April 24, 2026
Professional Development
Is a Renovation Project on the Horizon for Your Club?
Get the blueprints to make your club’s next project a success at the Capital Improvements Symposium. Hosted at The Chicago Club in Chicago, IL, August 9-11, this event will help you build the competencies you need to lead your club’s next project, renovation, or deconstruction. Topics will be diverse and extensive and cover every aspect from start to finish including obtaining member approval for the project, contracts/draw schedule, project cost estimating, assembling the team and roles and responsibilities, financing, feasibility and valuation, and project management.
As a bonus, attending this event will satisfy one of the requirements for obtaining your Certified Chief Executive (CCE) designation under the updated criteria, effective 2030.
Send Your Human Resources Professionals to the 2026 HR Summit
Registration for the 2026 Human Resources Summit is open! Join us August 11-13, 2026!
The HR Summit is the annual event designed specifically for professionals focusing on the club’s people and culture. Education is curated for the unique needs, challenges, and priorities of HR professionals and provides maximum opportunities for networking and collaboration.
The Summit will take place at the renowned Interlachen Country Club in Edina, MN.
BMI General Manager/COO: New location, Same Great Program
In March, the BMI GM/COO program moved to its new location on the campus of Michigan State University (MSU). Since the inception of the program, it had been at the Kellogg Hotal and Conference Center at MSU. The Kellogg Center was the host for the education sessions and the lodging room block. After years of consideration and the feedback from our members, the decision was made to transition to a new location for the program.
The James B. Henry Center for Executive Development is the new home for BMI GM/COO. Though still on the MSU campus, the Henry Center provides members with a more fulfilling educational and F&B experience. The Henry Center’s location is unique, adjacent to The University Club and Candlewood Suites. This truly offers convenience, service and amenities that the Kellogg Center was not equipped to provide for members.
- The Candlewood Suites will serve as lodging for the BMI GM/COO program room block. It offers suite-style rooms for comfort and leisure.
- The University Club gives attendees access to the restaurant for dining and the fitness center and spa.
We are excited to maintain the relationship with MSU and look forward to our members to enjoy the experience at this new location.
Membership and Member Benefits
President & CEO’s Perspective: Contemporary Club Management Fourth Edition
Learn how the club industry's foundational textbook has been transformed into a dynamic online resource designed to keep pace with the modern club management profession. Jeff Morgan, FASAE, CAE, explains and shares how to access the fourth edition of Contemporary Club Management.
CMAA Membership Cards Honored at Golf Events
Don’t forget that your CMAA membership card is honored by our industry partners. Professional, Retired, and Honorary members are all allowed access to USGA, PGA TOUR and LPGA events (The Masters and Ryder Cup excluded). Simply present your digital ID card at the ticket office on the day of the event and receive a grounds pass for the day.
Please note: There is a lottery process for US Open tickets. More information will be available soon, so please be on the lookout.
Please contact Erica Benjamin with any questions
Innovation in Action: A Deeper Look at Our Student Chapter and Faculty "Best in Show" Winners
It has been just over a month since we gathered in Anaheim, but the impact of the ideas shared at the World Conference continues to resonate. We are circling back to highlight the Best in Show honorees from the Student and Faculty Idea Fair shining a light on the specific projects that set the bar for innovation this year.
Student Chapter Idea Fair: Best in Show
Winner: Kiley Kennedy, Johnson & Wales University, RI
Winning Idea: Career Opportunities Map
“The Career Opportunities Map was inspired by our chapter members, who frequently approached our chapter’s leadership seeking assistance in finding summer internships or post-graduate careers at private clubs. These conversations were often followed by the question, “Do you know any clubs hiring in [specific location]?” as students usually sought opportunities close to home or in a specific place they were interested in. Through the mentorship of our faculty advisor, Matthew Samel, chapter members from the 2024-25 academic year created the foundation of the Google Map, which continues to be updated as new club connections are established.
The Map has had a meaningful impact on our student chapter, as it enables students to identify clubs in their desired locations and be connected through our leadership team or faculty advisor. The clubs on the map consist of Johnson & Wales University alumni and contacts made through networking at CMAA conferences and regional NECMA events, allowing us to better connect students with management teams at the clubs they are interested in. The Map has given our chapter a chance to create valuable professional opportunities for our members as they begin or continue their journeys in the private club industry.” -Kiley Kennedy
Faculty Idea Fair: Best in Show
Winner: Mandy Ulicney, Kent State University
Winning Idea: CMAA Design Challenge
“While developing the curriculum for the Club Management course, I wanted to create an engaging lecture on club events. As I worked through the material, I realized this topic would be far more impactful as an experiential learning opportunity. Reflecting on my own experience as a club manager, I thought about the creativity involved in planning holiday events and decided to give students the opportunity to experience that process firsthand.
