Discover treasures and wisdom for your club management challenges and your leadership development. The robust professional development agenda offers curated information for your journey through concurrent education sessions, featured general sessions, and option Pre- and At-Conference Workshops.
Start, meet, or expand your certification goals:
Club Management Institute (CMI) credits are awarded via verified attendance. At the end of each session, your presenter will share a keyword. Make note of this keyword.
To earn the most credits at Conference, follow these three steps:
Select from more than 65 sessions across all 11 competencies for success in club management. Sessions will be presented by industry and business experts and showcase solutions for the challenges facing today’s club management professionals.
Approximately 50 percent of the speakers featured at the World Conference are new, ensuring fresh and novel educational presentations.
Choose your pathway by selecting relevant topics by competency area as well as by track. Choose from Pre-Certification, Post-Certification, and Executive level to attend sessions most appropriate to your interests and career stage.
All Times Eastern Standard Time (EST)
*Separate ticket or reservation required
**Sessions designed for CMAA Student Attendees
All events subject to change. Please check the World Conference App for the most up to date information on-site.
Last Updated: 11/25/24
Brian Dawkins has achieved tremendous success on and off the football field. As an athlete, Dawkins excelled as a safety at Clemson University for four seasons. He received first-team All-ACC Honors and second-team All-American Honors in 1995. For his outstanding contributions, he was inducted into the Clemson Athletic Hall of Fame in 2009. In 1996, the Philadelphia Eagles selected Dawkins in the second round of NFL Draft, and he immediately cemented himself as the starting free safety during his rookie season and became the leader of one of the most feared defenses in the NFL. During his 13 seasons with the Eagles, Dawkins became the leader of one of the most feared defenses in the NFL, leading the team to the playoffs eight times and to the Super Bowl following the 2004 season. He completed his career with three outstanding seasons playing for the Denver Broncos.
Dawkins’ final NFL resume includes nine trips to the Pro Bowl, six All-Pro designations and a place on the NFL’s All-Decade Team for the 2000’s. He finished his career as the only player in League history to amass more than 25 interceptions, forced fumbles, and sacks in a career. The Eagles retired his #20 jersey in 2012, making him only the ninth player in the franchise’s nearly century-long history to be so honored. He attained the sport’s ultimate achievement when he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2018.
Dawkins’ excellence, however, transcends football. The Jacksonville, Florida native demonstrated outstanding character throughout his career, giving back in many ways to the various communities he touched.
Start your adventure at the Opening Business Session. Meet the candidates for the 2025 CMAA Board of Directors during the Candidates’ Forum and learn more about the proposed bylaw changes. Honor and recognize the professional development achievements of CMAA members, including the 2024 Certified Club Managers, Certified Chief Executives, and Master Club Managers, and be present for the unveiling of the 2024 class of CMAA Fellows. President & CEO Jeff Morgan, FASAE, CAE, will highlight CMAA’s key developments.
Carla Hall first won over audiences when she competed on Bravo’s Top Chef and Top Chef: All Stars and shared her philosophy to always cook with love. After appearances on Top Chef, she spent seven years co-hosting ABC’s Emmy award-winning, popular lifestyle series The Chew, and is currently featured as host of Chasing Flavor, a travel/food series on Max.
Born in Nashville, TN, she grew up surrounded by soul food. Her path to food celebrity took a winding road. Hall graduated from Howard University's Business School and worked as an accountant for two years – before deciding to switch gears to work as a runway model. It was during that time, as she traveled (and ate) her way through Europe for a few years, that she truly realized her deep-rooted passion for food could be her career path.
Today, she is a trained chef who has worked in several professional restaurant kitchens in and around the Washington, DC, area and is an accomplished television personality and author. Hall believes food connects us all, and she strives to communicate this through her work, her cooking, and in her daily interactions with others.
Presented in Partnership with Club Car, a CMAA Executive Partner
Celebrate the achievements of CMAA Members and Chapters at the Awards Breakfast, which honors and recognizes the individuals and Chapters who strive for excellence in the CMAA community.
Featured award presentations include:
After the awards, learn from renowned leadership expert and Colonel, USAF (Ret.), DeDe Halfhill. Described by Dr. Brené Brown as one of her “leadership heroes and a total badass,” Halfhill is a proven leader who draws from 25 years of command experience and as a senior advisor to the military’s highest-ranking officials to provide a real-world perspective on the power of embracing humanness and vulnerability in leadership. Twice deployed to Iraq, Halfhill’s sought-after leadership insights are grounded in personal experiences commanding and advising organizations through challenging environments—often when lives were at risk and there were no easy answers.
Explaining how there are not enough leaders to meet society’s evolving demand for leadership through vulnerability, Halfhill teaches the critical skills today’s leaders need to navigate difficult conversations. Weaving thought-provoking anecdotes with humorous and heartwarming stories, her forward-looking discussions demonstrate to audiences what more transparent and less hierarchical leadership looks like—sharing practical strategies for any organization to authentically connect, build trust, and empower others in meaningful ways.
