Let's Talk Club Management

It is Hurricane season for our members on the Atlantic coast, running from June 1 to November 30. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicts an above-normal 2025 Atlantic hurricane season. It's the perfect time to talk about disaster preparedness specifically when it comes to communications. Marc Ray, MCM, CCE, CHAE, is an expert in this area and we are so glad to have the opportunity to tap into his knowledge today. His monograph, Hurricane Communications with Internal Audiences in Private Gated Communities, provides communication guidance outlining recommendations for general managers to use in the event of a hurricane and addresses communication before and after a hurricane event. You can read Marc's monograph here: https://connect.cmaa.org/browse/mcmdocs Advocate for the PAR Act: www.clubindustryvotes.org

We are thrilled to welcome back to our podcast, our favorite cyber security experts at Pulsar Security, a CMAA Alliance Partner, for answers to our questions. Pulsar Security is a cybersecurity company whose mission extends to protect clubs and their members against malicious attacks. The company is a Veteran, privately owned business built on vision and trust, whose leadership has extensive military experience enabling it to think strategically and plan beyond the problems at hand. We are excited to welcome back the CEO and Founder of Pulsar Security, Patrick Hynds and Chief Technology Officer Duane Laflotte.

In this episode, we're joined by our 2025 Shark Tank competition winners: Molly Passow and Katherine Foerg from Niagara University. Their entry, Schedule Genie, uses Artificial Intelligence to assist in schedule coordination and management. You can view their whole presentation at World Conference (along with the other finalists' presentations) on CMAA's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYkor-0fuvM

The world of wine is constantly evolving, and staying updated with the latest trends is essential for enthusiasts and professionals alike. In this episode, we welcome back to the podcast Sam Lindsley and Chris DeChillo from Kopplin Kuebler and Wallace. Sam and Chris each have extensive experience in food and beverage and bring their perspectives to how you can enhance your members' wine experiences at your clubs. Books mentioned in this episode: Cote D'Or: A Celebration of the Great Wines of Burgundy - https://www.amazon.com/C%C3%B4te-DOr-Celebration-Great-Burgundy/dp/0520212517 Wine Folly: Magnum Edition The Master Guide - https://www.amazon.com/Wine-Folly-Magnum-Master-Guide/dp/0525533893/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3KV1ARYX2C6NN&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.9d7RyDqPXlj2z0Q_iQW2Vdt7ahnF0kc-8huvyOgs0M0JPFbZg0p74ub_YZ7BrghgbY3ty4w6NVpY6o4tyFd60j0qwoVPgDe6qxCdAkgpvbWR6-LtcZF3WJCyPgjwfn1sGDVLVE_8OpTj51T6DihAsft8anBRN75ijbbJVzd739ofDtydJ8immmy7MKhoIBJsI0x0SRE2x6M8f6SbhjVEekvB6mkeRl_CqpQ-KgVTkmY.yTzgZWoi-RHg1-6PrH6bi5YwnYIwBU3fbFSDzcgdNJ0&dib_tag=se&keywords=Wine+Folly&qid=1745933051&s=books&sprefix=wine+folly%2Cstripbooks%2C316&sr=1-1 Windows on the World - https://a.co/d/6KNCwsA

On this episode, we are thrilled to be talking to the researcher behind a study published in the International Journal of Hospitality Management in January. The study focused on measuring the relationship benefits of membership in a private club. Milly Njeri Ph.D., Assistant Professor at the Dedman College of Hospitality at Florida State University, joined us to dive into her research and explore the questions she asked and the results that she found. Read the article: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0278431924002834

On this episode, we are thrilled to talk to CMAA's 2025 Chair Richard LaRocca, CCM, CCE. He shares his family history in clubs and hospitality, as well as his plans for the year and what's most important to him. Learn more about Richard: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCR5y-RIZ_s View Richard's acceptance speech: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1303Zc470I

It's that time again! The 2025 World Conference is just around the corner and in this episode, we're chatting with our team members about events and networking, student activities, education, supporting The Club Foundation, and the Club Business Expo. Kyle and Melissa will take you through the important things you need to know for the week, and they pick up some guest hosts along the way.

