From Committee-Led to CEO Driven: Modernizing Private Club Leadership
Crushing Club Marketing Podcast
Release Date: 02/05/2025
Why Every Club Leader Needs a Crisis Management Plan
Crushing Club Marketing Podcast
No club is immune to crisis, but most are unprepared when it strikes. In this episode, Ed Heil is joined by Andy Skoogman, a seasoned crisis communications expert with a background in law enforcement, media, and private clubs. Together, they discuss the common misconceptions club leaders have about crisis situations, what effective planning actually looks like, and why managing internal communication is just as important as handling the public response. Whether it’s a media incident, a member conflict, or something more serious, this conversation sheds light on what clubs can do today to be...
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The Impact of Behavioral Assessments on Club Culture: A Conversation with Jodie Cunningham
Crushing Club Marketing Podcast
In this episode of Crushing Club Marketing, Ed Heil sits down with Jodie Cunningham, owner of Optimus Talent Partners and a certified Predictive Index partner, to explore how behavioral assessments can revolutionize hiring in the private club industry. Drawing on her years of experience, Jodie shares practical insights on building stronger teams, aligning talent with culture, and avoiding costly hiring mistakes. From understanding your club’s identity to using data to navigate generational differences, this conversation is packed with strategic takeaways for club leaders who want to elevate...
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Change Management: Why Communication is the Key to Private Club Success
Crushing Club Marketing Podcast
Episode Description In this episode, Ed sits down with Bret, an expert in change management and communication, to discuss why successful club transformations depend not just on strategy but on how change is communicated. They explore the unique challenges of implementing change in private clubs, the importance of transparency, and how leaders can effectively manage member expectations. From capital improvements to governance restructuring, Bret shares insights on how clubs can proactively shape the narrative, overcome resistance, and drive meaningful progress. Key Moments: The Heart of Change...
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Strategic Private Club Communications: Beyond the Club Newsletter
Crushing Club Marketing Podcast
Episode Description In this episode, we chat with Jackie Singleton and Kristen LaCount from The Country Club about their approach to club communications. From the evolution of their communications department to managing capital project messaging, they share practical insights on building member trust through transparent, consistent communication across multiple channels. Learn how they've developed a culture where communication is prioritized at every level and how they effectively manage messaging for major club initiatives. Key Moments: Setting the Stage [00:00:25]: Ed introduces Jackie and...
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Private Club Waitlists and Member Attrition: What the Data Tells Us
Crushing Club Marketing Podcast
In this episode, Ed talks with Jason Becker, CEO and founder of Golf Life Navigators, about emerging trends in private club membership and why clubs should prepare for higher-than-normal attrition rates. Jason shares insights from his company's extensive data collection and explains why the real estate market is a crucial indicator for private club membership trends. Key Moments: Setting the Stage [00:00:00]: Ed introduces the current state of private clubs, noting that over half still maintain waitlists with an average of 70 people. Golf Life Navigators Overview [00:03:26]: Jason explains...
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From Committee-Led to CEO Driven: Modernizing Private Club Leadership
Crushing Club Marketing Podcast
In this episode, we chat with Dave Porter, CEO and GM of Greystone Golf and Country Club, about how he transformed his club's governance from a traditional committee-based structure to a CEO-led model. Dave shares his journey of building trust, empowering staff, and creating a more efficient decision-making process that's helping the club thrive. Key Moments: Setting the Stage [00:00:00]: Ed introduces the challenges of traditional club governance and why change is needed in today's competitive landscape. The Early Days at Greystone [00:05:01]: Dave discusses his initial requests when hired,...
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What Private Club Leaders Need to Know Before Capturing Golf Course Drone Footage
Crushing Club Marketing Podcast
In this episode, we talk with Russell Bennett, a professional drone photographer specializing in golf course imagery, about the technical and artistic aspects of capturing courses from above. From licensing requirements to creative techniques, Russ shares insights on how clubs can best utilize drone photography to showcase their facilities. Key Moments: Discussing Drone Sightings [00:03:00]: Before diving in, Russ discusses his perspective of seeing drones in the recent news. Getting Started in Drone Photography [00:03:45]: Russ discusses his transition from marketing to drone photography...
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The Key to Successful Club Governance: A Discussion with Experts Denise Kuprionis and David Chag
Crushing Club Marketing Podcast
In the big picture of club improvements, updating bylaws and reviewing governance is about as uninteresting and unsexy as it gets. Most club leaders would rather spend these golden years of private clubs dreaming up capital improvements - which is great, but taking care of governance also matters. In this episode, we check in with David Chag and Denise Kuprionis from The Club Council to talk about Club Governance and why it matters for the health of your club today and in the future. Key Moments: Introduction to Club Governance [00:00:13]: Ed Heil introduces the importance of governance and...
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Navigating Private Club Finances: A Smarter Approach to Dues and Initiation Fees
Crushing Club Marketing Podcast
Assessments. They seem to go hand-in-hand with private club membership. Many clubs have voted to assess members for new amenities in recent years, and many more are considering doing the same in the months ahead. Like death and taxes, clubs see assessments as a necessary evil, but are they? In this episode we talk to Jim Butler, CEO of Club Benchmarking who shares his perspective on assessments and how club’s can plan for the future more thoughtfully. What he says, may surprise you. Key Moments: • Introduction to Club Assessments [00:00:13]: Ed Heil introduces the topic of club assessments...
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Cultivating a Thriving Club Culture: An Interview with Three and Jackie Carpenter
Crushing Club Marketing Podcast
In the competitive landscape of private clubs, creating a strong, positive culture isn't just a nice-to-have—it's essential when attracting new members and the best talent. Jackie and Three Carpenter are longtime professionals in the club industry and are also authors of the book "People First." Using their years of experience in the private club industry, Three and Jackie are uniquely positioned to share the critical importance of fostering a people-centric culture in private clubs. Their insights offer valuable lessons for club leaders looking to elevate their club's employee experience...
info_outlineIn this episode, we chat with Dave Porter, CEO and GM of Greystone Golf and Country Club, about how he transformed his club's governance from a traditional committee-based structure to a CEO-led model. Dave shares his journey of building trust, empowering staff, and creating a more efficient decision-making process that's helping the club thrive.
Key Moments:
- Setting the Stage [00:00:00]: Ed introduces the challenges of traditional club governance and why change is needed in today's competitive landscape.
- The Early Days at Greystone [00:05:01]: Dave discusses his initial requests when hired, including changing how committees report and operate within the club structure.
- Building Trust [00:11:05]: Insights into how Dave gradually built trust with members and staff through focus groups, operational changes, and transparent communication.
- Pandemic Innovations [00:03:48]: Discussion of creative member engagement initiatives during COVID, including the still-popular sunset cart cruises.
- Committee Evolution [00:15:15]: Dave explains how he streamlined committees from 12 to a more focused structure, making them advisory to management rather than the board.
- Culture Creation [00:40:23]: Exploration of how the new structure enables better staff culture, using the example of "Wimbledon on the Green" event to show improved interdepartmental cooperation.
- Leadership Qualities [00:43:54]: Discussion of what GMs should consider before pursuing a CEO model, including risk tolerance and leadership style.
- Member Communication [00:17:16]: Dave shares his approach to keeping members engaged through informal channels like "Happy Hour with Dave" instead of formal committees.
- Board Meeting Changes [00:32:40]: How board meetings evolved to become more strategic and focused on big-picture items rather than operational details.
- Final Thoughts [00:50:34]: Dave emphasizes the importance of staff retention and positive culture in creating sustainable club operations.