• Inclusive, visionary leadership style
• Thought leader and mentor–contributes value to the profession and industry
• Seasoned professional–has an established club career with significant professional experiences
• Engagement in the profession and CMAA–still has more to give, learn, and share
• Diverse background–personal and professional (contributes and holds leadership positions in and outside the club management profession)
• Passionate/committed–wishes to give back to CMAA and its mission as well as to the profession
• Authentic–able to be ‘real’ when called upon, ready to share, contributes in his/her own manner
• Foresight–understands the changes ahead for the club industry and society
• Excellence–pursues quality and is dependable

These Core Values distinguish a CMAA Fellow:

• Engagement–seek out opportunities to engage with various constituencies in furtherance of the club management profession. Be ardent ambassadors and thought leaders for the club industry and CMAA.
• Influence–devote time and talent to mentoring and establishing meaningful peer relationships in support of current and future club management professionals. Guide others on their path toward personal growth and career development.
• Integrity–know and do what is right. Set exacting standards for your behavior and stick to them even in difficult situations. Prove that others can count on you.
• Involvement–embrace opportunities to contribute. Understand and help advance CMAA’s mission, vision, and related goals.
• Servant Leadership–serve the common good. Be empowering, and inspire and help others to grow, succeed, and lead.

CMAA Fellows value the opportunity to serve the club management profession as well as the industry.

We do this by:

• Embracing Change
• Leading by Example
• Learning Continuously
• Pursuing Excellence
• Serving Our Community
• Sharing Knowledge

Open to CMAA Professional members in good standing with 10 or more years of membership; members will be active club managers at the time of application for CMAA Fellow.

Member nomination exceptions:

• Individual may not be a current CMAA Board member AND must be removed by three years from Board service
• Individual must be removed by three years from Fellows Selection Committee service

Nominations will be evaluated based on the following considerations:

• Qualifications
  • CMAA membership tenure
  • CMAA and other certifications (CCM, etc.)
  • CMAA involvement on the national and chapter levels
  • Outside involvement (other activities, awards, mentoring, etc.)
• Background Information (via Curriculum Vitae)
  • Work history and advancement
  • Education, degrees
  • Personal and professional achievements
  • Noteworthy activities
• Letters of Support
• Interview with the Fellows Selection Committee

• Name and contact information
• Present position and responsibilities
• CMAA Membership information
• Work history
• Educational background
• Professional certification(s)
• Awards, achievements, published articles
• University support for club management/hospitality course instruction
• Civic and community service
• CMAA involvement:
  • National Board/Committee service
  • Chapter involvement/leadership
  • World Conference [other event(s)] speaker/panelist/facilitator
  • CMAA Idea Fair participation
  • CMAA education/other credit hours
  • Mentoring and service to peers, young professionals, and students
  • The Club Foundation support

Submit Profile & Curriculum Vitae

A 500-word Essay that describes the following:
As a CMAA Fellow, what experiences, assets, and passion for the profession do you hope to share with the CMAA community? How will those contribute to the Association’s overall success?

Email Essay

Three (3) Letters of Support from colleagues/industry peers, limited to 500 words each, should be presented on club/company letterhead (not simply an email). Letters will be appended to complete the Nominee’s Fellows application package.

Please note: If more than the requested number of supporting letters are provided on behalf of the Nominee, only the first three (3) letters received will be considered by the Selection Committee.

Letters are due by December 31, 2023.

Email Letter as Attachment

or

Mail to:
Club Management Association of America
1733 King Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
Attn: Fellows Selection Committee

CMAA values long-time volunteers and highly engaged members for their contributions to our shared profession. The CMAA Fellows Program honors individuals who are making a significant impact on the club management community through exemplary service and leadership, accomplishments, and/or other major contributions to CMAA and the club management profession.

CMAA Fellow is an honor bestowed upon less than one percent of CMAA’s membership. Upon selection, the term “CMAA Fellow” may be used by active Fellows, who remain CMAA members in good standing, to represent their status and increase the recognition/visibility of CMAA’s Fellows Program.

Open to CMAA Professional members in good standing with 10 or more years of membership; members will be active club managers at the time of application for CMAA Fellow.

The two programs serve different purposes. The Certified Club Manager, Certified Chief Executive, and Master Club Manager credentials are CMAA’s professional certifications. "CMAA Fellow" is an honorific distinction that may be used by those in good standing to represent their status as a Fellow of CMAA. Professional certifications, including the CCM, CCE, and MCM may be considered in the Fellows selection process.

The Fellows Selection Committee is comprised of current CMAA members representing national and chapter leaders, regions of the country, club types and sizes, and other member demographics. Members will be rotated off the committee to add other CMAA members and/or current Fellows. Selection Committee members are neither eligible to apply to be a CMAA Fellow while serving on the committee, nor until three years post committee service.