On this episode, we are thrilled to be featuring another one of our upcoming World Conference speakers, Gary Ware, Play Consultant. Gary is a creative yet strategic Play Consultant that was brought here to make your life even better than it already is. By day, Gary helps companies and professionals level up their skills, and by night he is an improv comedian. In between all of Gary's passions, his most desirous one is helping people become the best versions of themselves through fun and entertainment. See Gary at World Conference on Thursday, February 6, at 1:00 p.m. for Improv Your Influence: Fun and Effective Communication Strategies for Club Managers.

In this episode, we sit down with Conference speaker Katherine Thatcher to preview her session “The Art of Collecting and Protecting Your Collection”. Katherine is a professional art consultant providing collection asset management services to individuals, corporations, non-profits and museums. She has done appraisal work for renowned clubs such as the Olympic Club in San Francisco and Desert Mountain in Scottsdale, where she appraised over 600 works of art and continues overseeing collection management. See her at World Conference on Thursday, February 6, at 4:00 p.m.

Each year, we like to wrap up the podcast by talking to a CMAA member about their wins for the year. On this episode, we are excited to be talking to Geoff Piva, CCM, General Manager/COO at Needham Golf Club in Needham, MA. Geoff started a podcast this year called The Club Manager Journal. Melissa first got served the podcast via suggested title in her listening and was instantly struck by the authenticity of the discussion. Over the past three years, he has been on a journey of self-awareness and discovery that has led him to be a better leader, parent, and person leading through empathy and love and he joins us on the podcast to share more about that journey.

Each year, we like to wrap up the podcast by talking to a CMAA member about their wins for the year. In this episode, we sat down with Jennifer Mang, CCM, CCE, General Manager at Wyoming Valley Country Club. Jennifer share with us her unique career path full of steps both backwards and forwards, ultimately landing here where she is now. Jennifer loves the club industry and credits her successful path to her chapter colleagues and CMAA for the amazing education she received and the invaluable networking it afforded her. She is and has been for many years, the Treasurer and Managing Director for the Central PA Chapter of CMAA. She is also a past President. She looks forward to many more years in the industry and is thankful for the opportunities she has been given and we were happy to get to hear from her.

Based on the 2024 World Conference session, “Desperate to be Micro-Managed by Your Treasurer? Don't Hire a True CFO” – Controller, Director of Finance, Chief Financial Officer – these labels all describe the head of finance in a club. What capabilities should be expected in the person managing finance and accounting in a club? It requires finance skills, business acumen, and executive presence. What should you be seeking in a great financial partner? In this episode, we're joined by Michelle Riklan, ACRW, CPRW, CEIC, CJSS of KOPPLIN KUEBLER & WALLACE and Philip Newman of RSM. These two cover what the key capabilities and expectations are for someone in the role of a Head Finance Leader at a club and really dive in to what characteristics one should be looking for when hiring a CFO.

Our guest on this episode is Todd Bruen, the Director of Facilities & Construction, at Desert Mountain in Scottsdale, AZ. Todd has been with the club since 2012, and has an extensive background in design and construction. He is a graduate of Arizona State University with a degree in Construction Engineering and Management. Todd joins us to discuss the Capital Improvements Handbook, specifically construction project cost estimating, budgeting, contracting, and taking the project across the finish line. He really emphasizes the importance of having the right people on the bus to accomplish the many tasks involved with a successful project, and also reminds us that pizza is a great motivator. The CMAA Capital Improvements Handbook serves as a comprehensive guide for club decision-makers embarking on capital improvement projects. By adopting a strategic and collaborative approach, engaging stakeholders, ensuring robust financial planning, and adhering to regulatory requirements, clubs can successfully navigate the complexities of capital improvements. This is the final interview in our series of podcasts bringing this content to life.

On this episode, we are thrilled to be talking to the 2024 Club Executive of the Year, Matt Lambert, CCM, CCE, CAM. In November, Club Management magazine named Matt Lambert the 2024 Club Executive of the Year. He currently serves as the General Manager/Chief Operating Officer of The Country Club at Mirasol in Palm Beach Gardens, FL. Lambert has more than 24 years of experience in the club industry. Get to know Matt in this episode!

