Award Programs

Governance & Leadership:
Nebraska Chapter

New Member Recruitment & Onboarding:
Alabama Chapter

Member Engagement:
Wisconsin Badger Chapter

Member Interest Groups & Communities:
Wisconsin Badger Chapter

Education:
Philadelphia & Vicinity Chapter

Chapter Communications:
Carolinas Chapter

Community Outreach:
Metropolitan Chapter

Student Chapter & Faculty Engagement:
Upper Midwest Chapter

Best in Show:
Golden State Chapter—Education

Most Transferable Idea:
Florida Chapter—Member Interest Groups & Communities

SIGS/Member Communities:
Carolinas Chapter

Chapter Communications:
Greater Southwest Chapter

Governance:
New Jersey Chapter

Education:
Alabama Chapter

New Member Onboarding & Retention:
Wisconsin Badger Chapter

Membership Engagement:
Greater Michigan Chapter

Community Outreach:
Virginias Chapter

Student Chapter Engagement:
Nebraska Chapter

Best in Show:
Alabama Chapter - Community Outreach

Most Transferable Idea:
Connecticut Chapter - Education

Special Interest Groups (SIGs)/Member Communities
Carolinas Chapter

Chapter Communications
Pittsburgh Chapter

Governance
Virginias Chapter

Education
Carolinas Chapter

Membership Engagement
National Capital Chapters

Community Outreach
Nebraska Chapter

Student Chapter Engagement
Philadelphia & Vicinity Chapter

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Ohio Valley Chapter

“Best in Show”
Ohio Valley for their idea in "Membership Engagement"

“Most Transferable Idea”
Pittsburgh Chapter Chapter for their idea in "Special Interest Groups (SIGs)/Member Communities"

Special Interest Groups (SIGs)/Member Communities
Carolinas Chapter

Chapter Communications
Metropolitan Chapter

Governance
Ohio Valley Chapter

Education
Greater Southwest Chapter

Membership Engagement
Greater Chicago and Wisconsin Badger Chapters

Community Outreach
Nebraska Chapter

Student Chapter Engagement
Nebraska Chapter

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Upper Midwest Chapter

“Best in Show”
Virginias Chapter for their idea in "Membership Engagement"

“Most Transferable Idea”
Greater Cleveland Chapter for their idea in "Chapter Communications"

Special Interest Groups (SIGs)/Member Communities
Florida Chapter

Chapter Communications
Oregon Chapter

Education
Florida Chapter

Membership Engagement
Wisconsin Badger Chapter

Community Outreach
Carolinas Chapter

Student Chapter Engagement
Greater Chicago Chapter

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Connecticut Chapter

“Best in Show”
 Georgia Chapter for their idea in "Membership Engagement"

Club Management magazine has named Randy Ruder, Certified Club Manager (CCM), Certified Chief Executive (CCE), CMAA Fellow, the 2025 Club Executive of the Year. He currently serves as the General Manager of Beach Point Club in Mamaroneck, NY.

His nomination highlighted his remarkable approach to mentorship, defined by genuine care, personal investment, and a commitment to others’ success. Through his guidance and encouragement, Ruder has profoundly shaped careers and enriched lives across the profession.

Ruder joins a distinguished group of professionals who have earned this prestigious distinction. Each year, Club Management magazine honors one club management professional whose performance over the past year exemplifies the highest standards of leadership and professionalism with the Club Executive of the Year Award. Since its creation in 1985, this annual honor has recognized head-of-club professionals who elevate their facilities, communities, and CMAA Chapters through professionalism, mentorship, and positive culture. Nominations are accepted in the fall, and selections are made by a diverse committee of peers.

Mentee Qian Yang, CCM, the Club’s Assistant General Manager, explains Ruder’s impact as his mentor, “Randy truly embodies the very best of mentorship. He genuinely cares about people, investing in their growth and creating opportunities that often change the course of their lives. The countless success stories of those he has guided stand as living proof of his remarkable impact.”

Club Vice President Brad Eric Scheler highlighted how Ruder has created a supportive culture for the club’s employee team including the creation of a college internship program, an international internship program, and the 1925 Foundation, providing college scholarships for employees and their children. Scheler explains, “Randy is a star and is first-rate in all that he does. Engaging and possessed of contagious charm, there aren’t enough positive adjectives to describe Randy; warm, sensitive, intelligent, broad-minded, responsible, considerate…truly an outstanding person.”

Ruder is active with the Metropolitan Chapter of CMAA, where he has held every position on the Metropolitan Chapter Board, including President, and for the last 20 years has served on its Foundation Board, where he is currently Vice Chairman.

