SHL Students Attend 2018 CMAA Conference

The School of Hospitality Leadership (SHL) and its student organization, Club Managers of America (CMAA), joined national and international club management professionals for the industry’s largest annual gathering, CMAA’s World Conference on Club Management and Club Business Expo.

This annual event and two-day expo offered nine College of Business and SHL students five days of professional development and education, networking opportunities, hospitality experiences, and the latest innovations in the industry. The conference was March 2-6, 2018 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, California.

Attending students included Alysha Gaffney (president), Amber Clawson (vice president), Carley Festa, Taylor Hetzel, Anthony Johnson, Ariel Malone, Megan Mulvihill, Danielle Smith and Wesley Verona.

These students walked away from the event with paid summer internship offers from Sankaty Club in Massachusettes, Rolling Rock Club in Pennsylvania, Cherokee Town and Country Club in Georgia, the Atlanta Athletic Club, and the Oklahoma City Club.

Carly Festa, left, networks with CMAA attendees.

Dr. Cynthia Deale, CMAA Club Advisor, and Dr. Robert O’Halloran, SHL director, also attended.

“Attending the CMAA World Conference is a valuable experience for students for many reasons,” said Deale. “It allows the students to network with and get inspired by competent professionals working in the club management field.”

Of her experience at the event, Festa said, “I was able to network with clubs that I will continue to stay in touch with in the future. These connections will be beneficial to me as I graduate.”

“It is rewarding to come home with many job offers from clubs around the country,” added Clawson.

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