The nominee’s résumé should include Education, Employment History, and/or Community Involvement. A LinkedIn Profile Download is admissible.
Club Executive of the Year
2026 Call for Nominations
Annually, Club Management magazine honors a high-performing club management professional who exemplifies excellence in leadership with the Club Executive of the Year Award. Created more than 40 years ago as the Club Manager of the Year Award, today the distinction specifically recognizes top-level executives whose sustained contributions have significantly impacted their clubs, community, and the broader profession.
Help us honor an extraordinary club management professional who raises the bar in club management and within the CMAA community. CMAA welcomes and encourages nominations from diverse backgrounds and work experiences.
Please review the full criteria, nomination packet requirements, judging process, and notification information below.
2026 Nominations must include specifics on how the Nominee fosters and embraces:
- Mentoring;
- Creating a club culture that supports the staff team through on-going educational opportunities and crisis assistance; and
- Demonstrating sustained engagement with their local CMAA Chapter and industry network.
All nominations (including the Nominee’s résumé and all three recommendation letters) must be received by September 10.
Full Criteria & Nomination Packet Requirements
Please Note: All communications and official award notifications will be directed to the person submitting the nomination.
Submit no more than three letters of recommendation to include:
- A letter from a current or past mentee (within the last three years) detailing how the nominee embraces mentoring and their experience.
- A letter of recommendation from the nominee’s current club detailing how the nominee specifically creates and contributes to a club culture that supports the staff team through on-going educational opportunities and crisis assistance over the past one to three years. The letter must be sent from a member of the Club’s Board of Directors, Owner, or member of the Leadership Team.
- A letter of recommendation from the nominee’s current CMAA Chapter describing how the nominee has demonstrated sustained engagement with their local CMAA Chapter over the past one to three years. This letter must be sent by a CMAA member who currently serves on the nominee’s local Chapter’s Board of Directors.
All materials may be submitted via the form below, mail, or email no later than September 10 to the attention of:
Melissa Low, CAE
Vice President, Communications & Advocacy
Club Management Association of America
1733 King Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
703-739-9500
Judging Process & Notifications
- Nominations will be reviewed by a panel of CMAA members and past award recipients and evaluated based on the three areas outlined above, as demonstrated within the past one to three years.
- If more than the requested number of recommendation letters are provided on behalf of the Nominee, only the first three letters received will be considered by the Judging Committee.
- Incomplete nominations will not be considered.
Notifications and Announcements
- All official award notifications will be directed to the person submitting the nomination. All nominators will be contacted prior to the official announcement.
- The Club Executive of the Year winner will be announced in November, profiled in a forthcoming edition of Club Management magazine, featured on an episode of the Let’s Talk Club Management podcast, and honored in-person at the CMAA 2027 World Conference & Club Business Expo in Chicago, IL.