With that goal in mind, I developed the Club Management Design Challenge and intentionally involved in the Greater Cleveland Chapter, given their ongoing support of our student chapter. I reached out to four local clubs, and they were all excited to participate!
To bring the event to life, I partnered with Event Source, who generously donated tables, chairs, linens, flatware, and glassware. I also engaged event designer Joe Mineo, a member of our advisory board, to create themed centerpieces and serve as co-emcee, adding both creativity and industry expertise.
The event was structured to be both strategic and engaging. Teams began with a draft-style selection process, choosing a centerpiece to guide their design. They then competed in rounds of club and event-based trivia to earn additional “picks,” combining industry knowledge with competition.
One of the most impactful aspects was the collaboration between students and professionals. Event managers relied on student input, while students gained confidence contributing ideas and making decisions alongside experienced professionals.
After completing their selections, teams were given 15 minutes to design and execute their tables, followed by peer voting to determine a winner.
Overall, this experience reinforced the value of experiential learning in club management education. It provided students with a unique opportunity to apply classroom knowledge in a real-world setting, build confidence, and develop meaningful connections with industry professionals. From this event one of the clubs hired a student who they had worked with to be an intern at their club this summer!” -Mandy Ulicney
Features
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Featured Discussion: Organizing Golf Games |
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Resources
2024 Finance and Operations Report FY2024 Now Available
The 2024 Finance and Operations Report FY2024, a detailed report of key financial and operating data for the club management industry, is now available to all CMAA members. This report is a collaboration with Club Benchmarking, a CMAA Executive Partner.
The data presented in this report represents the aggregated financials results of clubs closing their 2024 fiscal year between December 31, 2023, and December 31, 2024. A total of 1,203 clubs participated in the survey. The 1,203 clubs are comprised of 1004 clubs with golf and 199 clubs without golf.
Access the Report
CMAA members may also access their complimentary copy of the full report through CMAA Connect in the Best Practices Exchange Community Library in the CMAA Annual Reports folder.
CMAA and Club Benchmarking will also host a one-hour webinar to dive into the data in May. Stay tuned for your invitation to participate!
If you have any questions, please contact Amilcar Davy, CMAA's Director of Research, at 703-739-9500, or Bryan LaBlue, Club Benchmarking’s Senior Director of Research and Innovation, at 774-571-8427.
Cybersecurity Staff Training Courses Available on CMAA’s Club Resource Center
CMAA’s Club Resource Center (CRC) course line-up offers five cybersecurity training courses for you and your staff. These courses include:
- Cybersecurity Overview
- Workplace Security Basics 2.0
- Cybersecurity - Staying Safe Online 3.0
- Social Engineering 2.0
- Introduction to Ransomware 2.0
The CRC subscription brings you a broad scope of online interactive training courses for all your club’s staff. Contact Bob Gould for a full CRC course list or more information.
Trends and News
Let’s Talk Club Management Podcast: Ep. 157—Leaning Into Employee Safety
On this episode of the podcast, we’re joined by Alan Achatz, CCM, CHE, to discuss some of the perennial safety issues clubs face. Alan is the founder of Club Safety Solutions, LLC, whose primary mission is bringing safety knowledge to businesses through managerial and line employee education sessions. As we learn in this conversation, safety is as much a part of club culture as anything else—and Alan takes us through how clubs can establish a solid approach to safety with their staff team.
More Growth at The Club Foundation
You may have noticed that several scholarships offered by The Club Foundation now show their deadline dates as “TBD” on the Club Foundation website.
The Club Foundation Allocation Committee (CFAC) met during World Conference and is actively preparing for the upcoming scholarship season. With both the number of scholarships awarded and applications received continuing to grow, and with two new scholarships set to be added to the Foundation’s giving portfolio, it is essential to hone the application and evaluation processes. These updates are designed to better support our members applying for scholarships while also supporting our dedicated CMAA members who volunteer to serve on the committee. Once the new deadlines are finalized, we will share the updated schedule via Outlook.
The Club Foundation continues to play a vital role in shaping the future of the private club industry through scholarships and programming (possible only because of so many generous supporters just like you). As an integral part of the CMAA family, we are also proud to help celebrate CMAA’s Centennial at the upcoming 2027 World Conference and Business Expo in Chicago. Founded in 1988 as a subsidiary of CMAA, The Club Foundation will soon mark its own 40th anniversary.
Thank you for your continued support and contributions. As always, please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or need assistance at 703-299-4284. Every donation, large or small, helps us invest in the future of our industry.