Club Leadership Alliance – CMAA Connecticut Chapter Regional Workshop Recap
The 2026 CMAACT Regional Workshop, held March 1–2 at the Mohegan Sun Resort, brought together club management professionals and industry leaders for two days of education, collaboration, and meaningful connection. Club Leadership Alliance (CLA) was proud to provide the educational programming for the event, bringing together expertise from KOPPLIN KUEBLER & WALLACE, Club Benchmarking, and McMahon Group.
The education centered on four essential characteristics of high-performing clubs: Informed Leadership, Strategic Stewardship, Empowered Management and Team, and a Compelling Member Experience. Through a series of collaborative sessions, attendees explored how these principles work together to strengthen club leadership, organizational performance, and the overall member experience.
Opening Reception and Connection
The workshop began Sunday evening with a Welcome Reception at the Vista Lounge. The evening provided an opportunity for attendees, presenters, and industry partners to connect before Monday’s educational program.
Session One: Informed Leadership
Moderated by Tom Wallace, Kurt Kuebler, Ray Cronin, and Frank Vain led the first educational session focused on Informed Leadership.
The session explored the importance of informed, thoughtful leadership in today’s increasingly complex private club environment. Effective club leaders must understand their organization, membership, financial position, governance structure, and broader industry landscape to make sound decisions and successfully guide their clubs forward.
Session Two: Strategic Stewardship
Kurt Kuebler, Chris Barron, and Frank Vain continued the morning with a discussion centered on Strategic Stewardship.
The session emphasized the responsibility club leaders share in protecting the long-term health and sustainability of their organizations. Strategic stewardship requires balancing current member expectations with future needs while maintaining alignment among club leadership, management, resources, and long-range priorities.
Session Three: Empowered Management and Team
Following lunch, Kevin Vitale, Chris Barron, and Christian Coulter led a session on Empowered Management and Team.
Discussion focused on the importance of creating an environment in which management teams have the clarity, resources, accountability, and support necessary to perform at a high level. Strong clubs invest in their people, develop future leaders, establish clear expectations, and foster cultures built around collaboration and shared organizational goals.
Session Four: Compelling Member Experience
The final CLA educational session brought together Kevin Vitale, Ray Cronin, and Christian Coulter to explore the Compelling Member Experience.
At the heart of every successful private club is the ability to understand and consistently respond to the evolving needs of its membership. The session reinforced the importance of viewing the member experience holistically—from service and amenities to programming, communication, culture, and the meaningful connections that create a lasting sense of belonging.
Together, the four sessions demonstrated the interconnected nature of successful club leadership: informed leaders provide thoughtful direction; strategic stewardship positions the organization for the future; empowered teams bring the vision to life; and the result is a compelling experience that strengthens member engagement and the Club community.
Keynote Speaker
Following the CLA educational program, the workshop continued with remarks and the introduction of keynote speaker Scott Greenberg, who concluded the afternoon’s educational programming.
Continuing the Conversation
CLA extends its sincere appreciation to the CMAA Connecticut Chapter for the opportunity to provide education for this year’s Regional Workshop and to the club professionals, industry partners, volunteers, and presenters who contributed to its success.
The 2026 CMAACT Regional Workshop reinforced the tremendous value of bringing club leaders together to exchange ideas, challenge conventional thinking, and learn from the collective expertise of the industry. CLA remains committed to providing education and resources that strengthen leadership, governance, management, and the member experience throughout the private club community.
We look forward to continuing these important conversations and creating additional opportunities to advance excellence in club leadership. Until next time!
