Press Release

Private Club Search & Consulting Executive – Ben Lorenzen, CCM

Welcoming New Team Member Ben Lorenzen

KOPPLIN KUEBLER & WALLACE continues to methodically add the brightest and most accomplished industry executive talent to the team. We are pleased to welcome Ben Lorenzen, CCM to the KK&W team in July 2024.

Ben is actively the Creative Director of Champions Run in Omaha, Nebraska, where he leads the industry in innovation and creative club concepts. Champions Run will remain Ben’s full-time primary focus upon joining the KK&W team. He will support KK&W search assignments for Marketing/Communications roles, Activities Directors and Directors of Recreation as a search and consulting executive. 

As a national speaker, Ben focuses on member engagement, technology, creativity, marketing, fitness, aquatics, sports and recreation, sharing his expertise and setting new standards for excellence in the club industry. His dynamic leadership at Champions Run and his influential speaking engagements make him a trailblazer shaping the future of private clubs nationwide.

Ben merges his skillset in recreation with the power of storytelling through video communication and digital platforms. His expertise in developing creative marketing content and leveraging that across mediums is instrumental in driving member engagement and participation.

Fittingly, Ben is also a past KK&W Summit legacy participant.     

What began as a small group of elite club managers looking to challenge and learn from one another became a catalyst for the KK&W Summit. Over time, the founding group has hosted events for Golf Professionals, Racquets Professionals, and other niche segments. They have also introduced legacy programming to encourage young rising stars and most recently added SheLeads to enhance programming specific to women in executive positions.  

Ben shared, “I remember attending a KK&W Summit back in 2019, where I met incredible people who are still friends today. Now, stepping into the KK&W team feels like coming full circle —it’s like reuniting with old friends while embarking on a vibrant journey at the forefront of club and hospitality search. With boundless enthusiasm, I’m ecstatic at the chance to collaborate with KK&W, bringing my expertise and passion to their dynamic mission. This isn’t just about deepening my understanding of marketing, membership, and sports and rec; it’s about reigniting the spark within me to connect with individuals worldwide.”

Ben Lorenzen

Expressing their mutual excitement, the KK&W partners commented, “Ben’s ability to think creatively and his proven success with the nuances of implementing effective club communication adds to our dynamic service offerings. He’s energetic, and his enthusiasm is contagious. With the addition of Ben, it really has come full circle, and we couldn’t be happier with the evolution of this alliance,” continued the partners. “Ben represents the continued organic growth of our firm and is a bright young leader in complete alignment with our core values. Our practice has been to add quality people, not only when there is a need, but also when we think their skill set and personality would be additive to the KK&W team and culture. He is doing remarkable things in the industry, and we believe his skills, experience and personality will prove to do the same for our clients and candidates.”  

Over a span of 10 years, Ben has had a direct impact on Champion Run’s growth and success. He currently oversees the operation, management and training of a seasonal staff comprising 100 employees. Prior to assuming the Creative Director position at Champions run, Ben held roles as Web and Media Director and Aquatics Director for several institutions, responsible for web design and development, producing media content and implementing social media strategies. 

Active in the Club Management Association of America (CMAA) and his CMAA Chapter, Ben has served as  Chapter President, Vice President and Education Chair since 2017.  He is also the founder and organizer of the annual Creative Summit held each summer in Omaha to a sell-out crowd.  

Ben received his CCM (Certified Club Management) Designation in 2021. He is a graduate of the University of Nebraska – Lincoln with a major in Broadcasting-Video Production, minoring in Communications. His community service contributions include This Is Me Talent Show for children with disabilities, Miss Amazing Pageant, a beauty pageant for children with disabilities and VSP club volunteer, working with handicapped children.  

A self-proclaimed “Director of Vibe,” Ben can be contacted at: ben@kkandw.com or (402) 321-3083. 

Please join us in welcoming Ben to the KOPPLIN KUEBLER & WALLACE team.

