Isenberg HTM Triumphs: Students and Faculty Claim Top Honors at 2024 World CMAA Conference

Amidst a backdrop of innovation and excellence in the club management field, Isenberg School of Management students and faculty were honored among industry leaders and emerging luminaries—shaping the future of the landscape of club management at the prestigious Club Management Association of America (CMAA) 2024 World Conference and Club Business Expo. Hosted by the CMAA, which boasts more than 7,800 members globally, the event was held at the Mandalay Bay Resort Casino and Conference Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, and served as a nexus for professionalism, education, and leadership—featuring keynote addresses from industry leaders such as Will Guidara, leadership advocates like Rorke Denver, and education champions like DeMaurice Smith.

Since 1978, the UMass Student Chapter of the CMAA has been active in club management education and placement of students in private clubs, homeowner’s associations, and club resorts across the nation. Rod Warnick, faculty advisor of the UMass Student Chapter CMAA and professor of Hospitality and Tourism Management at Isenberg has been active in the chapter for more than 30 years. “I became involved in 1992 as the faculty advisor and teach two club management courses—HTM 336 Club Management and HTM 492W Advanced Club Management,” Warnick says. “The student chapter has won Chapter of the Year four times—most recently in 2021—and is considered one of the top chapters in the country for student involvement, placement, and excellence in club management education.”

UMass Student Chapter Earns National Awards

The student chapter is supported regionally by the New England Club Management Association (NECMA) and its affiliated NECMA Club Foundation which provides scholarships and educational funds for students. In 2023, UMass CMAA students earned over $8,000 in scholarship aid for 13 chapter members' full registration fees to attend the World CMAA Conference in Las Vegas. In 2024, the UMass student chapter ranked as one of the top three in overall recruitment for the student new member recruitment contest.

The UMass student chapter of the CMAA demonstrated a commitment to boosting student recruitment during the 2022-2023 academic year and surpassed expectations—resulting in national recognition. This award not only bolsters the growth of both the chapter and CMAA membership but also underscores the hard work of the students involved. Their dedication has earned them an opportunity for two students to attend the 2025 CMAA World Conference in Tampa, FL—further shaping their experiential learning and networking opportunities before they officially begin their careers in the field.

“The recognition of the UMass Student Chapter of CMAA continues to bring forward excellence in academic progress and involvement in the club management profession. The recent chapter of the year award in 2021 and now four more awards speak to the excellence and commitment the students put into enriching their time here at UMass and their involvement in the club management field,” continued Warnick, “These efforts go beyond the classroom and are evidence of excellence and developing relationships with their future profession through winter externship programs at some of the top clubs in the country—including Farmington Country Club in Virginia, Chevy Chase Club in Maryland, New York Athletic Club in NYC, and Mirasol Country Club in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Additionally, students attend the CMAA’s National Student Education Conference each November, a three-day excursion at various host clubs, such as the 2023 experience hosted by Matt Lambert ‘92 COO of Mirasol Country Club, further expanding their networks.

Faculty Leadership & Career-Boosting Initiatives Earn Award-Winning Accolades

Warnick and the student chapter achieved significant recognition at the conference—their programs and initiatives contended for national awards. Warnick received the Promoting the Professions award for his commitment to promoting UMass student chapter profiles—a digital file showcasing student academic and extracurricular achievements—in both the Category and Best in Show awards, along with the Liaison Manager and Manager Engagement award for the development of new case studies in club management.

The Promotion of the Profession Best in Show award was presented to Warnick as a testament to his decade long endeavor of connecting students with around 400 club managers in New England and several hundred more across the nation—for internships, externships, management in development programs, and other career-impacting experiences by developing and sharing digital student profiles. Over the years, the initiative has evolved, expanding its published listing to incorporate line listings of Isenberg HTM alumni in club management for further career progression, alongside a new section highlighting "UMass CMAA Students in the News." The $1,000 cash award was presented to the student chapter to continue this venture of connecting students with current professionals in the field of club management.

The faculty awards directly benefit both the student chapter and participants of the HTM 336 club management class, enhancing their educational experience and career prospects. “What I continue to be impressed with within the last few years are the number of students in Isenberg and outside the college who are beginning to recognize the great career opportunities available in the club management field for all majors and students,” Warnick says. “We have attracted more students from finance, sport management, communications, and economics—our reach is expanding. The opportunities in the field are excellent and are projected to be strong for the coming decade. The most outstanding highlight of the 2024 World CMAA Conference for the students was winning the National CMAA Shark Tank award with the presentation of the XPickle™ concept for radar and camera technology of the increasingly popular game of pickleball.” 

The student chapter boasts around 25 active members and an involved e-board of officers. Hospitality and Tourism Management students in attendance at the conference included Grace Canzano ’25, Jack Sorensen ’24, Jack Martins ’24, Olivia DuBois ’26, Kayla Cunningham ’25, Edward Kusumo ’25, Aarah Shannon ’26, Derek Foley ’27 (HTM/OIM double major), Alexa Agnew ’24, Jen Harmon ’27, Kendall Famularo ’27—along with Stephanie Hubbell ’24 (finance major), and Ethan Brayall-Brown ’24 (journalism major).

Keep up with the student chapter of the UMass CMAA by following them on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/umasscmaa/ or joining their group on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/umasscmaa.