August 11-13, 2026

Human Resources Summit

The Human Resources Summit is the annual event designed specifically for human resources professionals and those interested in focusing on the club’s people and culture. Education is curated for the unique challenges, needs, and priorities of today’s club HR professionals.

The Summit will take place at the renowned Interlachen Country Club in Edina, MN.

Network and collaborate with other club industry HR professionals, August 11-13, 2026!

Club Benchmarking

Presented in Partnership with Club Benchmarking

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CMAA Member/Human Resources Community* Subscriber Registration: $1,150
Non-Member Registration**: $1,500

*The CMAA Human Resources Community (HRC) is a hub for human resource professionals to connect, share, and engage with one another.

**Includes a free year of CMAA Human Resources Community subscription

Earn Credits: 11.5 CMI Credits
Learn more about CMAA certification and understanding your credits.

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Schedule

Agenda Overview (All times CT)*

*All programming subject to change.

Tuesday, August 11

Interlachen Country Club

Time	Event
8:00 a.m.	Buses Depart from The Westin Edina Galleria Hotel
8:30-9:30 a.m.	Registration & Breakfast
9:30-10:30 a.m.	Driving Performance Without Driving People Out the Door—or to the Courthouse Ashley Herd, Founder & CEO, Manager Method Drawing from real employment law cases and hospitality HR experience, this session explores common workplace misconceptions, legal risks, and people-management challenges facing private clubs today. Attendees will gain practical strategies, communication tools, and real-world examples to help managers make informed decisions, reduce legal exposure, and create a more respectful and compliant workplace culture.
10:30-10:45 a.m.	Break
10:45-11:45 a.m.	Education
11:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m.	Lunch
12:45-1:45 p.m.	Achieving Eustress: Where Stress, Performance, and Well-Being Meet Kendra Brodin, Esq., MSW, Founder & CEO of EsquireWell This research-backed session helps professionals reframe stress as a performance advantage. Participants will learn practical tools and mindsets to turn pressure into focus, resilience, and growth—enhancing well-being, collaboration, and results in high-demand environments.
1:45-2:00 p.m.	Break
2:00-3:00 p.m.	Education
3:00-3:15 p.m.	Break
3:15-4:15 p.m.	Creating Leadership Behaviors That Are Clear, Coachable, and Consistent Mariah Klemz, Head of People and Culture, Interlachen Country Club Many organizations talk about leadership using broad values and traits, but struggle to define what great leadership looks like day to day. In this interactive session, Mariah will share how Interlachen developed their leadership behaviors framework designed to turn vague expectations into observable, coachable actions. Attendees will learn how leadership behaviors were identified, refined, and are currently being embedded into systems across the organization. Through real examples and group exercises, participants will leave with practical tools and ideas they can use to create clearer leadership expectations and stronger accountability within their own teams and organizations.
4:15-5:15 p.m.	Welcome Reception
5:15 p.m.	Buses Depart to The Westin Edina Galleria Hotel

Free Evening

Wednesday, August 12

Interlachen Country Club

Time	Event
8:00 a.m.	Buses Depart from The Westin Edina Galleria Hotel
8:30-9:30 a.m.	Breakfast
9:30-10:30 a.m.	Developing an Influential Communication Style Suzanne Peterson, Ph.D., Partner and Co-Head, Leadership Practice Effective leadership hinges on more than what you say—it depends on how you say it. In this session, we explore how your personal communication style shapes your credibility and influence with others, and how sharpening your message for a specific audience dramatically increases its impact. We also examine how the strongest influencers deliberately cultivate relationships with people who are most open to their ideas, creating a network of advocates before they ever need one. Leave with practical approaches to becoming a more intentional, influential communicator.
10:30-10:45 a.m.	Break
10:45-11:45 a.m.	Education Jeff Jones, Former President and CEO of H&R Block, Corporate Board Director
11:45 a.m.-1:00 p.m.	Lunch
1:00-2:00 p.m.	Education Dennis Pearlman, Partner & Regional Director, Retirement Plan Services, Everhart Advisors
2:00-2:15 p.m.	Break
2:15-3:15 p.m.	Education
3:15-3:30 p.m.	Break
3:30-5:00 p.m.	Club Tour
5:00-6:00 p.m.	Dinner
6:00 p.m.	Buses Depart for The Westin Edina Galleria Hotel

Thursday, August 13

Interlachen Country Club

Time	Event
8:00 a.m.	Buses Depart from The Westin Edina Galleria Hotel
8:30-9:00 a.m.	Grab & Go Breakfast
9:00-10:30 a.m.	From Conversation to Action: Navigating Real People Challenges in Private Club HR Nilsa Buehner, Director of Human Resources, Mississaugua Golf & Country Club This interactive session will use realistic, club-based HR case scenarios to explore the people and culture challenges facing private clubs today. Participants will work in small table groups to assess complex workplace situations, identify risks, consider leadership and culture implications, and develop practical responses that can be applied in their own organizations. The session is designed to be discussion-based and highly practical, with a focus on judgment, collaboration, and real-world application rather than lecture-style learning.
10:30-10:45 a.m.	Break
10:45-11:45 a.m.	Education Joel Livingood, General Manager/CEO, Interlachen Country Club
11:45 a.m.	Buses Depart for The Westin Edina Galleria Hotel

Important Information

World-class service is standard at the Westin Edina Galleria. Walk to the shops and restaurants of the Galleria, which is connected to the hotel or visit the nearby Southdale Mall.

Address: The Westin Edina Galleria, 3201 Galleria, Edina, MN 55435

Rate: $289 per night plus applicable taxes

Book Now: Reserve Online

Deadline: The last day to book within the group is Friday, July 24, 2026

CMAA makes every effort to keep attendee expenses including registration fees and accommodation rates for the event as economical as possible. We work diligently to negotiate the best hotel rates and to make the best use of your registration dollars to keep the event affordable and accessible.

CMAA encourages all participants to reserve a room at the host hotel; this supports not only this event, but also future meetings. While in some instances, less expensive accommodations may be available from third party online consolidators, booking within CMAA’s established block helps to underwrite the cost of meeting space and other hotel concessions. When commitments to our host property are not met, CMAA must pay penalties which will ultimately increase the cost of events.

The Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) is located approximately 10 miles from the host hotel and is serviced by most major airlines.

Business casual attire is required. Collared shirts, slacks, dresses, or skirts are appropriate; denim, athletic wear, and overly casual clothing are not permitted.

All registration cancellations and refund requests must be made in writing by the individual whose name appears on the registration. To be valid, submit all requests to CMAA Registration. No refunds will be made after July 9, 2026. CMAA will not issue refunds for no-shows. Substitutions are gladly accepted; substitutions of registrations are permitted prior to the event. Only one substitution is permitted per original registrant. The individual submitting the substitution request is responsible for all financial obligations (any balance due) associated with the substitution. Badge sharing, splitting, and reprints are strictly prohibited.

CMAA is dedicated to providing a safe, hospitable, inclusive, and productive environment for all participants at CMAA Events. CMAA has established minimum expectations of behavior for participants at all CMAA events. Please review the policy. It is intended to supplement any other applicable CMAA policies, including the CMAA Code of Conduct and Ethics.