November 6, 2026
Professional Development
World Conference Featured Speaker: Organizational Psychologist, The Wharton School of Business; Bestselling Author; Host: Re:Thinking, a TED Original Podcast, Adam Grant
As an organizational psychologist, Adam Grant rethinks how we work and live. He has been Wharton’s top-rated professor for seven straight years, and his research has inspired people to question assumptions about leadership, success, character, culture, and change. He is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of six books that have sold millions of copies and been praised by Oprah, Mark Cuban, Malcolm Gladwell, Trevor Noah, and Serena Williams. In October 2026, he released a new book, Vibe: The Secrets of Strong Connections in a Lonely World. His TED talks have more than 35 million views, and his podcasts have more than 100 million downloads; he hosts Re:Thinking and cohosts The Curiosity Shop with Brené Brown. He has been recognized as the world’s #2 most influential management thinker and in Fortune’s 40 Under 40. Gain new insights from Adam Grant at CMAA's General Session on Monday, February 8, from 4:15-5:15 p.m.
Celebrate a century of professionalism, education, leadership, and community and set the stage for the next 100 years at the 2027 World Conference & Club Business Expo, February 7-11, 2027, in Chicago, IL. As CMAA marks its centennial, this historic gathering honors the curiosity, determination, innovation, resilience, and spirit of service that have defined the club management profession and will continue to carry it forward.
Learn more about the full schedule of education and celebrations! Early registration pricing is available through December 10.
Register by November 17 for Virtual Board Education Opportunity
Add new perspectives for your club’s elected leader(s) with CMAA’s Governance & Leadership Symposiums on November 19. Available virtually, this one-day symposium features cooperative education for the GM and the club’s elected leaders. Attendees will leave this symposium more informed and equipped with key takeaways for improving club governance. Attend from anywhere with an Internet connection.
These highly rated Symposiums are presented in partnership with KOPPLIN KUEBLER & WALLACE, a CMAA Executive Partner.
Registration ends November 17.
Membership and Member Benefits
Celebrate CMAA’s Centennial in Style!
The celebration is here! As CMAA marks its 100th anniversary, the online Centennial Store is officially open for business. Now is the perfect time to show your CMAA pride and commemorate this historic milestone with exclusive Centennial merchandise.
Whether you're looking for a keepsake to remember this special year, a fun way to celebrate with your fellow members, or the perfect addition to your Centennial festivities, the store has something for you. Shop the collection, find your favorites, and wear your CMAA pride as we celebrate 100 years of connection, innovation, and excellence in club management.
Don't wait to celebrate—visit the online Centennial Store today and be part of CMAA history!
Elevate Your Impact: Student & Faculty Competitions at World Conference
With the Centennial World Conference in Chicago, IL, just around the corner, two featured competitions offer student teams and faculty advisors the ultimate platform to highlight innovation, leadership, and chapter success on a national stage.
Student Shark Tank Competition
Submission Deadline: Wednesday, January 6
Final Round: Monday, February 8 | 4:30–5:30 p.m.
Step into the spotlight and command the room! The Student Shark Tank Competition gives students the chance to showcase their creativity and entrepreneurial spirit for a shot at the $1,000 grand prize! From crafting a ninety second pitch video to presenting live on stage at CMAA’s World Conference and Club Business Expo, participants will have the opportunity to impress a panel of club management “Sharks” with their product, software, or concept. This is your moment to dive in, make waves, and bring your innovative vision to life!
Student Chapter & Faculty Idea Fair
Submission Deadline: Saturday, January 9
Showcase your top accomplishments and compete for a $1,000 Student Chapter grant from The Club Foundation. Both Student Chapters and Faculty Advisors are invited to enter as many ideas as they like across five student categories and four faculty categories. Review the full requirements and start gathering your materials today to leave your mark in Chicago!
Have You Downloaded Your Digital Membership Card?
CMAA partnered with ID123 to provide digital membership cards to all CMAA members. If your 2027 National dues have been paid and you have not installed your card before, you received an email earlier this week from ID123 with instructions on how to install the card from the app. If you already have your card installed, your expiration date is updated to October 31, 2027, and no further action is required. If you have any questions about your card or if you would need the card invitation to be resent, please contact Alanna Eckard.
Digital cards are very convenient, and you won’t have to worry about losing your card ever again! Remember, simply present your digital card at the ticket area at most PGA TOUR, USGA, and LPGA events and receive a grounds pass for the day (The Masters and The Ryder Cup are excluded). We hope you enjoy this enhanced member benefit.
Features
 |
Featured Discussion: Children In the Clubhouse |
 |
Featured Jobs: |
Resources
The Club Foundation and Chapters—Supporting One Another
Each year, Chapters demonstrate their commitment to the Club Foundation and its mission by providing invaluable support through generous donations and active engagement. We are grateful that Chapters not only contribute directly and financially to support the Foundation mission but also work to provide their members with information about scholarships and fundraising activities. This invaluable support makes a significant difference in our ability to further the mission.
Giving Tuesday is right around the corner. This event has grown dramatically in the last several years, with more people donating through the Chapter Challenge each year. In 2025, more than 300 people donated during this global and virtual campaign. We look forward to the joy of Giving Tuesday every year with multiple prize giveaways and some healthy competition between Chapters to bring in some of the funds needed each year to pay for scholarships and grants.
It is a priority of the Foundation to support Chapters, too! There are a variety of educations grants for Chapters including those that come through the Chapter of the Year awards, New Member Recruitment awards, and Idea Fair awards. Additionally, small- and medium-sized Chapters are eligible (and encouraged) to apply for the annual Chapter Workshop Grant, providing funds to support education for learning and development at the Chapter level.
