Foodbuy and the Club Management Association solidify on-going partnership
Foodbuy is proud to announce their continued partnership with the Club Management Association of Canada (CMAC).
We spoke with Suzanne Godbehere, the Chief Executive Officer of CMAC about the partnership, their vision and goals for the association. “We are excited that Foodbuy is continuing to support CMAC. Your support helps us ensure we deliver the training, resources and advocacy support for our members.”
CMAC is the national professional association for individuals involved in the club management profession in Canada. They have been in existence since 1957 and CMAC’s vision is to create great leaders through excellence in professional club management. CMAC’s members are GMs, CEOs, COOs as well as Assistant Managers, Controllers, Chefs, Golf Professionals, Superintendents, Marketing Professionals, Food and Beverage Managers along with other roles in club management.
Like other professions, there is a specific body of knowledge with defined competencies, academic training, an accreditation/certification process and a defined code of ethics. Members regularly attend events such as Business Management Institute (BMI) courses, conferences or webinars to stay abreast of industry trends as well as to pursue professional certification. BMI courses are professional development courses that provide tangible career benchmarks for managers to track their progress and strive for various levels of competency. The courses are held annually in January.
Godbehere described CMAC’s role. “We look to develop, promote and support the growth of the profession of club management. We provide networking and professional educational opportunities for our members. We also advocate for our members’ interests to ensure our voice is heard on regulations that will affect members and their clubs.”
Troy Taylor, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships and Marketing for Foodbuy explains why Foodbuy chose to partner with CMAC. “We feel supporting the growth and development of people working in Club Management is key. There is little advanced training available in the Foodservice and Hospitality sector, so we feel CMAC’s role is fundamental in helping the continued success of the sector as a whole.”
Clubs from coast to coast play a huge role in the Canadian economy and club management involves a host of activities pending the size and style of the club. CMAC members hold senior roles in over 300 clubs across Canada and are responsible for all aspects of club operations.
Godbehere indicated that, “it’s not an easy business and for someone to lead these types of operations it usually requires a cross section of skills. Our training programs help prepare our members for the challenges they face in their day-to-day operations as they strive for service excellence.”
Those who are seeking the professional designation come from all walks of life. Some have grown up in the business and need and want a globally recognized certification for promotional opportunities and to gain the knowledge they can take with them throughout their careers. Some members may not have a university degree and the specific training administered by CMAC can help with their skills and career development.
As part of CMAC’s commitment to offering timely and relevant professional development courses, they also host a number of networking events throughout the year. These events include sessions that help members become a more successful club manager. CMAC arms members with current information and cutting-edge skills. Godbehere speaks about the CMAC community, “The fellowship and community spirit are strong, as our members are freer to share information, ideas and solutions. It is not necessarily a direct competitive environment. This means that CMAC feels and operates much more like a community.”
To become a member of CMAC call (416) 979-0640 or [email protected]
This is an excerpt from the Foodbuy 2024 Golf Club and Leisure Guide. To read the guide, click here.