In this episode, we're joined by Julie Brown, CCM, CPA. We dive in Chapters Two, Three, and Four of the CMAA Capital Improvements Handbook, a comprehensive guide designed to help club decision-makers confidently manage capital improvement projects. This episode is the second in our series of podcasts bringing this content to life, diving into the financing options and feasibility aspects of capital projects. By adopting a strategic and collaborative approach, engaging stakeholders, ensuring robust financial planning, and adhering to regulatory requirements, clubs can successfully navigate the complexities of capital improvements. Access the Capital Improvements Handbook on CMAA Connect

In this episode, we sit down with Vache Hagopian, the Chief Revenue Officer at Jonas Club Software, a CMAA Strategic Partner. Vache has extensive experience in the private club software industry and during this conversation we cover his history in CMAA's Business Management Institute as well as his recent appointment to The Club Foundation Board of Governors for a three-year term through 2027. Listen for more about what Jonas is doing to advance technology in clubs!

On this episode of the podcast, we're sharing CMAA CEO Jeff Morgan's State of the Association speech from the 2024 Leadership/Legislative Conference. This speech offers a snapshot of where CMAA is now, how the last year has gone, and what we're looking to in the future.

In this episode, we're joined by CMAA National Director Joe Krenn, CCM, CCE, General Manager/CEO at Farmington Country Club. We dive into the CMAA Capital Improvements Handbook, a comprehensive guide designed to help club decision-makers confidently manage capital improvement projects. Whether it's a new renovation or a major facility upgrade, capital improvements require a strategic and collaborative approach to ensure success. We'll explore how clubs can engage key stakeholders, establish solid financial plans, and comply with regulatory requirements to avoid common pitfalls such as poor leadership, unanticipated costs, and inexperienced project management. Access the Handbook: https://connect.cmaa.org/viewdocument/cmaa-capital-improvements-handbook-1?CommunityKey=43e436dc-e513-4cc6-94b0-34a8e734968f&tab=librarydocuments

In this episode, we sat down with members of the P10 (Power of Ten) Mastermind group. These individuals hail from all over the country and have been together as a networking group for nearly twenty years. In this conversation, we cover everything—from how and why this group came together, to how someone looking for their own mastermind group could go about creating one. The evolution of this group was evident in the conversation, and listeners will be sure to glean some important morsels. Joining us: Skip Avery, CCM, CCE Three Carpenter, CCM Rick Coyne Dick Kopplin Kevin MacDonald Kim Pasquale Jill Philmon, CCM, CCE Steve Tyink Take a listen to the P10 playlist on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5nYl8dXSe9ssURITcCA3E2?si=dsA0YiGDQTmqSyyxdVbqoA&pi=u-8mlP2j6wT0WU

In this episode, we sat down with Casey Newman, CCM, the General Manager/COO at Lakeside Country Club, and Alexandria LaRocca, Director of Member Engagement at Beach Point Club. Casey and Alexandria are both members of the Mid-Manager Task Force and they joined us to talk about the Task Force, the challenges faced by mid-managers, and the Mid-Manager Power Hour calls. Finally, we discuss the future plans for the Task Force and how we envision it evolving to continue supporting the development of future leaders in the club industry.

In this episode, we had the opportunity to chat with Erin Schlegel, CCM, the Youth and Activities Director at Myers Park Country Club, and Rachel Richardson, one of Myers Park's summer interns. Erin and Rachel joined us to talk about the internship experience at Myers Park as well as how that has been adjusted and tweaked to conform to CMAA's Verified Internship Program criteria. Erin shares some of her best practices for developing and running an internship program and Rachel dives in to all of the things she has learned and experienced over the summer so far. For more information on the Verified Internship Program, please visit https://www.cmaa.org/careers/verified-internship-program/.

In this episode, we're checking in with John Gravett, CCM, CCE, Chief Executive Officer at the Granite Club in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. John was the winner of the Most Innovative Award at the 2024 Idea Fair for his submission in the Membership Development category. John joined us to share more about the Club's Junior Member Orientation program and the success it has seen. You can find this and other entries from the 2024 Idea Fair online: https://www.cmaa.org/idea-fair/idea-fair-categories/2024/ As always, please remember, you can find us on iTunes and Spotify! Please be sure to rate, review, and subscribe so you don't miss an episode! This episode of the podcast is sponsored by Kennis. Learn more at www.membervetting.com.