Ruder’s journey into hospitality has humble beginnings growing up on his family dairy farm in rural Wisconsin. An early experience of washing dishes in a restaurant on Mother’s Day sparked his passion, and he decided to pursue a degree in hospitality management. He earned his BS in Hospitality Administration and Business Administration from the University of Wisconsin-Stout and his Master of Business Administration from La Salle University. Throughout college, he gained extensive experience working in a variety of restaurants and completing internships at a few clubs in New York.

After learning about Eric Casper, the highly respected longtime General Manager of Beach Point Club, Ruder passionately pursued an internship opportunity. His efforts were successful; he began as a summer intern in 1993 and worked his way into senior management.

Ruder will be featured in the January/February 2026 issue of Club Management magazine, profiled in a forthcoming edition of the Let’s Talk Club Management podcast, and honored in person at the 2026 CMAA World Conference & Club Business Expo in Anaheim, CA.

2024 Matt Lambert, CCM, CAM, ECM
2023 Boris Gradina, MCM, CCE
2022 Brett Morris
2021 Marc Ray, CCM, CCE, CHAE 
2020 The Club Industry
2019 Tony D'Errico, CCM, CCE
2018 Burton Ward, CCM, CCE
2017 Richard L. LaRocca, CCM, CCE
2016 Terra S.H. Waldron, CCM, CCE
2015 Gregory J. Patterson
2014 C.J. "Joe" Bendy, Jr., CCM, CCE
2013 Jim G James, CCM
2012 Paul Astbury
2011 Michael Leemhuis, CCM, CCE
2010 Damon DiOrio, CCM, CCE
2009 Michael McCarthy
2008 G. Mead Grady, CCM
2007 ***
2006 George Carroll, CCM, CCE
2005 John Crean, CCM, CHA
2004 Larry L. Thompson
2003 Jonathan McCabe, CCM
2002 A. Graham McDeson, MCM
2001 Richard Bayliss Jr., CCM, CCE
2000 John R. Sullivan Jr., CCM
1999 William Schulz, MCM, CCE
1998 Jay DiPietro, CCM
1997 Stan Orr
1996 Robert James, CCM, CCE, CHE
1995 Richard Kolasa, CCM
1994 Melvin Rex, CCM
1993 John Hudson, CCM
1992 Christopher Borders, CCM
1991 Sally Burns Rambo, CCM
1990 James Brewer, MCM
1989 Joe Brem, CCM
1988 E.M. "Mike" Fraser, CCM
1987 Edward Drew, CCM
1986 Donald Hayes, CCM
1985 Laurice "Bud" Hall, MCM, CCE

*** No award due to magazine publishing transition

Category Winners

• Club Events/Experiences: Justin Kies, Champions Run, Omaha, NE
• Holiday Programs: Ken Kosak, Broken Sound Club, Boca Raton, FL
• Youth Programs/Events: Kasey Romano, River Oaks Country Club, Houston, TX
• Club Culture & Staff Development: Katie Bodchon, The Club at Admirals Cove, Palm Beach Gardens, FL
• Safety Programs & Risk Management: Colby Mitchell, Belle Meade Country Club, Nashville, TN
• Club Communications: Ryan Bender, CCM, The Country Club of Virginia, Richmond, VA
• Membership Development: Kent Johnson, CCM, CCE, Baltimore Country Club, Baltimore, MD
• Governance & Committee Leadership: Dave Porter, CCM, Greystone Golf & Country Club, Birmingham, AL
• Renovation Programs: Patrick King, CCM, CCE, Army Navy Country Club, Arlington, VA
• Sports & Recreation: Alexandra Masel, Cosmos Club, Washington, DC
• Fitness, Health, & Wellness: Brittany West, Carmel Country Club, Charlotte, NC
• Culinary & Beverage Concepts: Joe Smith, CCM, Countryside Golf & Country Club, Naples, FL
• Cost-/Time-Saving Concepts: Phil Kiester, CCM, The Country Club of Virginia, Richmond, VA
• Community Impact & Sustainability: (TIE) Matt Guzik, CCM, CCE, Tara Iti Golf Club, Mangawhai, New Zealand & Nicholas Peet, Detroit Athletic Club, Detroit, MI
• Internships & Mentorships: Rechelle Leal, Houston Racquet, Houston, TX
• Breakthrough Ideas: Kyle Hillhouse, Boca Woods Country Club, Boca Raton, FL

Overall Award Winners:

• Chairman’s Award: Janet Fletcher, Desert Mountain Club, Scottsdale, AZ (Breakthrough Ideas)
• The Showstopper Award: Damon Spiriti, Saucon Valley Country Club, Bethlehem, PA (Safety Programs and Risk Management)
• Most Innovative Award Winner: Bri Brookins, Detroit Athletic Club, Detroit, MI (Membership Development)

