for three days of riding and reflecting.
Registration Details:
February 16—AI Without the Hype
Onsite
Members: $375
Chatbots and Artificial Intelligence (AI tools are flooding into businesses around the world with promises of efficiency and superhuman intelligence. With so much noise in the headlines, where should club managers begin? This interactive session strips away the hype and gets straight to what works, with real-world examples from clubs. We will explore how managers can pair their own expertise with cutting-edge AI tools to deliver the magic for members, from event planning and F&B scheduling to creative member engagement ideas. You will experiment directly with leading AI platforms, tackle real scenarios in team-based exercises, and learn practical tricks for getting the most out of tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Google Gemini. Along the way, we’ll confront the risks and explore effective safety strategies. You’ll leave with new skills, a playbook of ideas to take back to your club, and the confidence to build your team’s AI skills.
Registration Details: The workshop will be limited to 60 attendees. Registration includes breakfast and lunch.
February 16—Yacht Club Symposium
Offsite: Balboa Yacht Club
Members: $175
Non-Members: $275
This enriching educational event offers yacht club management professionals an invaluable opportunity to convene with their professional counterparts, engaging in insightful conversations about the distinctive challenges and prospects they encounter. The symposium will feature multiple educational sessions, complemented by breakfast, lunch, and an end of day harbor cocktail cruise.
This year’s event will be hosted at Balboa Yacht Club. From its beginnings in a small wooden structure on open, sandy Balboa Peninsula, the Club has evolved to become one of southern California's most prestigious yachting organizations.
Sessions will include:
Registration Details: The workshop will be limited to 60 attendees. Registration includes breakfast, lunch, end of day cocktail cruise, and transportation.
February 17—From Vision to Value
Onsite
Members: $275
Non-Members: $375
Presenters: Dr. Eric Brey, Director; Neil Brown, Executive Director; Ben Hopkinson, Director; Dr. Eric Hutchison, Director, GGA Partners
In a landscape marked by disruption and uncertainty, high-performing clubs are led by executives who successfully translate strategic vision into competitive advantage. This session is designed for leaders who are eager to move beyond planning and into execution driven by data, focusing on understanding how strategic choices impact operations. You’ll analyze a real-world strategic plan example and formulate data-driven, financially sound implementation tactics that foster enduring financial strength, enhance the member experience, and position a club for long-term success.
In this session, participants will receive extensive information from relevant industry research and proprietary databases to help them establish key performance indicators and leverage a results-based management tool. By ensuring that evolving member trends, financial agility, and long-term organizational sustainability are at the heart of the session, attendees will gain forward-looking insights they can apply at their clubs.
Presenters will use a multi-case study approach to provide insights, encouraging participants to apply their experiences and learn from peers on trend-focused challenges. To foster engagement and address pertinent questions, presenters will lead interactive discussions for exploring content, sharing strategies, exchanging best practices, and asking questions for tailored insights. A concluding panel with industry experts will allow participants to ask questions on topics of interest and session content.
Registration Details: The workshop will be open to 100 attendees and includes breakfast.
February 19—The Walking Chautauqua
Onsite
Members: $75
Non-Members: $100
A Chautauqua is a mobile university, and The Walking Chautauqua (The ChauWALKqua) is just that a facilitated, reflective opportunity involving a little walking and a lot of focused, in-depth conversation about clubs and the challenges and opportunities a professional will encounter.
The workshop will be four hours long, limited to 25 people, will be held during Conference week and be led and facilitated by Loraine Vienne and Gregg Patterson. The first hour and a half will include a getting-to-know-each-other opportunity and a “question of the day” upbrief; the next hour will involve walking, talking, and stopping for coffee; and the final hour and a half will be spent debriefing the walk, discussing the Question of the Day and addressing the essence of clubdom!
Registration Details: The workshop is limited to 25 registrants. All participants must be registered and pay fees through CMAA registration.
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