October 24, 2025
Professional Development
Grow with CMAA at the 2026 World Conference & Club Business Expo
Growth in the club industry requires resilience, adaptation, situational awareness, continuous learning, and connection to a strong community.
Plant seeds for your future success at the 2026 World Conference & Club Business Expo, February 17-21, 2026, at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, CA.
Fuel your growth with five days of energizing education, networking, and experiences– cultivated specifically for club management professionals.
What’s New for 2026?
- 49 percent of Speakers and Presenters are new, offering the most relevant content and insights
- New Pre-Conference Workshops, featuring practical Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools
- The Club Business Expo Happiness Hour, a new networking reception bringing together attendees, exhibitors, and great ideas
- Student Chapter Showcase, an opportunity to explore the innovation and energy of CMAA’s Student Chapters and build new relationships with the next generation
Registration is now open! Join club management professionals from around the world at the industry’s largest annual event focused on the business of running a club.
Earn Credit for College/University Coursework and Instruction
CMAA members can earn the following Other Education credits for work completed through an accredited college or university.
Undergraduate Coursework and Degrees
A maximum of four years in an undergraduate program will be accepted.
- 20 Other Education credits per academic year (two semesters or three quarters) for full-time attendance in a non-hospitality program
- 35 Other Education credits per academic year for full-time attendance in a hospitality program
- 10 Other Education credits for degree recipients
- 1 Other Education credit per 3 college credits are awarded for part-time enrollment or individual college courses
Graduate-Level Coursework and Degrees
A maximum of two years in a master’s program and three years in a Doctoral program will be accepted.
- 30 Other Education credits per academic year for full-time attendance in a non-hospitality program
- 45 Other Education credits per academic year for full-time attendance in a hospitality program
- 1 Other Education credit per 2 graduate semester credit hours – graduate-level courses taken without completion of an advanced degree program
Teaching at the Collegiate Level
For every four semester credit hours taught, members can earn Other Education credits.
To submit your degree or coursework for Other Education credits, please have your official transcript mailed to:
Club Management Association of America
Attn: Certification Manager
1733 King Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
Virtual Board Education Opportunity Ahead
Add new perspectives for your club’s elected leadership with CMAA’s Governance & Leadership Symposium on Wednesday, November 5. 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. Attend from anywhere with an Internet connection.
These highly rated Summits are presented in partnership with KOPPLIN KUEBLER & WALLACE, a CMAA Executive Partner.
Don’t delay! Registration closes on November 3.
Membership and Member Benefits
President & CEO’s Perspective: Growing Our Community
President and CEO Jeff Morgan, FASAE, CAE, shares why community is such a hot topic right now, and how CMAA has broadened its reach with our Communications, Chef, Wellness, and Human Resources communities. Find out about the benefits for CMAA members and the professionals working at your club.
Six Faculty Selected for the 2025 Faculty Development & Immersion Program
CMAA announces the six university faculty selected for its 2025 Faculty Development & Immersion Program cohort. The program was recently reimagined and provides an opportunity for full-time university faculty to immerse themselves in the vibrant club industry where leadership, lifestyle, and learning intersect.
CMAA’s Faculty Development & Immersion Program offers selected educators a one-of-a-kind, fully hosted experience inside premier private clubs. This extensive program allows participants to observe club operations up close, connect with industry leaders, and return to the classroom with real-world insights and case studies that prepare students for club management careers. This initiative enhances faculty expertise, introduces career paths for students, fosters collaboration, and strengthens connections with CMAA and industry stakeholders. Additionally, individuals receive travel support to attend industry events through the generous support of The Club Foundation.
The individuals selected for the 2025 cohort are:
- Amanda Alexander, University of Missouri, Columbia
- SoJung Lee, Iowa State University
- Young Hoon “Hunter” Kim, College of Charleston
- Erinn Tucker-Oluwole, University of Maryland Eastern Shore
- Donna Fickes, James Madison University
- Cynthia Lerick, Kansas State University
Kim Pasquale, CMAA’s Chief Operating Officer, shares, “CMAA is proud to welcome the inaugural cohort of faculty participants to the Faculty Development & Immersion Program. This program creates an important bridge between higher education and the club management profession. The energy, curiosity, and commitment of the 2025 faculty cohort will ripple into the classroom, helping more students discover this incredible and rewarding career path.”
Showcase Your Club’s Most Successful Ideas in the Idea Fair
The CMAA Idea Fair, presented at the 2026 World Conference and Club Business Expo, gives you the opportunity to showcase your innovative ideas. With 16 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 [NEW!] 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
- [NEW!] 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 Anaheim, CA!
National Committee Calls Are Open—Answer Yours!
CMAA’s national and at-conference committees are where ideas take shape and progress happens, and they’re a key part of our leadership and success.
If you’ve renewed your CMAA membership for 2026 and are a Professional or Alumnus member, why not take the next step and volunteer for a National Committee? (And if you haven’t renewed yet, now the perfect time!)