Category Winners

• Club Events: Cathy Perrin, Houston Racquet Club, Houston, TX
• Special Holiday Programs: Joe Krenn, CCM, CCE, Farmington Country Club, Charlottsville, VA
• Youth Programs or Events: Elliott Freeman, North Ridge Country Club, Raleigh, NC
• Staff Management & Incentives: Patrick King, CCM, CCE, Army Navy Country Club, Arlington, VA
• Staff Mental Health & Wellness: Rebecca Wyskiel, Baltimore Country Club, Lutherville, MD
• Safety Programs and Risk Management: John Gravett, CCM, CCE, Granite Club, Toronto, ON, Canada
• Club Communications: Katie Bodchon, The Club at Admirals Cove, Jupiter, FL
• Membership Development: Sean Brown, Grosse Pointe Yacht Club, Grosse Pointe Shore, MI
• Leadership Philosophies and Development: Thomas Preuml, CCM, CCE, Houston Racquet Club, Houston, TX
• Renovation Programs: Greg Gilg, CCM, Field Club of Omaha, Omaha, NE
• Environmental Impact: Sonny McDaniel, CCM, Houston Racquet Club, Houston, TX
• Golf Operations: Phil Kiester, CCM, The Country Club of Virginia, Richmond, VA
• Racquet Sports: Adam Heath, Houston Racquet Club, Houston, TX
• Alternate Sports & Recreation: Shawn Schroeder, Great Oaks Country Club, Rochester, MI
• Fitness, Health, & Wellness: Ben Lorenzen, CCM, Champions Run, Omaha, NE
• Food Concepts: Sonny McDaniel, CCM, Houston Racquet Club, Houston, TX
• Beverage Concepts: Phil Grossman, Bretton Woods Recreation Center, Germantown, MD
• Cost-/Time Saving Concepts: Holly Bilotti, CCM, Bay Head Yacht Club, Bay Head, NJ
• Community Outreach: Anne Stryhn, CCM, The Country Club of Virginia, Richmond, VA
• Internships and Mentorships: Patrick King, CCM, CCE, Army Navy Country Club, Arlington, VA
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Jessica Gonzalez, Wycliffe Golf & Country Club, Wellington, FL
• Breakthrough Ideas: Blake Stovall, Houston Racquet Club, Houston, TX

Overall Award Winners:

• Chairman’s Award: Jeffrey Blais, Wildcat Cliffs CC, Highlands, NC, in the category of Staff Management & Incentives
• The Showstopper Award: Bri Brookins, The Detroit Athletic Club, Detroit, MI, in the category of Breakthrough Ideas
• Most Innovative Award Winner: John Gravett, CCM, CCE, Granite Club, Toronto, ON, Canada, in the category of Membership Development

Category Winners

Club Events: Paul Kornfeind, MCM, CCE, Great Hills Country Club, Austin, TX
Special Holiday Programs: David Porter, CCM, Greystone Golf & Country Club, Birmingham, AL
Youth Programs or Events: Tai Tran, CCM, Detroit Athletic Club, Grosse Pointe Farms, IL
Staff Management & Incentives: Bailey Everhart, Maroon Creek Club, Aspen, CO
Safety Programs and Risk Management: Endrei Engelbrecht, Wildcats Cliffs Country Club, Highlands, NC
Club Communications: Christina Gusella, Flint Hills National Golf Club, Andover, KS
Membership Development: David Porter, CCM, Greystone Golf & Country Club, Birmingham, AL
Leadership Philosophies and Development: Audrey Miller, Field Club of Omaha, Omaha, NE
Renovation Programs: Austin Pettit, Houston Country Club, Houston, TX
Environmental Impact: Gregg Leonard, CCM, Desert Mountain Club, Scottsdale, AZ
Golf Operations: Lori LeBard, CCM, El Niguel Country Club, Laguna Niguel, CA
Alternative Sports and Recreation: Gregg Leonard, CCM, Desert Mountain Club, Scottsdale, AZ
Health and Wellness: Brett Morris, The Club at Admirals Cove, Jupiter, FL
Food Concepts: Allison Boyd, Champions Run, Omaha, NE
Beverage Concepts: Ben Lorenzen, CCM, Champions Run, Omaha, NE
Cost-/Time-Saving Concepts: Kent Johnson, CCM, CEC, Baltimore Country Club, Baltimore, MD
Community Outreach: Brett Morris, The Club at Admirals Cove, Jupiter, FL
Internships and Mentorships: Blake Stovall, Houston Racquet Club, Houston, TX
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Stephen LoGiudice, CCM, The Club at Ibis, West Palm Beach, FL
Breakthrough Ideas: Andy Reetz, CCM, Champions Run, Omaha, NE

The Chairman's Award: Anne Stryhn, CCM, Country Club of Virginia, Richmond, VA, for her entry in the Youth Programs or Events Category