Please note: A ticket is required for entry to this event. This event is ticketed separately from all registration categories and capacity is limited.
DeEtta Jones is a go-to strategist on equity, diversity, inclusion, and workplace transformation, bringing 30 years of experience developing practical tools to build managerial effectiveness and making structural and sustainable organizational change.
Jones’ career began in college when she became a social justice activist. She worked closely with Indigenous communities to shed light on historical injustices and misrepresentation. In her early 20s, her work as Director of the Human Rights Advocacy and Education Office focused on community education and mediating complaints of discrimination in housing, public accommodation, and employment. Her work was in the wake of the murder of Matthew Shepard, a man beaten and left to die hanging from a fence. Committed to transformation, her attention and agenda focused on education and policy change that resulted in City ordinances to protect members of the LGBTQ+ communities from hate crimes. Every step thereafter opened doors for people from underrepresented groups and positioned herself as a model of what next-generation should reflect.
Today, Jones is the Founder and CEO of DeEtta Jones and Associates, a consulting firm that equips leaders and organizations with an integrated and sustainable strategy that centers on values of inclusion and equity. DeEtta believes that we are at a defining moment. Organizations and their leaders are being held accountable for new standards of equity, inclusion, and excellence. To this end, the most impactful changes are not reactionary or episodic: they are intentional, ongoing, and enterprise-wide; strengthening strategy, systems, and culture within an organization.
Kevin Brown’s unconventional path to business and personal success has taught him that winning in business and in life requires anything but conventional thinking. He grew up in Muskegon, MI, where his blue-collar roots taught him the value of hard work and determination. With a streetwise aptitude and a never quit attitude, he worked his way from the front lines in business to the executive boardroom.
Brown understands what drives organizational excellence and customer loyalty. He knows first-hand how great brands think, feel, and act. He is a branding and culture expert with a 30-plus year career in franchise development.
Since 2016, he has traveled the world pursuing a mission to share The HERO Effect® message, a simple philosophy that separates world-class organizations and high-performance people from everybody else. Brown is passionate about helping people expand their vision, develop their potential, and grow their results. As the father of a child with autism, he knows firsthand how the principles of true success reach beyond the boardroom and into the lives of real people facing the challenges of everyday life. He entertains, inspires, and challenges people to show up every day and make a positive difference at work and in life!
Brown will be signing copies of The HERO Effect immediately following his session at the CLUB CAR Booth #1219 at the Club Business Expo.
Every good adventure must end. Join your colleagues for the final exciting session featuring Celebrity drummer, Author, and Peak Performance Expert Mark Schulman. Session Highlights will include the official Board of Director election and bylaw results; the farewell address from outgoing CMAA Chairman Joe Mendez, CCM, CCE; and a preview of the 2026 World Conference and Club Business Expo, February 17-21, in Anaheim, CA.
Mark Schulman’s journey from a classically trained cellist to the first-call drummer for the world’s top artists showcases the immense power of attitude, transformation, and the relentless pursuit of excellence.
With more than 32 years of electrifying stages worldwide, he not only brings unparalleled energy to music but also translates this dynamism into motivational speaking, where he becomes the bridge between the pulsating heart of rock ‘n’ roll and transformative business and corporate leadership. As a cancer survivor, Mark's resilience and vitality infuse his keynotes, where he shares the secrets of rockstar performance, emphasizing attitude's role in driving extraordinary outcomes.
February 2 through February 5—The Bicycle Chautauqua
Offsite
Members: $125
Non-Members: $225
Chautauquas were developed in the mid-nineteenth century as “mobile universities” that moved across America offering popular talks intended to bring insight and entertainment to rural America. The Bicycle Chautauqua has updated the concept by creating a reflective opportunity for working professionals to escape from the trenches; to bond and connect with ideas and people; and to think deeply about club management in a physically stimulating social setting.
Interspersed amongst three days of bicycling will be three, one-hour, pre-ride Upbriefs and three, two-hour, post-ride Debriefs focusing on that day’s “issues of consequence.” In addition to these organized briefings, each day’s ride will be filled with hours of discussion during breakfast, rest stops, maintenance periods, and dinner.
The bicycle Chautauqua will start and end at a hotel near the Tampa Convention Center and will, using “hub and spokes tactics” (that is, leaving from and returning to the same hotel each day), head into the Florida countryside for three days of riding and reflecting.
Registration Details:
Offsite: J.C. Newman Cigar Company
Members: $350*
* Due to space constraints, registration is limited to CMAA Members only.
Step back in time and immerse yourself in the rich history and tradition of cigar making with the exclusive Roll in Tradition workshop, hosted at the J.C. Newman Cigar Company, America’s oldest family-owned premium cigar manufacturer. Founded in 1895, J.C. Newman has been a cornerstone of American cigar craftsmanship for more than a century.
