Alexandria, VA – March 9, 2009 – On a recent visit to Michigan State University (MSU), Jim Singerling, CCM, CEC, chief executive officer of the Club Managers Association of America, was named an honorary faculty member of The School of Hospitality Business.
In his current position for 20 years, and actively involved with CMAA for nearly 30, Singerling has helped guide the Association to the forefront of the hospitality industry, expanding its signature Business Management Institutes (BMIs) from 3 annual programs to nearly 40 on university campuses and at world-class culinary institutes and golf facilities in the United States and abroad. For almost 20 years, The School of Hospitality Business has annually hosted three week-long BMI IIIs for club chief operating officers and general managers seeking strategically focused professional development and certification through CMAA.
In addition, Singerling has overseen the growth of CMAA’s Premier Club Services subscription service to support more than 800 participating clubs. He also was instrumental in planning and implementing the unprecedented Premier Club Benefits healthcare plan for club employees.
“It was only logical that we would invite Jim to campus to speak to my HB 321 – Club Management and Operations class,” says Dick Bruner, CCM, adjunct professor in The School of Hospitality Business and general manager of the University Club in East Lansing, Michigan.
Singerling discussed the importance of CMAA’s executive certification in critical competency areas. He also provided the students with an insider’s view of the economic impact on clubs and the value of club internships and manager-in-development programs.
Singerling commended the exemplary work of the student CMAA chapter at MSU and reminded the students of the work of The Club Foundation, the charitable arm of CMAA. The organization has distributed more than $3 million in grants and scholarships over 15 years, some of which has been awarded to outstanding students, as well as faculty researchers, in The School of Hospitality Business.
Singerling’s visit to campus also included meeting with faculty members to discuss club research projects and with the student leaders of the CMAA student chapter. The highlight of his role in the school’s Visiting Leader series was being named an honorary faculty member.
“We already felt like Jim was a part of our school family, but naming him an honorary faculty member solidified and strengthened that relationship,” explains Dr. Ron Cichy, school director and professor. “Professor Singerling is an excellent model of leadership in the industry for our students, and CMAA is a treasured strategic relationship partner.”
Singerling will again bring his expertise to campus next fall when he will serve as the industry expert for Hilton Lecture Series XX, which has club management as its theme.
Photo: The MSU School of Hospitality Business’s BMI III faculty and researchers welcome Professor Jim Singerling. Pictured left to right are Dr. Ray Schmidgall, Dean James F. Rainey, Dr. Bonnie Knutson, Dr. Michael Kasavana, Honorary Faculty Member Jim Singerling, CCM, CEC, Dr. Ron Cichy, Professor Richard Bruner, Dr. JaeMin Cha, and Dr. Seung Hyun Kim.
About CMAA – The Club Managers Association of America is the professional Association for managers of membership clubs. CMAA has close to 7,000 members across all classifications. Manager members run more than 3,000 country, golf, city, athletic, faculty, yacht, town, and military clubs. The objectives of the Association are to promote and advance friendly relations among persons connected with the management of clubs and other associations of similar character; to encourage the education and advancement of members; and to assist club officers and members, through their managers, to secure the utmost in efficient and successful operations.
About The School of Hospitality Business at Michigan State University – Founded in 1927, the school has more than 9,000 graduates worldwide, including a number of leading academicians and industry executives. Its mission is to continually enhance the school’s leadership position in hospitality business education through teaching, research, and service. The school offers a curriculum taught by innovative professors who are leading textbook authors, sought-after consultants, and respected researchers.
Contact:
Gerry Romano
(703) 739-9500
gerry.romano@cmaa.org
www.cmaa.org
