October 23, 2026
Professional Development
100 Years in the Making: Join the 2027 World Conference & Club Business Expo in Chicago
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.
Be part of five days of community building, education, and memorable events—crafted to celebrate CMAA’s legacy and inspire the future of club management.
Why Chicago? Our story began at the Hotel Sherman, January 24-27, 1927, when 100 club managers gathered to define a profession and establish a national association. The attendees solidified the organization’s purpose and direction, drafted bylaws, elected officers, and set the annual dues at $5. In 2027, we return to Chicago to honor that legacy and help shape what’s next!
Chicago is a city with a rich history, one that continually reinvents itself without losing sight of its roots. As we gather for the 2027 World Conference, we’ll do the same, celebrating where we’ve been and envisioning where we’re going.
What’s New?
- A specially priced, member-only 1927 registration package including all event tickets
- Brand new Pre- and At-Conference Workshops, Exclusive Experiences, and Symposiums
- A dino-sized networking event, A Night at the Field Museum, on Sunday February 7
- A prize-filled Birthday Bash at the Club Business Expo on Tuesday, February 9
- One-of-a-kind evening with the Centennial Celebration Gala on Wednesday, February 10
- A decades inspired Afterglow Event to end the evening on Wednesday, February 10
Join club management professionals from around the world for the industry’s largest annual event focused on the business of club management and a once-in-a-lifetime celebration of our profession.
Reserve your space today! Learn more!
Is Your Boardroom Ready for a Fall Refresh?
Turn over a new leaf with CMAA’s next Governance & Leadership Symposium on November 19. This program offers accessible, collaborative, virtual education for your Board of Directors and club executive. Attend from anywhere with an Internet connection.
Explore important strategic governance topics built on the principles of:
- Informed Leadership
- Strategic Stewardship
- Empowered Management and Staff
- Compelling Member Experience
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.
Registration ends November 17.
Applying to Sit for the CCM Exam
Members interested in sitting for the Certified Club Manager (CCM) exam must submit a Certification Petition to the National Headquarters for review. Prior to submitting the Certification Petition, it’s important for each member to review their credit history to monitor their eligibility status. Log in to your CMAA account and find “My Open Applications” to check your eligibility status on your own. You should use the eligibility status from your CMAA account to determine when you are ready to submit your Certification Petition.
When you feel you’ve met all the CCM eligibility requirements, follow the steps below to submit your Certification Petition.
- Complete and submit a Certification Petition form online, along with the non-refundable petition fee of $100. You can pay the petition fee by logging into your CMAA profile.
- Once received by the CMAA National Headquarters, the Certification Petition will be reviewed to ensure the form has been completed. The applicant’s credit history will be reviewed to show evidence that the eligibility requirements have been met.
- The applicant will be notified via email if they have met the eligibility requirements to sit for the CCM exam. If approved, the applicant will be notified via email with information on how to proceed with scheduling the exam. An invoice for the exam fee will be added to your CMAA profile for payment. If the applicant is not approved to sit for the exam, they will be notified via email with information on which requirements have not been met at this time.
Learn more about the CCM and contact the Professional Development team with any questions!
Membership and Member Benefits
President & CEO’s Perspective: Strategizing the Future
President & CEO Jeff Morgan, FASAE, CAE, shares an update on CMAA’s strategic planning process and the work underway to shape the association’s future. Learn how member perspectives will inform the plan, why member participation is essential, and the ways members can contribute their ideas and help guide CMAA’s priorities in the years ahead.
Nominations Due November 15 for the CMAA Fellows Class of 2027
The CMAA Fellows Program recognizes members who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, service, and dedication to advancing the club management profession.
The Fellows Class of 2027 will help carry CMAA’s legacy of leadership into its second century. As such, Fellowship represents not only a recognition of past contributions, but a commitment to helping shape the future of the Association and the profession.
Nominations will be accepted through November 15. CMAA encourages members, colleagues, and current Fellows to nominate deserving eligible members who continue to inspire, lead, and serve.
Learn more and submit a nomination today. Thank you!
Showcase Your Club’s Most Successful Ideas in the Idea Fair
The CMAA Idea Fair, presented at the 2027 World Conference and Club Business Expo, gives you the opportunity to showcase your innovative ideas. With 17 categories, we are sure that you have something to enter. All information including categories and entry instructions are now available. You simply submit your entries electronically and CMAA will print them for you!