Join Eric Newman and his team as they lead you through El Reloj, their legendary 114-year-old cigar factory, where the art of cigar making is still practiced by hand and with antique, hand-operated machines. This unique, behind-the-scenes tour offers a rare glimpse into the heart of cigar heritage.
During the workshop, you’ll explore historical artifacts collected by the Newman family, learn the intricate process of cigar rolling at the original stations, and be treated to a tasting experience, sampling different tobaccos that form the foundation of J.C. Newman's world-renowned cigars.
Whether you're a cigar enthusiast or a lover of history, this is an unforgettable opportunity. Don’t miss out—capacity is limited to the first 36 attendees.
Registration Details: The workshop will be limited to 36 attendees. Registration includes breakfast, lunch, tour, and tasting.
February 4—Yacht Club Symposium
Offsite: Tampa Yacht & Country Club
Members: $150
Non-Members: $250
This enriching educational event offers yacht club management professionals an invaluable opportunity to convene with their professional counterparts, engaging in insightful conversations about the distinctive challenges and prospects they encounter.
This year’s event will be hosted at the Tampa Yacht & Country Club, the premier private club for generations of families in the Tampa Bay area, combining the uniqueness of our waterfront property and long-standing place in Tampa's history with first-class facilities and extraordinary members and employees.
The symposium will feature three educational sessions, complemented by breakfast, lunch, and end of day cocktails and hors d’oeuvres as part of the program. The first session will feature a presentation on yacht club data trends presentation by Ray Cronin of Club Benchmarking. The second session, Best Practices and Marina Trends, features Todd Turrell, PE, and Mark LaFon, PE, of Turrell, Hall & Associates, a Marine & Environment Consulting Firm. THA has provided marine and environmental consulting services for more than thirty years to Florida, the Caribbean, Bahamas, and other international locations. This session will explore best practices in marina design and maintenance, as well as lessons learned in resiliency following Hurricane’s Ian, Helene, and Milton bearing down on the West Coast of Florida over the past 3 years. By their very nature, yacht clubs are in a vulnerable position being right on the water, hence their need to adapt to Mother Nature and prepare for the worst. In conjunction with this program, there will also be a tour of the host club marina, which was designed by THA. Tampa Yacht and Country Club has had to adapt since Hurricane Helene impacted the club and marina in September 2024. Finally, the third session will feature round-table discussions on an assortment of yacht club specific topics.
Registration Details: The workshop will be limited to 60 attendees. Registration includes breakfast, lunch, end of day cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, and transportation.
February 4—Exploring the World's Top Wine Regions
Offsite: University Club of Tampa
Members: $475
Non-Members: $500
Master Sommelier Randall Bertao, CCM, CCE, and Sommelier Jordan Sweeney, CCM, will take you on a deep dive into the world’s greatest wine regions and you will taste some of the best wines from iconic producers in those regions.
Regions/topics discussed during this session will include but are not limited to:
Registration Details: The workshop will be open to 50 attendees. Registration includes a plated lunch and all tasting wines. The University Club of Tampa is located a short, 10-minute walk from the Tampa Convention Center area.
February 5—Strategic Planning Excellence
On-site: Tampa Convention Center
Members: $250
Non-Members: $350
Forward-thinking clubs leverage strategic planning to set clear objectives that enhance the member experience, improve operational efficiency, optimize revenue streams, adapt to changes in the marketplace, and enhance their market position. In this four-hour seminar, participants will explore essential elements needed to effectively implement a strategic plan at their club.
Participants will explore various strategic planning tools through real-life case examples. Selected mini cases will enable participants to delve into critical aspects of implementing a plan, including how market studies can influence member recruitment and retention, annual budgets’ impact on staffing plans, dynamic financial models to understand operational changes impact on financial position, the influence of member research on decision making, and how obtaining member support through effective communication plans serve as critical components to success.
To deliver important strategic insights to session participants, presenters will use proven learning tactics while allowing ongoing opportunities for question-and-answer interaction. To engage session participants where they can apply what they have learned, presenters will facilitate interactive discussions where participants can discuss the presented content, approaches they use in their clubs, best practices in developing strategies, and relevant issues at their clubs.
Registration Details: The workshop will be open to 100 attendees and includes breakfast.
February 7—The Walking Chautauqua
On-site: Begins at Tampa Convention Center
Members: $75
Non-Members: $100
A Chautauqua is a mobile university, and The Walking Chautauqua (The ChauWALKqua) is just that a facilitated, reflective opportunity involving a little walking and a lot of focused, in-depth conversation about clubs and the challenges and opportunities a professional will encounter. The workshop will be four hours long, limited to 25 people, will be held during Conference week and be led and facilitated by Loraine Vienne and Gregg Patterson. The first hour and a half will include a getting-to-know-each-other opportunity and a “question of the day” upbrief; the next hour will involve walking, talking, and stopping for coffee; and the final hour and a half will be spent debriefing the walk, discussing the Question of the Day and addressing the essence of clubdom!
Registration Details: The workshop is limited to 25 registrants. All participants must be registered and pay fees through CMAA registration.
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