July 10, 2026
Professional Development
Foster the Gift of Connection at the 2026 Leadership/Legislative Conference
In an era where isolation and distraction are on the rise, organizations must be intentional about fostering trust, collaboration, and authentic relationships.
2026 Leadership/Legislative Conference (LLC) keynote speaker Mark Ostach, a globally recognized presenter and leadership coach on digital wellness and mental health, will share insights on fostering the gift of connection.
Explore how to create a culture where connection drives innovation, well-being, and long-term success—whether in the office or across a screen. Hear ways to reignite human connection, leaving you with a newfound courage to connect. Apply your new skills, build meaningful connections with fellow CMAA members, and experience a memorable evening at the iconic Detroit Athletic Club.
Join aspiring, current, and sustaining leaders in Detroit, MI, September 14-16, where ideas are shared, leadership is sharpened, and the work of the Association moves forward in real time. Build momentum toward CMAA’s Centennial at this educational and networking experience.
Learn more and join us in Detroit!
Meet CMAA in St. Louis for the 2026 Mid-Management Conference
Set yourself up for success with education designed to tackle your club’s most pressing membership and marketing challenges. Slated for November 1-3, in Washington, DC, CMAA’s Membership & Marketing Symposium will feature sessions addressing:
- Building an engaging member experience;
- Maximizing potential member recruitment and the sales process;
- Managing your club’s waitlist and expectations; and
- Breaking through the stereotypes of shifting demographics.
Gain insight, best practices, and real-life solutions to apply for your clubs, while visiting several iconic clubs, including Columbia Country Club, Cosmos Club, the Metropolitan Club, and the Sulgrave Club.
Build industry connections with your Membership & Marketing peers, share your experiences, and learn from industry experts in the Nation’s Capital!
This event is presented in partnership with Jonas Club Software.
Virtual Board Education Opportunity Ahead
Add new perspectives for your club’s elected leader(s) with CMAA’s Governance & Leadership Symposium on Wednesday, July 22. Available virtually, this one-day symposium brings together the GM and their club’s elected leaders for cooperative education. Your Board Members will leave this symposium more informed and equipped with key takeaways for improving club governance.
These highly rated Symposiums are presented in partnership with KOPPLIN KUEBLER & WALLACE, a CMAA Executive Partner.
Don’t delay! Registration closes on July 20.
The Symposium is presented in partnership with KOPPLIN KUEBLER & WALLACE, a CMAA Executive Partner.
Learn more and access registration rates
Limited Seats Available for the 2026 Capital Improvements Symposium
There’s still time to register for the 2026 Capital Improvements Symposium August 9-11, in Chicago, IL. Experience a city with a rich architectural heritage while learning how to manage and complete a successful club project, renovation, or deconstruction.
Learn directly from professionals and industry experts who bring real-time experience, hard-earned insights, and stories from the front lines of club renovations. Check out the full schedule of sessions.
As a bonus, by attending this event, you will earn 15 CMI Credits and satisfy one of the requirements for obtaining your Certified Chief Executive (CCE) designation under the updated criteria, effective 2030.
Don’t delay—spaces are limited!
Membership and Member Benefits
2026 Club Executive of the Year: Call for Nominations
Annually, CMAA’s 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 available online. All nomination materials must be received by September 10.
Long-Standing Members Recognized in 2026
The continued engagement of our members is the foundation of CMAA’s strength and future. To honor this enduring commitment, the CMAA established the Longevity Program, recognizing members who reach milestone anniversaries of 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, or 60 years of membership.
Each year, members celebrating these significant milestones receive a custom-designed commemorative pin in appreciation of their dedication and ongoing support of the Association.
It is our privilege to recognize the outstanding members who reached these milestones in 2026. Collectively, they represent an incredible 5,740 years of CMAA membership—a remarkable testament to their loyalty, commitment, and lasting impact on our Association.
Congratulations to each of these exceptional members on this well-deserved recognition.
Connect & Collaborate: New VIP Intern Supervisor Group
Looking for fresh ways to elevate your internship program and enhance the student experience? We are thrilled to announce a brand-new idea-sharing group exclusively for our Verified Internship Program (VIP) Intern Supervisors!