In this episode, we're joined by Dave Barton, PGA, the Executive Director of the National Alliance for Accessible Golf, and Jan Bel Jan, golf course and landscape architect and a member of the Alliance Executive Board. We dive in to a conversation surrounding what the National Alliance for Accessible Golf is, what the organization aims to do, and how clubs and courses can begin to make their spaces more welcoming to individuals with disabilities. You can learn more about the Alliance at www.accessgolf.org.

For many clubs, the season is rolling. In this episode of the podcast, we're joined by Sam Lindsley, Search & Consulting Executive, and Chris DeChillo, Hospitality Trainer & Leadership Coach with KOPPLIN KUEBLER & WALLACE. Sam and Chris discuss what club management professionals should do to establish and maintain service excellence year-round and what the keys are to cultivating a team that is passionate about delivering exceptional service.

In this episode, we're checking in with Bri Brookins, Assistant General Manager at Detroit Athletic Club in Detroit, MI. Bri was the winner of the Showstopper Award at the 2024 Idea Fair for her submission in the Breakthrough Ideas category. Bri joined us to share more about the Gratitude Booth and the wild success it has seen. You can find this and other entries from the 2024 Idea Fair online: https://www.cmaa.org/idea-fair/idea-fair-categories/2024/

In this episode, we're checking in with Jeffrey Blais, CCM, CCE, CEO and GM at Wildcat Cliffs Country Club in Highlands, NC. Jeffrey was the winner of the Chairman's Award at the 2024 Idea Fair for his submission in the Staff Management and Incentives category. Jeffrey joined us to share more about his idea, a Staff Support Fund Raffle. You can find this and other entries from the 2024 Idea Fair online: https://www.cmaa.org/idea-fair/idea-fair-categories/2024/

On this episode of the podcast, we're sharing CMAA CEO Jeff Morgan's State of the Association speech from the 2024 World Conference and Club Business Expo. This speech offers a snapshot of where CMAA is now, how the last year has gone, and what we're looking to in the future. Read the 2023 Annual Report (https://www.cmaa.org/media/huklmu31/cmaa2023annualreport.pdf) and the 2024-2028 Strategic Plan (https://www.cmaa.org/media/qrtadkpl/cmaa2024-2028strategicplan.pdf).

In this episode of the podcast, we're excited to sit down and get to know Joe Mendez, CCM, CCE. Joe is CMAA's 2024 Chairman and has so many great insights to share with our listeners. Learn more about his path to becoming a club management professional and industry leader as well as some of the more humbling moments he encountered along the way. Don't forget to register for upcoming events: Capital Improvement Symposium: https://www.cmaa.org/learn/meetings-and-events/capital-improvements-symposium-2024/ National Golf Day: https://www.golfcoalition.org/nationalgolfday2024)

It's that time again! The 2024 World Conference and Club Business Expo is just around the corner and in this episode, we preview education, voting, Open Space, and dive into the networking and other events. Kyle and Melissa will take you through the important things you need to know for the week, and they pick up some guest hosts along the way. Access Conference FAQs: https://www.cmaa.org/learn/meetings-and-events/conference/faqs/

For more than 20 years, World Conference attendees have had the opportunity to participate in a pre-Conference workshop unlike any other. The Bicycle Chautauqua experience encompasses physical health, mental health, and emotional health in a way that's fun, interesting, and communal. Our guests today—Rachel Ridgeway, HR Director at Rehoboth Beach Club in Rehoboth, DE; and Roy Quini, CMAA's manager, Design and Production—share what their first-year Chautauqua experience was like in 2023 and what they're looking forward to in 2024. Learn more about the Chautauqua at https://www.cmaa.org/learn/meetings-and-events/conference/education/

It's been a great year for CMAA and so many of our members. We love to hear about our members' success, growth, and one of the CMAA members who has had a great year is Julia Rush. Julia is the Director of Catering for Cosmos Club in Washington, DC. She's adopted a new philosophy this year and it has brought her great experiences. We loved getting to hear about her successes this year and review some of the podcast's wins, too! As always, please remember, you can find us on iTunes and Spotify! Please be sure to rate, review, and subscribe so you don't miss an episode!