The Most Innovative Idea Award: Brittney Delcore, Fiddler’s Elbow Country Club, Bedminster, NJ, for her entry in the Beverage Concepts Category

The Showstopper Winner: Paul Kornfeind, MCM, CCE, Great Hills Country Club, Austin, TX, for his entry in the Club Events Category

Category Winners

Club Events: Alexandra Donohoe, Congressional Country Club, Bethesda, Maryland
Special Holiday Programs: Allison Boyd, Champions Run, Omaha, Nebraska
Youth Programs or Events: Cory Conklin, Mission Hills Country Club, Mission Hills, Kansas
Staff Management & Incentives: Philip Kiester, The Country Club of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia
Safety Programs and Risk Management: William Norem, Country Club of Buffalo, Williamsville, New York
Club Communications: Tai Tran, CCM, Detroit Athletic Club, Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan
Membership Development: Michael Wheeler, MCM, CCE, Cherokee Town and Country Club, Atlanta, Georgia
Renovation Programs: Patrick King, CCM, CCE, Army Navy Country Club, Arlington, Virginia
Environmental Impact: Brandon Johnson, Farmington Country Club, Charlottesville, Virginia
Golf Operations: Philip Kiester, The Country Club of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia
Alternate Sports & Recreation: Joe Krenn, CCM, CCE, Farmington Country Club, Charlottesville, Virginia
Fitness, Health and Wellness: JulieAnne Brown, CCM, CPA, Farmington Country Club, Charlottesville, Virginia
Food Concepts and Beverage Concepts: Tyler Winkowski, Wanakah Country Club, Hamburg, New York
Cost-/Time-Saving Concepts: Eben Molloy, CCM, CCE, Woodfield Country Club, Boca Raton, Florida
Community Outreach: Holly Bilotti, Bay Head Yacht Club, Bay Head, New Jersey
Silver Linings: Michael Palamara, CCM, Army Navy Country Club, Fairfax, Virginia
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Nathan Lamb, Charlotte Country Club, Charlotte, North Carolina

The Chairman's Award: Matt Guzik, CCM, CCE, Tara Iti Golf Club, New Zealand, for his entry in the Staff Management Category

The Most Innovative Idea Award: Laura McCarthy, Dataw Island Club, Dataw Island, South Carolina, for her entry in the Membership Development Category

The Showstopper Winner: Ben Lorenzen, CCM, Champions Run, Omaha, Nebraska, for his entry in the Alternative Sports and Recreation Category

First Place Winners: Student Members

• Membership Growth & Retention Strategies: Sija Headrick, Johnson & Wales, NC, A Passport to Engagement & Growth
• Effective Onboarding & Member Involvement: Althea Simmons, Niagara University, A Good Person Leads to a Great Manager
• Career Development Resources: Miranda Dowdy, Virginia Tech, Manager in Training Panel
• Networking & Collaborative Events: Carson Liebetrau, Florida State University, World Conference Alumni Reunion
• Creative Fundraising Initiative: Ariana Adolph, Johnson & Wales, NC, Fundraising Through Alumni Connections: Food Truck Collaboration 

Best in Show: Student Members

• Creative Fundraising Initiative: Jackie Cardenas Barrera, Johnson & Wales, NC, Wildcat Parking

First Place Winners: Faculty Advisors

• Advocacy for Club Management Careers: Dr. Piyavan Sukalakamala, Johnson & Wales, NC, Shadow a Club Pro Days
• Curriculum Enhancement in Club Management: Dr. Rod Warnick, University of Massachusetts, UMass Club Management Club Management Enrichment

Best in Show: Faculty Advisors

• Research & Best Practices in Club Management: Dr. Rod Warnick, University of Massachusetts, UMass Club Case Study Book and Class Introduction—Storytelling 2024

Student Categories

Recruitment & Retention—Niagara University, Althea Simmons 

New Member Onboarding & Engagement—Johnson & Wales University NC, Madison Hansma 

Student Member Engagement—Niagara University, Hayden Carter 

Collaboration with Senior and/or Student Chapters—Kent State, Kyra Bradley 

Fundraising—Johnson & Wales, RI, Dante DeMarino 

Best in Show—Recruitment & Retention—Michigan State University, Joshua May 

Faculty Categories

Promotion of the Profession—Kent State, Hannah Petrone 

Student Chapter Liaison Manager and/or Faculty Engagement—University of Massachusetts, Rod Warnick 

Club Management Education—Florida State University, Cynthia Johnson 

Best in Show—Promotion of the Profession—University of Massachusetts, Rod Warnick

Recruitment & Retention—Virginia Tech

New Member Onboarding & Engagement—Johnson and Wales University – Charlotte

Chapter Engagement—Niagara University

Collaboration with Senior Chapter—Fairleigh Dickinson University

Fundraising—University of Houston

Best in Show—University of Houston