News Room
King and Speh Selected for the 2026 Class of CMAA Fellows
Alexandria, VA—Two distinguished club industry leaders have been inducted into the Club Management Association of America (CMAA) 2026 class of Fellows. Established in 2019, the CMAA Fellows Program recognizes dynamic, engaged leaders who exemplify the highest standards of leadership, integrity, involvement, and professional excellence in club management.
Announced during the Opening Business Session at the 2026 World Conference & Club Business Expo in Anaheim, CA, this year’s inductees are:
Patrick King, CCM, CCE
Army Navy Country Club,
Arlington, VA
Desi Speh, CCM
The Desert Highlands Association,
Scottsdale, AZ
Each Fellow is selected through a rigorous, peer-driven process that includes nomination, a comprehensive application highlighting innovation and professional impact, interviews with a selection committee composed of peers, and final selection from a highly accomplished candidate pool.
The CMAA Fellows community now includes 43 distinguished leaders who serve as mentors, innovators, and champions for the Association and the broader club industry. Fellowship is a lifetime honor recognizing enduring contributions to the profession and a lasting legacy of leadership.
About CMAA
Founded in 1927, the Club Management Association of America (CMAA) is the largest professional association for managers of membership clubs with 8,700 members throughout the US and internationally. Our members contribute to the success of more than 2,600 country, golf, athletic, city, faculty, military, town, and yacht clubs. The objectives of the Association are to promote relationships between club management professionals and other similar professions; to encourage the education and advancement of members; and to provide the resources needed for efficient and successful club operations. Under the covenants of professionalism, education, leadership, and community, CMAA continues to extend its reach as the leader in the club management practice. CMAA is headquartered in Alexandria, VA, with 38 professional chapters and 45 current and prospective student chapters. Learn more at cmaa.org.