In addition to category winners and honorable mention selections, the judging committee will also recognize four overall award winners:
- Most Innovative Idea—For the entry with the freshest, most creative solution
- Show Stopper Idea—For the idea with the biggest wow factor
- Chair’s Award—For an outstanding entry that exemplifies industry impact and vision
- Ripple Award—For the most transferable idea in the competition
Please contact Erica Benjamin with any questions. We look forward to seeing your ideas in Chicago, IL!
Thinking about Applying for a Club Foundation Scholarship?
The Club Foundation Allocation Committee (CFAC) recently created a document that shares their advice for those applying for scholarships from the Club Foundation. They say, “the strongest applications help us understand the person behind the resume.” Check out this valuable document on the Club Foundation’s website before your next application.
Club Foundation Upcoming Deadlines:
- James B. Singerling Scholarship—First-time World Conference attendance registration and travel expenses (prior attendance as a student attendance excepted). Due Date: November 1
- LaRocca Family Executive Scholarship—A scholarship for mentor-mentee teams. Primary (mentor) applicants must have 10 or more years in a supervisory/management role in the industry. Due Date: November 1
- Chapter Workshop Grant—Application for funds to support Chapter education. All small- and medium-sized Chapters are eligible. Due Date: December 15
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 or contact us. The Club Foundation also supports a variety of legacy giving options, from charitable trusts, to bequests, to policy designations. If you’d like to learn more about these options, visit our giving webpage and/or reach out directly.
Features
 |
Featured Discussion: Member Newsletters & Communication Frequency |
 |
Featured Jobs: |
Resources
Payroll Protection Program Loans Under the Microscope: What Club Leaders Need to Know
The Let’s Talk Club Management podcast recently interviewed Matthew S. Adams, co-chair of the White Collar Criminal Defense and Government Investigations Practice at Fox Rothschild. He has closely followed Payroll Protection Program (PPP) fraud enforcement and advises clubs and businesses facing government scrutiny related to pandemic funding. Learn why PPP enforcement remains relevant years after the program ended, what the recent cases could mean for the club industry, and what you should be thinking about now. Listen to the full podcast and look for the full article in the November/December edition of Club Management magazine!
Trends and News
The Club Foundation Announces Lead Like Lambert Scholarship Fund
The Club Foundation announces the Lead Like Lambert Scholarship Fund. This fund supports undergraduate hospitality students at and alumni of the University of Massachusetts (UMASS), Amherst, who are pursuing further education and experience in the club industry as a dynamic, meaningful, and rewarding career path.
The Lead Like Lambert Scholarship Fund was established in 2026 through the generosity of donors to The Club Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Club Management Association of America (CMAA), and in cooperation with UMASS Amherst, to honor the life, leadership, and legacy of Matt Lambert, CCM, CAM, ECM.
A proud graduate of the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Matt devoted more than 25 years to the club industry and was widely respected as a leader, mentor, and advocate for the profession. Throughout his career, he generously shared his knowledge, developed emerging professionals, and created opportunities for others to grow and succeed.
Established in partnership with the University of Massachusetts Amherst, the Lead Like Lambert Scholarship Fund carries that commitment forward by investing in the education and professional development of future club management leaders.
“Matt believed strongly in people and creating opportunities for our next generation of leaders,” said LuAnn Giovannelli, CCM, CAM, CMAA Fellow, Chair of The Club Foundation Board of Governors. “Those of us who were fortunate enough to know Matt and the Board are honored to help push his legacy forward through this new fund.”
Visit The Club Foundation to support this scholarship.
The Centennial Pennant Has Arrived
Also, the CMAA Centennial Pennant was unveiled at the 2026 LLC. This pennant is more than a keepsake. It is a symbol of the people, places, and experiences that have shaped our Association's first 100 years and will carry us into the next century.
We invite members and Chapters to take the pennant on their journeys throughout the Centennial celebration. Bring it to your club, Chapter events, community activities, industry gatherings, or wherever CMAA connections are being made. Capture a photo, share the story behind it, and help us showcase the many ways CMAA members are making an impact across the profession.
Submit your photos and stories to goodnews@cmaa.org for a chance to be featured in Centennial communications and help create a lasting visual record of CMAA's 100th year.
The question is simple: Where will the Centennial Pennant go next?
