The University of Wisconsin-Stout chapter of the Club Management Association of America was named the Chapter of the Year, large chapter, at the World Club Managers Conference in February.
The conference was held in Grape Vine, Texas, Feb. 8-12. UW-Stout’s CMAA chapter earned $1,000 and a trophy. Fifteen UW-Stout students attended the conference.
The Club Management Association of America, headquartered in Alexandria, Va., is the professional association for managers of members clubs and has about 6,700 members. Members operate more than 2,500 country, golf, athletic, faculty, military, town and yacht clubs. The world conference is the largest networking and educational gathering of industry professionals.
School of Hospitality Leadership Professor Phil McGuirk, who is also UW-Stout chapter’s adviser, said he was pleased the students earned the chapter of the year award. UW-Stout is located between the Wisconsin and Minnesota senior professional chapters, and students many opportunities to attend educational events.
“The senior groups are just great,” McGuirk said. “They both are very helpful. Every meeting they have speakers who talk about the profession.”
The Chapter of the Year is awarded through an application process, based in part on membership and annual activities.
Sean Mallery, president of the UW-Stout chapter, said he was also pleased by the award. The chapter has about 40 members and actively works to have regular educational speakers. In the spring semester they had Rollie Carlson, director of the Upper Midwest Chapter of Club Management Association of America and Nate Weisenbeck of the White Bear Yacht Club.
“It wouldn’t have been possible without a great executive board leading the club and dedicated membership who shares the same passion in touring different private clubs around the country, attending conferences and educational events, volunteering and networking with other club professionals,” said Mallery, of Kenyon, Minn., a junior majoring in hotel, restaurant and tourism management. “It gives us students so many opportunities to learn and grow outside the classroom.”
Funds earned from the award will be used to fund future chapter trips and events.
UW-Stout’s chapter started in 1975 by a small group of students, including McGuirk, and in 1978 was recognized by the National Club Managers Association of America as the first student chapter. Now there are about 50 student chapters across the U.S.
The UW-Stout chapter first won the Chapter of the Year, large chapter, of the World Club Managers Conference in 2018. The chapter also won the Club of the Future contest by coming up with innovative ideas for a country club.
The School of Hospitality Leadership offers majors in hotel, restaurant and tourism management; golf enterprise management; and real estate property management.
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Photos
Members of the UW-Stout chapter of the Club Management Association of America. The chapter was named the Chapter of the Year, large chapter, at the World Club Managers Conference in February.
UW-Stout Club Management Association of America President Sean Mallery, at right, with School of Hospitality Leadership Professor Phil McGuirk, who is the chapter’s adviser.