The Fellows program uses a process governed by the Selection Committee. Nominees (applicants) for CMAA Fellows must be peer nominated. The nominee must then submit detailed endorsement letters from three colleagues/peers, his or her résumé/curriculum vitae, and an essay. The curriculum vitae should document service and involvement with CMAA. The essay is designed to capture the nominee’s thinking on how to foster and give back to the CMAA community.

The Selection Committee reviews all applications and if applicable final candidates are invited for individual interviews with multiple committee members.

If a candidate is not chosen by the Selection Committee to move forward, he/she may be nominated again.

The first class of CMAA Fellows included 10 individuals. Future Fellows class sizes will depend on selection criteria guidelines as well as the number of qualified applicants received annually. Once honored, the distinction of CMAA Fellow is a lifetime recognition as long as he/she remains a member in good standing (distinction may be rescinded for ethical and/or criminal violations).

The application and interview process for CMAA Fellow candidates begins in the fall of the given year. CMAA announces each class of Fellows at the annual World Conference and presents inductees with a memento there at a designated event.

CMAA Fellows are expected to continue to be high-level contributors to the Association. Individually, Fellows serve as authors, speakers, mentors, volunteer leaders, supporters, and advocates of the club management profession as well as Club Foundation contributors. They participate in strategic conversations, which may result in future CMAA educational programming and/or articles in CMAA-related publications. Currently, CMAA Fellows are convening in self-designated groups as active mentors, community engagers, and thought leaders.

CMAA Fellows may consider completing service projects as a group. In the future, Fellows may attend an annual retreat designed to strengthen professional relationships and address key issues surrounding the club industry.

William E. Langley, CCM, CCE, Boynton Beach, FL
Kristen LaCount, CCM, Chestnut Hill, MA
Randy Ruder, CCM, CCE, Mamaroneck, NY

Lawrence J. Avery, CCM, CCE, Middleton, WI
Robert J. Crifasi, CCM, CCE, CPA, New Orleans, LA
Todd D. Marsh, CCM, CCE, Lake Forest, IL
Michael McCarthy, Delray Beach, FL
David A. Sheppard, CCM, Atlanta, GA
Cindy A. Williams, CCM, Rumson, NJ

Damon J. DiOrio, CCM, CCE, Desert Mountain Club, Scottsdale, AZ
Robert J. Gusella, CCM, CCE, The Clubs at Houston Oaks, Hockley, TX
Kurt D. Kuebler, CCM, Kopplin Kuebler & Wallace, Jupiter, FL
Jesse K. Thorpe, CCM, CCE, Palm Coast, FL

Albert Antonez, CCM, CCE, Club at Las Campanas, Santa Fe, NM
Haissam Baityeh, CCM, CCE, Country Club of Spartanburg, Spartanburg, SC
Rick Bayliss, CCM, CCE, Lost Tree Club, N. Palm Beach, FL
LuAnn Giovannelli, CCM, CAM, Bay Colony, Naples, FL
Paula Kelly, CCM, CCE, Merion Golf Club, Ardmore, PA
Dick Kopplin, Kopplin Kuebler & Wallace, Scottsdale, AZ

Christian W. Coulter, CCM, McMahon Group, Mirror Lake, NH
Thomas M. DeLozier, CCM, CCE, Quail Hollow Club, Charlotte, NC
Anthony D'Errico, CCM, CCE, Quail West Foundation, Naples, FL
Matthew C. Guzik, CCM, CCE, Tara Iti Golf Club, Te Arai, New Zealand
Robert C. Josey, CCM, CCE, The Country Club, Pepper Pike, OH
Luke A. O'Boyle, CCM, CCE, Chevy Chase Club, Chevy Chase, MD
John M. Schultz, Sr., CCM, CCE, Carmel Country Club, Charlotte, NC
David H. Voorhees, CCM, CCE, Big Canyon Country Club, Newport Beach, CA

Joseph F. Basso, MCM, CCE, Birmingham Country Club, West Bloomfield, MI
Kevin E. Carroll, CCM, CCE, Bath & Tennis Club, Palm Beach, FL
Jay DiPietro, CCM, Delray Beach, FL
J.G. Ted Gillary, CCM, CCE, Detroit Athletic Club, Detroit, MI
Philip R. Kiester, Country Club of Virginia, Richmond, VA
Pasquale J. LaRocca, CCM, CCE, Lake Merced Golf Club, Daly City, CA
Michael G. Leemhuis, CCM, CCE, PGA, Palm Beach Gardens, FL
Donna Otis, CCM, CCE, The Bridges at Rancho Santa Fe, San Diego, CA
Terra S.H. Waldron, CCM, CCE, Greensboro Country Club, Greensboro, NC
Burton Ward, CCM, CCE, Century Country Club, Purchase, NY