On this episode of the podcast, we break down a few regulatory updates. Our resident political expert (Melissa) answers questions from our resident political nerd (Kyle) about H-2B visas, the latest from Dept. of Labor regarding overtime rules, and more. It's riveting content, to be sure – and will hopefully answer some lingering questions you might have about how these updates will impact your club. As mentioned, you can read more about legislative and regulatory updates in the Legislative Blog: connect.cmaa.org/browse/leg-blog.

On this episode, we are thrilled to be talking to the 2023 Club Executive of the Year, Boris Gradina, MCM, CCE. In November, Club Management magazine named Boris Gradina the 2023 Club Executive of the Year. A 17-year member of CMAA, Boris currently serves as the General Manager/Chief Executive Officer of Maryland Golf and Country Clubs (MGCC) in Bel Air, MD. He's no stranger to this podcast. Back in 2020, he earned his Master Club Manager (MCM) and shared with our listeners about his monograph on Employee Onboarding. You can listen here: https://soundcloud.com/clubmanagersassnofamerica/lets-talk-club-244955042 If you are not familiar with this annual award: • Annually, Club Management magazine recognizes outstanding professionalism and club leadership with the Club Executive of the Year Award. • Award dates backs to 1985. • This prestigious honor is presented to a club management professional 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 early fall, and selections are made by a diverse committee of club management professionals.

We are thrilled to welcome back to our podcast, our favorite cyber security experts at Pulsar Security, a CMAA Education Partner. Pulsar Security is a cybersecurity company whose mission extends to protect clubs and their members against malicious attacks. The company is a Veteran, privately owned business built on vision and trust, whose leadership has extensive military experience enabling it to think strategically and plan beyond the problems at hand. We are excited to welcome back the CEO and Founder of Pulsar Security, Patrick Hynds and Chief Technology Officer Duane Laflotte. In this episode, we look to Patrick and Duane to help answer our questions about Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other security issues, like two-factor authentication.

In August, the National Club Association (NCA) and Club Management Association of America (CMAA) released Private Club Governance: A Handbook of Principles and Best Practices. Written by a joint committee of experts from both associations in a partnership structured to benefit the entire private club community, the new publication is a definitive guide to governance of private clubs, designed to be a framework of best practices for clubs at any place on the spectrum of effective governance. We are excited to welcome Tim Muessle, CCM, CCE, Chief Operating Officer at The Olympic Club in San Francisco, CA. Tim is a long-time CMAA member who currently serves as the Chair of the NCA Governance Committee. CMAA Members can access the Handbook through the CMAA Connect Best Practices Exchange Library: https://connect.cmaa.org/viewdocument/private-club-governance-a-handbook. In September, NCA and CMAA hosted a three-hour symposium featured the authors of this recently released, definitive guide to the governance of private clubs, chapter by chapter. Access the recording and accompanying resources now! Recording: https://nca.freestonelms.com/viewer/eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJjaGFwdGVySUQiOjQ1NzY5MiwiYnlwYXNzQXR0ZW5kYW5jZSI6dHJ1ZX0.SdYYJE1-z2-H7EQnfE4UnjUihL7fCM0n5bHhXkUNMhQ Additional Resources: https://connect.cmaa.org/communities/community-home/librarydocuments?communitykey=43e436dc-e513-4cc6-94b0-34a8e734968f&LibraryFolderKey=&LibraryFolderKey=d3cd1942-76e7-4f9d-b21a-0189d0597cb6&DefaultView=folder

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the buzzword of 2023. With the explosion of platforms like ChatGPT. But what does that mean for clubs? How can clubs harness the incredible power of these types of tools? Who's already using AI? What more can we be doing? We are going to work to dispel some of the mystery around AI in the first of a series of podcasts on this topic. In this episode, we're joined by Julie Brown, CCM, CPA, who shares how she and the team at Farmington Country Club are utilizing AI in their day-to-day operations.