KOPPLIN KUEBLER & WALLACE specializes in GM/COO, CEO, Assistant General Manager/Clubhouse Manager, Director of Food and Beverage, Executive Chef, Director of Golf/Head Golf Professional, Golf Course Superintendent/Director of Agronomy, Director of Tennis/Director of Racquets, Fitness and Wellness Director, Chief Financial Officer, Director of Finance, Controller, HR Director, Membership and Marketing Director Searches and Consulting Services for Private, Resort and Developer – Owned Properties, Clubs and Communities as well as Senior Living Communities and Property Owners Associations.

Private Club Search & Consulting Executive – Ben Lorenzen, CCM2024-06-30T19:16:26+00:00

KOPPLIN KUEBLER & WALLACE Renews CMAA Partnership

CMAA Partnership Renewal

Alexandria, VA – May, 2024 – KOPPLIN KUEBLER & WALLACE, a leading club industry recruiting and consulting firm, has renewed its partnership with the Club Management Association of America (CMAA) through December 2026. KOPPLIN KUEBLER & WALLACE (KKW) has been a long-time partner and a valued supporter of CMAA.

As a CMAA Executive Partner, KOPPLIN KUEBLER & WALLACE will continue to be the presenting sponsor of the Governance and Leadership Symposium that they helped to develop in 2016. To date, Principals Richard Kopplin, CMAA Fellow; Kurt D. Kuebler, CCM, CMAA Fellow; and Thomas B. Wallace III, CCM, CCE, ECM, have shared their expertise with more than 500 club management professionals and club board members through these in-person and virtual events, helping to create a better-educated club industry.

CMAA’s President & CEO Jeff Morgan, FASAE, CAE, explains “We are pleased to continue our partnership with KOPPLIN KUEBLER & WALLACE, and extend their expertise to CMAA members and their volunteer leadership through board education.”

“Dick Kopplin, Kurt Kuebler, and I are honored to continue our involvement and support of Club Management Association of America through our renewed partnership commitment. Much of our team has an invested history with the association and we are dedicated to advocating for CMAA’s continued success. The pillars of CMAA that support professionalism, education, and leadership align seamlessly with KK&W. We look forward to engaging with the membership and their team members, sharing our experiences in private club leadership, governance, and best practices. The coming years are sure to be exciting for CMAA and we are thankful to be a part of their mission,” shared KK&W Partner, Tom Wallace.

Further, KOPPLIN KUEBLER & WALLACE will support BMI International as an event sponsor along with a wide range of other educational resources available to the CMAA membership across a variety of platforms. Previous collaborations through the Let’s Talk Club Management podcast and Club Management magazine include:

• Putting The Human Behind The Resources [read more] • Evolving Workplaces [read more] • Secrets to Acing the Interview [launch podcast]

About CMAA

Founded in 1927, the Club Management Association of America (CMAA) is the largest professional association for managers of membership clubs with 7,800 members throughout the US and internationally. Our members contribute to the success of more than 2,600 country, golf, athletic, city, faculty, military, town, and yacht clubs. The objectives of the Association are to promote relationships between club management professionals and other similar professions; to encourage the education and advancement of members; and to provide the resources needed for efficient and successful club operations. Under the covenants of professionalism, education, leadership, and community, CMAA continues to extend its reach as the leader in the club management practice. CMAA is headquartered in Alexandria, VA, with 40 professional chapters and 40 student chapters and colonies. Learn more at cmaa.org.

About KOPPLIN KUEBLER & WALLACE

People Focused & Quality Driven. When you work with KOPPLIN KUEBLER & WALLACE, you can expect an experience that will be centered around the well-being of their clients, the candidates they place, and the industry as a whole. Their process has been fine-tuned for 26 years and involves merging more than 500 years of combined expertise with a comprehensive understanding of stakeholders’ needs. They are an award-winning executive search and consulting firm and a trusted partner dedicated to the success of the organizations they work with. Executive search expertise includes: GM/COO, CEO, Assistant General Manager/Clubhouse Manager, Director of Food and Beverage, Executive Chef, Director of Golf/Head Golf Professional, Golf Course Superintendent/Director of Agronomy, Director of Tennis/Director of Racquets, Fitness & Wellness Director, Chief Financial Officer, Director of Finance, Controller, Human Resources Director, Membership and Marketing Director Searches, and Consulting Services for Private, Resort and Developer Owned Properties, Clubs and Communities as well as Senior Living Communities and Property Owners Associations. For more information, visit kkandw.com.