Whether your interns are focused on Food and Beverage, Events, Youth Programming, or general operations, this is your dedicated space to swap best practices, troubleshoot challenges, and collaborate with fellow leaders.
Head over to our Connect page today to join the conversation, share your winning strategies, and find inspiration to make your next intern cohort the best one yet!
Features
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Featured Discussion: Changing Club Management Software |
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Resources
Additional Chapters Added to the Fourth Edition of Contemporary Club Management
Several additional chapters have been added to the Fourth Edition of Contemporary Club Management, the definitive, comprehensive textbook on private club operations, covering leadership, food and beverage, golf operations, and finance.
The Fourth Edition of the textbook is being released in phases, with revised chapters replacing previous versions as they are finalized. All content aligns with CMAA certification standards, and members preparing for the Certified Club Manager (CCM) exam will be notified of any relevant updates.
This update includes the following chapters:
- Chapter 6: Appendix A – Global Perspective: Integrated Marketing and Member Engagement in Modern Club Operations
- Chapter 8 (Part 2): Managing Human Resources in Private Clubs and Workplace Laws
- Chapter 8: Appendix A – Global Perspective: Building Culture in Diverse, Unionized Club Environments
- Chapter 9: Appendix A – Global Perspective: Training & Development — A Universal Language, Local Practice
- Chapter 13: Asset Management and Capital Improvements
*Please note that Chapter 12: The Digital Evolution of Private Club Technology is coming soon.
A one-time payment of $85 provides continued access to the textbook through your online TopHat account, including automatic access to all future updates and new editions at no additional cost.
Kendall Scholarship Application Deadline Fast Approaching
Initiated in 2001, the Willmoore H. Kendall Scholarship has supported aspiring club management professionals for more than 25 years. Established to honor one of the industry's most respected leaders, the scholarship provides significant financial assistance to individuals pursuing the Certified Club Manager (CCM) designation.
The Willmoore H. Kendall Scholarship covers the cost of all not-yet-taken Business Management Institute (BMI) courses required to achieve the CCM designation, as well as the Certification Review Course and exam. As The Club Foundation's most sought-after scholarship, it is open to CMAA members who are committed to a career in club management and are actively pursuing their CCM. Applicants must also receive a nomination from their CMAA Chapter in the form of a recommendation letter.
Complete application instructions and eligibility requirements are available on The Club Foundation website.
Important Deadline Update
Applications for this year's scholarship are due August 10; this is an earlier deadline than in prior years. The Club Foundation anticipates the annual application deadline will move to August 1 beginning next year, in 2027.
The Foundation has taken on a comprehensive update to the application evaluation process, including the calendar of deadlines for multiple programs. Deadlines currently listed as "TBD" will be announced soon. Members are encouraged to keep an eye on The Club Foundation's apply page and watch for related electronic communications for additional updates.
Culinary Training Available on CMAA’s Club Resource Center
CMAA’s Club Resource Center (CRC) course line-up has added 23 new culinary training courses from Auguste Escoffier. That’s almost 50 hours of culinary training!
Courses include:
- Culinary Essentials
- Introduction to the Kitchen
- Building the Plate
- Cooking Methods
- Garde Manger
- Stocks, Sauces, Soups & Stews
- …and many more
Our CRC, priced at only $1195/year to include all club staff, brings you a broad scope of online interactive training courses. Contact Bob Gould for a CRC course list or more information.
Trends and News
2026 Governance and Policies Report Now Available
We are pleased to announce the release of the 2026 Governance and Policies Report in collaboration with Club Benchmarking, a CMAA Executive Partner. This report is informed by 209 survey responses collected in early 2026, supplemented by governance and policy data drawn from the Club Benchmarking VISTA platform, representing a combined dataset of 1,041 clubs—one of the most comprehensive compilations of club governance data available in the industry.
The report addresses a broad spectrum of topics critical to effective club leadership and administration, including board composition and elections, officer roles and responsibilities, committee structures, strategic planning practices, membership policies, bylaw amendment processes, and member communications. Club executives and board leaders are encouraged to utilize this report as a benchmarking resource and strategic reference as they evaluate and refine their own governance frameworks in alignment with industry standards.
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 Industry Studies folder.
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.