- Chapter Workshop Grant – Due Date: December 15
A very heartfelt thank-you to everyone who serves as Club Foundation Liaison on behalf of their Chapter. Meetings for those dedicated volunteers take place quarterly during which Club Foundation Director, Ava Spece, CFRE, provides regular updates, answers questions, and gathers suggestions and input from participants.
Chapters and the Club Foundation support one another. It is a unique and valuable partnership built for the purpose of supporting members both nationally and locally. Chapters contribute time, energy, communication, and financial support to the mission; the Foundation provides opportunities, resources, and grant/scholarship programming to benefit Chapters and members across the Association. This intertwined relationship strengthens both Chapters and the Foundation, and together we accomplish far more than we ever could apart.
Interested in learning more about supporting the Foundation or more about scholarships and grants available through the Foundation? Please reach out to us at 703-299-4284. You can also learn about more ways to support the Foundation by visiting our giving webpage or reaching out directly. If you’ve not already, be sure to get engaged at the Chapter level and take advantage of the powerful resources available to you both nationally and locally.
Trends and News
Charles Johnson, CCM, CCE, Named 2026 Club Executive of the Year
CMAA’s Club Management magazine has named Charles Johnson, Certified Club Manager (CCM), Certified Chief Executive (CCE), the 2026 Club Executive of the Year. He currently serves as the Executive Manager/CEO of the Detroit Athletic Club in Detroit, MI.
Johnson has more than 27 years of experience in the hospitality industry, managing a variety of types of clubs. He began his career in 1999 as the Food & Beverage Manager of Soaring Eagle Casino and Resort in Mt. Pleasant, MI, and moved into the club industry in 2004 in the same role at Montauk Yacht Club in Montauk, NY. Johnson next served as the Director of Food & Beverage at Saucon Valley Country Club in Bethlehem, PA, and the Food & Beverage Service Manager at John’s Island Club in Vero Beach, FL. In 2014, he joined the Detroit Athletic Club as Assistant General Manager. In 2020, he was promoted to the role of Executive Manager/CEO.
His nomination was supported by the Detroit Athletic Club team and Board of Directors, and the Greater Michigan Chapter of CMAA. Johnson’s nomination emphasized his leadership, generosity, and professionalism, highlighting his commitment to mentoring, employee development and support, and service to the local club management community. He shares knowledge and guidance with his team and industry colleagues while advocating for the profession’s future.
Brigeth Brookins, the Club’s Assistant General Manager, details Johnson’s impact as a mentor, “Charles leads in a way that inspires others to do the same. He does not treat mentoring as an occasional obligation; he embraces it as an essential part of leadership and strengthening the club management profession. His willingness to share knowledge, offer perspective, ask thoughtful questions, and provide candid encouragement has had a lasting impact on my professional growth and confidence as I established myself in the private club industry.”
Club President Shane Henry highlighted how Johnson has intentionally created a supportive culture for the club’s employee team through the creation of the club internship program, the emerging leaders training program, and the J.G. Ted Gillary Employee Scholarship that supports the aspirations of employees and their families. Henry explains that Johson “leads with competence, integrity, vision, and compassion. He brings sound counsel to the Board, inspires and develops the leadership team, and creates practical systems that invest in employees’ education, recognition, wellness, and security. More importantly, he has helped foster a culture in which employees know they matter.”
Johnson is active with the Greater Michigan Chapter of CMAA. He is currently the Immediate Past President, led the Chapter as President from 2024 to 2025, and has served on the Board of Directors since 2019. He is a dedicated Chapter advocate prioritizing chapter governance, education, and industry stewardship.
Johnson joins a distinguished group of professionals who have earned this distinction. Annually, Club Management magazine recognizes outstanding professionalism and leadership with the Club Executive of the Year Award. Created in 1985, this prestigious honor is presented to an individual who embodies professionalism within their club and community—embracing mentoring, creating a supportive club culture, and impacting their local CMAA Chapter through sustained engagement. Nominations are accepted in the fall, and selections are made by a diverse committee of club management professionals.
Johnson will be featured in the 2027 January/February issue of Club Management magazine, profiled in a forthcoming edition of the Let’s Talk Club Management podcast, and honored in person at the 2027 CMAA World Conference & Club Business Expo in Chicago, IL.
National Alliance and NGCOA to Deliver Adaptive Golf Webinar on Tuesday, November 10
The National Alliance for Accessible Golf (the Alliance) and National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA) will deliver a free webinar on Tuesday, November 10 at 1:00 pm Eastern to golf facility owners, operators, staff across all departments, and anyone interested in learning more about bringing this growing segment of golfers to the game.
The webinar, Turning Access into Opportunity – The Business Case for Adaptive Golf, will focus on key business components and the community value of providing accessible and inclusive facilities to better serve golfers with disabilities by delivering useful information from experts and operators with adaptive golf experience.
Dave Barton, PGA, Executive Director of the Alliance, will moderate the panel and facilitate a discussion related to the positive impact of bringing golfers with disabilities to your facility.
“To hear from owners and operators who have firsthand knowledge of the value of bringing golfers with disabilities into the game along with their lessons learned and guidance related to physical, environmental and equipment requirements is a great opportunity for any golf facility out there ready to take advantage of this growing segment of golfers,” said Barton.
Panelists include Jeff Nicholson, VertaCat designer and manufacturer, and NGCOA Members Jeff Hoag, Owner of Scott Lake Golf and Practice Center, Comstock, MI, and Joshua Deal, PGA - VP of Operations, Bobby Jones Links & President, Georgia Section PGA of America.
Education credits for PGA, LPGA, GCSAA and CMAA members will be available for attendees of the live webinar. Register today. Registrants will receive a brief Read Ahead a few days prior to the webinar forming the framework for the panel and audience Q&A.