Please join us in welcoming our newest CMAA team members, Michelle Carrington, Sumayah Arcusa, and Brenden Beckett! Michelle joins us as the Director of Educational Resources and Virtual Learning, Sumayah is our new Manager of Student Development, and Brenden steps into a newly created role: Digital Marketing Coordinator. These three came on board over the summer and joined us to chat their backgrounds and interests and what they are most looking forward to doing with CMAA. If you want to learn more about the CMAA Staff, you can find our bios online: www.cmaa.org/about-cmaa/leaders…-governance/staff/

In this follow-up to our 100th episode, we're joined by Jamie Roberts, Member Experience Manager at Renaissance Club in Haverhill, MA. Jamie talks to us about some of the unique programming she and the team at Renaissance have come up with and the ways those programs support the club's family-friendly atmosphere. As always, please remember, you can find us on iTunes and Spotify! Please be sure to rate, review, and subscribe so you don't miss an episode!

Let's Talk Club Management hits 100 episodes! We are thrilled to be presenting our century podcast to our listeners. To celebrate this milestone, we took the podcast on the road and visited podcast superfan Jeff Isbell, CCM, CCE, at Renaissance Golf Club in Haverhill, MA. Jeff joined us as the “third mic” and our conversation ran the gamut – we chatted about Renaissance, the club management career field, Jeff's professional journey, and everything in between. We want to share a hearty thank you to our listeners and supporters – without you, we wouldn't have made it to 100 episodes and we're looking forward to making many more! As always, please remember, you can find us on iTunes and Spotify! Please be sure to rate, review, and subscribe so you don't miss an episode!

Please join us in welcoming our newest CMAA team members, Dawn Coleman and Ishan Tuli! Dawn joined our team back in April as the Senior Director of Learning and Career Development. Ishan came on board around the same time as a new Staff Accountant. Both of our new team members chatted with us about their backgrounds and interests and what they are most looking forward to doing with CMAA. If you want to learn more about the CMAA Staff, you can find our bios online: https://www.cmaa.org/about-cmaa/leadership-and-governance/staff/

We are thrilled to welcome back to our podcast our favorite cyber security experts at Pulsar Security, a CMAA Education Partner, for answers to our questions about supply chain vulnerabilities. Pulsar Security is a cybersecurity company whose mission extends to protect clubs and their members against malicious attacks. We define what a supply chain attack is and what it can look like and Patrick and Duane help us understand what measures clubs can take to protect their assets and information.

What is on the minds of club leaders across North America? A Club Leader's Perspective explores the pressing trends and issues impacting the club industry in 2023. GGA Partners has released its emerging trends and challenges research in collaboration with CMAA. On this episode, we're joined by Dr. Eric Brey and Ben Hopkinson of GGA Partners as we dive a bit deeper into the findings of the latest research and, more importantly, the important takeaways for our listeners wrangling with these issues. You can learn more about the report here: https://ggapartners.com/2023/02/a-club-leaders-perspective-2022-2023/ As always, please remember, you can find us on iTunes and Spotify! Please be sure to rate, review, and subscribe so you don't miss an episode!

On this episode, we're joined by Ashley Zechello, a student member at Johnson and Wales University – Providence. She's a member of the student chapter e-board and has been an active member of CMAA since 2020. Her research, The Culture of Health and Wellness within the Private Club Industry, seeks to explore how employee well-being programming can be used as a benefit to attract and retain employees in private clubs. We are excited to share more about this research and Ashley's findings in our conversation!

As many of our listeners enter into their busy season, we wanted to explore some wellness hacks for staying healthy (physically and mentally) when things get stressful. We're excited to welcome Lauren Leon, CEP, Director of Fitness at Washington Golf and Country Club (WGCC). We chatted with Lauren about what are some of the best practices or programs that she's translated to the club environment and how she's helped build such a successful wellness program at WGCC. We're also joined by our colleague Katherine Lord to hear more about the upcoming Club Wellness Summit here in Alexandria, VA, next month! Learn more: https://www.cmaa.org/learn/meetings-and-events/#cwsummit

On this episode, we are talking about the interview process, how to answer, and what to ask with the experts at KOPPLIN KUEBLER & WALLACE. KK&W is a leading club industry recruiting and consulting firm and a long-time CMAA Education Partner. We are thrilled to welcome back to the podcast, KK&W Principals Kurt Kuebler, CCM, and Tom Wallace, CCM, CCE, ECM. Well-informed, inquisitive job candidates make better impressions and decisions in the job search. We were so glad to have the KKW team share their collective experience on both sides of the table as a club management professionals and recruiters to share with our listeners. KKW has their own podcast where they delve deep into the not so simple art of hospitality: https://soundcloud.com/user-754819200 You can also access KKW's Interview Practice and Preparation resource here: https://kkandw.com/career-resource-center-interviewing/?_gl=1*1sofvj5*_ga*MTg4NTQyNzMwOS4xNjg2MzIwNDYx*_ga_C1RYBMTHNQ*MTY4NjMyMDQ2MS4xLjEuMTY4NjMyMDU5OC4wLjAuMA