CMAA is led by members, for members. Committee appointments are thoughtfully made to bring together a mix of voices that represent different Chapters, regions, club types, experiences, and backgrounds.
Your insight and energy can make a real difference.
Learn more and apply to serve by December 15!
It’s Still Scholarship Season at The Club Foundation!
Two application deadlines are right around the corner; both the Willmoore H. Kendall Scholarship and the LaRocca Family Executive Scholarship applications are due November 1.
- Kendall: Established in 2001 in memory of CMAA’s Past President Bill Kendall, CCM, the Willmoore H. Kendall Scholarship was created for assistant managers and aspiring club managers seeking to earn the Certified Club Manager (CCM) designation. As one of the most notable scholarships offered by The Club Foundation, the Kendall Scholarship allows awardees to register for and attend all standard Business Management Institute (BMI) courses required to obtain one’s CCM certification.
- LaRocca: In 2010, recognizing how much The Club Foundation has impacted their careers, the LaRocca Family made a generous contribution to the Foundation to create the LaRocca Family Executive Scholarship. The program speaks loudly about the power of mentorship in the club industry, open to well established leaders—with benefits to support the professional development of both the mentor and the mentee.
Full application instructions and additional information for these and any of the scholarships available can be found on The Club Foundation website’s Apply Page.
If you have questions regarding these programs or any other Foundation work, please complete our contact form or call us directly at 703-299-4284.
Features
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Featured Discussion: Golf Guest Fees for Families |
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Resources
Calling All Mid-Managers: Don’t Miss the Next Master Class!
Please join us on October 29 from 2:00-3:00 p.m. ET for CMAA’s next Mid-Manager Master Class:
Turning Everyday Interactions into Real Impact Connections
Presenter: Rita Goodroe
Networking in club management isn’t about adding more to your calendar – it’s about spotting the opportunities already built into your day.
This session will show mid-level managers how to turn everyday conversations with colleagues, members, and peers into REAL Impact™ connections that build influence, strengthen community, and create career opportunities.
You’ll leave with practical strategies to turn the moments you're already in into momentum for your growth and impact.
Trends and News
Haley Habosky Joins CMAA National Headquarters Team
Haley Habosky has joined the Club Management Association of America as the new Manager, Student, Development, after several years in private club management, where she specialized in youth programming, member experiences, and events. A Kent State University graduate with a degree in Hospitality Management and a minor in Event Planning, Haley was an active member and leader within her student CMAA Chapter and has remained engaged throughout her professional career. Originally from Ohio, she’s a Cleveland sports fan, SoulCycle enthusiast, and passionate traveler who has explored 20 countries.
Haley is most excited to collaborate with students and faculty, helping guide and inspire the future leaders of the club management industry. She looks forward to creating the kind of magical moments that first made her fall in love with this field—experiences that connect people and showcase the incredible opportunities and inspiring professionals that make the club management community so special.
Please welcome Haley Habosky!
Eight Club Management Professionals Awarded Sally Burns Rambo Scholarship
The Club Foundation announces the 2025 recipients of the Sally Burns Rambo Scholarship. Established in 2012 by The Club Foundation with tremendous initiating and continued support from the Texas Lone Star Chapter of the Club Management Association of America (CMAA), this Scholarship honors mentor, role model, and pioneer Sally Burns Rambo, CCM. Rambo was a vibrant club manager known for her support of emerging professionals in the industry and was responsible for paving the way for the success of countless club leaders.
This year’s recipients are:
- Mardy Colling, Clubhouse Manager/F&B Director, Princess Anne Country Club, Virginia Beach, VA
- Amy Day, Director of Member Services, Desert Mountain Club, Scottsdale, AZ
- Jennifer Herring, Vice President of Membership & Sales, Houston Oaks Country Club & Retreat, Hockley, TX
- Cassandra Lematta, Town Membership Director, Jonathan Club, Los Angeles, CA
- Meghan McGrath, Events Director, Bay Head Yacht Club, Bay Head, NJ
- Audrey Miller, Membership Director, Field Club of Omaha, Omaha, NE
- Anita Nalepa, CCM, Director of Events, Forest Lake Club, Columbia, SC
- Anahi Perez, CCM, Assistant General Manager, North Shore Country Club, Glenview, IL
The scholarship provides financial support to female club managers interested in furthering their professional development. Recipients receive the tuition costs and travel expenses to attend their choice of one of CMAA’s Business Management Institutes.
The Club Foundation and CMAA’s President and CEO Jeff Morgan, FASAE, CAE, says ”The Sally Burns Rambo Scholarship continues the legacy of an outstanding CMAA leader and demonstrates our commitment to advancing the next generation of women in club management—championing their leadership, amplifying their voices, and shaping a stronger future for our industry.”
To donate to The Club Foundation or apply for scholarships, please visit clubfoundation.org.
