Category : Club Industry

Jennifer Kennedy
CMAC Ontario Branch – Professional Development Chair
Athletics & Wellness Director, The Boulevard Club

Jennifer Kennedy is an experienced wellness and club operations leader whose vision and dedication elevate the role of athletic and wellness programming within private clubs — enhancing member experiences and supporting professional growth across the club industry.

Rob Hickson
CMAC Ontario Branch – Membership & Marketing Vice Chair
General Manager, Lookout Point Country Club

Rob Hickson is an experienced club leader whose passion for member experience, strategic engagement, and professional service shines both in his club role and in his volunteer leadership within the CMAC Ontario Branch.

Hendrick van der Geld, CCM, PGA
CMAC Ontario Branch – Vice President
Chief Operating Officer, The Club at North Halton

Hendrick van der Geld is a distinguished leader in the Canadian club industry, currently serving as the Chief Operating Officer at The Club at North Halton in Georgetown, Ontario. As both a Certified Club Manager (CCM) and a Class “A” PGA Professional, Hendrick bridges the gap between elite athletic programming and sophisticated business operations.

In every strong professional community, there’s a steady force working behind the scenes—connecting people, shaping ideas, and turning momentum into meaningful action. At the CMAC Ontario Branch, that force is Lisa Noonan.

While members often experience the polished results—engaging events, valuable education sessions, and a growing network of peers—the work that brings it all together is layered, intentional, and deeply collaborative. A day in Lisa’s world is less about routine and more about orchestration—balancing strategy, creativity, and connection to keep the branch moving forward.

Shaun Tyler, MBA, BComm, PGA of Canada Class "A"
Professor, Sport Management Program
Faculty of Business, Humber Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning

With May marking Mental Health Awareness Month, it’s worth recognizing that a job search in the golf and club management industry requires both professional discipline and personal resilience. Seasonality, competitive roles, and the relationship-driven nature of the industry can intensify the pressure and really turn up the heat for those “go-getter” types. Finding the appropriate balance and recognizing the signs of burnout varies between us all and is certainly easier said than done, but approaching the process with efforts that both stabilize and emphasize mental wellness is critical to maintaining performance and keeping a positive outlook.

Alena Miatlushka, MCATD
CMAC Ontario Branch – Board of Directors and Professional Pathways Chair
Director of Human Resources, The Boulevard Club

Alena Miatlushka is a highly accomplished Human Resources professional with a rich international background spanning Europe, the Middle East, and North America. With over 20 years of experience in the hospitality sector, she has developed deep expertise in hotel pre-openings, brand repositioning, and the strategic management of HR and training functions. Alena has successfully led regional HR communities, playing a critical role in implementing global people initiatives that align with business goals and elevate organizational performance.

Marcel Bregstein, CCM/Sommelier
Assistant General Manager, Toronto Hunt Club

It has been over a year and many of our favourite California, Oregon and Washington wines are still missing from LCBO shelves. If you’re struggling to replace the Cabs, Pinots and Chardonnays you used to love, the good news is that excellent alternatives exist — often from the very regions where these grapes originally came from.

For club management professionals, experience is essential — but recognized professional credibility is what sets leaders apart.

Earning your CCM is more than completing courses. It’s a structured professional journey that validates your knowledge, leadership ability, and commitment to excellence in club management.

At the 2026 Annual Meeting held April 8, 2026 at the Oakdale Golf & Country Club we showcased our 4th Annual Idea Fair. Check out the entries!

By: Clayton Elliot and Brad Milligan
Co-Founder and CEO
AceCall.ai

Private club leadership has always been about stewardship.

Stewardship of culture.
Stewardship of reputation.
Stewardship of capital.
Stewardship of people.

General Managers and COOs operate at the intersection of governance, operations, and member expectations. You are expected to see around corners, not just manage what is directly in front of you.

In 2026, one of those corners is artificial intelligence.