CMAA's certification program is the most respected in the hospitality industry and the Certified Club Manager (CCM) designation is considered the hallmark of professionalism in club management. It is a valuable and widely-respected mark of a manager's commitment to professional development and the club industry. We're joined on this episode by Brian Watkins and Sonya Rome, two of CMAA's certification experts. You can learn more about certification at https://www.cmaa.org/learn/certification-programs/. Contact Brian and Sonya with your questions: https://www.cmaa.org/contact/contact-staff/ Also mentioned in this episode: The podcast is approaching its 100th episode! To celebrate, we'd like to take the podcast on the road – and this is where our listeners come in! We're running a contest to host us for the century episode of the podcast, so if you have a story, a staff member, a project, or something you think our listeners would benefit from hearing about and you want to have the podcast come to you, submit your idea to goodnews@cmaa.org. The winner will play host to the Let's Talk Club Management team (Kyle and Melissa) and will be featured on the podcast! We're excited to be able to hit the road and visit some of our members. Submit your idea by June 30 – don't delay!

In this episode, we're checking in with Amelia Santarosa and Matthew Cummings, two of our student members from Niagara University. Amelia and Matthew were the overall winners of this year's Student Shark Tank competition, presenting their idea—a BEO software solution—at the 2023 World Conference and Club Business Expo. Amelia and Matthew talk us through how they came up with this idea, how they envision it being implemented at clubs, and give us a little insight into their future plans. You can view this and other Shark Tank pitches online: https://youtu.be/PEc2ZiOUcdo

In this episode of the podcast, we're excited to sit down and get to know Michael Seabrook, CCM, CCE. Mr. Seabrook is CMAA's 2023 Chairman and has so many tidbits to share with our listeners. Learn more about his path to becoming a club management professional and industry leader as well as some of the more humbling moments he encountered along the way. Don't forget to register for upcoming events: - Club Leadership Summits - https://www.cmaa.org/learn/meetings-and-events/club-leadership-summits-2023/ - National Golf Day - https://www.golfcoalition.org/nationalgolfday2023

After a brief post-World Conference hiatus, we're back! On this episode of the podcast, we're sharing CMAA CEO Jeff Morgan's State of the Association speech from the 2023 World Conference and Club Business Expo. This speech offers a snapshot of where CMAA is now, how the last year has gone, and what we're looking to in the future. Jeff mentions the 2022 Annual Report, which you can access here: https://www.cmaa.org/about-cmaa/who-we-are/#news Register for upcoming events: - Club Leadership Summits - https://www.cmaa.org/learn/meetings-and-events/club-leadership-summits-2023/ - Budget Bootcamp Series - https://www.cmaa.org/membership/communities/club-wellness-community/ - National Golf Day - https://www.golfcoalition.org/nationalgolfday2023

It's the most wonderful time of the year…. World Conference and Club Business Expo. In January, we previewed Education and now we are diving into the networking and other events. Kyle and Melissa will take you through the important things you need to know for the week, and they pick up some guest hosts along the way. For more information about World Conference visit cmaa.org/conference. To download the World Conference App visit https://www.cmaa.org/learn/meetings-and-events/conference/faqs/.

Continuing our tradition of talking wellness at the beginning of the year, we're joined in this episode by our colleague Katherine Lord and Lynn Hearn, CPT, PRINCIPAL PARTNER with Club Wellness Evolutions and Founding President of the Club Spa and Fitness Association (CSFA). We cover a lot of ground, including the launch of CMAA's special interest communities, the transition of CSFA to the Club Wellness Community, and current and future wellness trends. Most importantly, we talk about putting people first—and how that philosophy can shape a vibrant, holistic, and successful wellness program at your club. Learn more about CMAA's communities here: https://www.cmaa.org/membership/communities/