KOPPLIN KUEBLER & WALLACE Renews CMAA Partnership2024-05-22T15:57:20+00:00

KOPPLIN KUEBLER & WALLACE Renews Executive Partnership with National Club Association

National Club Association Renewal

KOPPLIN KUEBLER & WALLACE renewed its Executive Partner status with the National Club Association for the seventh consecutive year.  The company also renewed its sponsorship of the Excellence in Club Management® Awards Gala for the third year.  KK&W is a leader in private club executive search, governance, education, training, consulting, and planning.

“NCA is delighted to have industry leader KK&W as an executive partner,” said NCA President & CEO, Joe Trauger. “Their partnership and sponsorship of the ECM Gala are fitting demonstrations of their commitment to excellence in the private club community. We’re looking forward to another fantastic year as partners.”

KK&W Partner Tom Wallace shares, “Dick Kopplin, Kurt Kuebler and I look forward to our ongoing commitment to NCA and supporting the association’s initiatives centered around advocacy, insight, and governance best practices for private clubs. Together, we can pave pathways for sustaining and shaping a thriving industry landscape.”

KOPPLIN KUEBER & WALLACE’s Executive Partnership benefits NCA members through education initiatives and investments across NCA’s platforms and services. Firm executives are regular contributors to Club Director and Club Trends magazines in addition to NCA’s annual webcast series and multiple committees. Recent contributions include:

In 2022, KK&W was the inaugural sponsor of the Excellence in Club Management® Awards Gala, recognizing the extraordinary industry contributions of private club general managers, managers, and chief operating officers who have exhibited outstanding skills in managing their clubs.

“We are proud to continue our sponsorship of the Excellence in Club Management® (ECM) Awards Dinner in 2024,” agree the KK&W partners. “As advocates for growth and leadership, we recognize the transformative power this recognition can have on elevating standards and fostering a culture of excellence within private clubs.”

Past ECM winners within the KOPPLIN KUEBLER & WALLACE team include:

  • The Mead Grady Award – Michael G. Smith, CCM, CCE, ECM
  • The Lifetime Achievement Award – J.G. Ted Gillary, CCM, CCE, ECM, CMAA Fellow
  • Country/Golf Club with Under 600 Full-Privilege Members – Thomas B. Wallace, CCM, CCE, ECM
  • Specialty Club – John“Jack” Sullivan, Jr., CCM, ECM
  • City/Athletic Club or City/Dining Club – J.G. Ted Gillary, CCM, CCE, ECM, CMAA Fellow

About NCA

The National Club Association (NCA) has been the advocate for the private club industry in Washington, D.C., for more than 60 years. As the voice of private clubs on Capitol Hill, the NCA ensures that club concerns are forefront when legislative and regulatory issues affecting the industry are being decided. In addition, NCA provides club leaders with an outstanding array of resources on club industry trends, governance best practices, legal and operational matters, and ways to strengthen club leadership. nationalclub.org.

KOPPLIN KUEBLER & WALLACE Renews Executive Partnership with National Club Association2024-03-27T15:36:31+00:00

Private Club Search & Consulting Executive – Chris DeChillo

welcoming A new team member - Chris DeChillo

KOPPLIN KUEBLER & WALLACE continues to methodically add the brightest and most accomplished industry executive talent to the team. We would like to welcome Chris DeChillo as a hospitality trainer and leadership coach.

DeChillo comes to the KOPPLIN KUEBLER & WALLACE team with extensive training and facilitation experience from within both the hospitality and healthcare industries. In the last 10 years, he has trained or facilitated meetings with thousands of professionals on behalf of dozens of pharmaceutical companies and hospitality teams.

His background in luxury hospitality service and leadership provides a strong operational and training foundation for his consulting and coaching clients. His formal coach training is through the Co-Active Institute (CTI). Audience engagement, emotional intelligence, and leadership coaching are topics about which DeChillo is passionate, and well-versed, that add tremendous insight and value. His energy and enthusiasm make learning exciting for executives and line-staff.

Prior to pursuing a career in coaching and consulting, DeChillo worked with luxury brand, Four Seasons Hotel & Resorts, with assignments throughout Texas, California, and Colorado. As director of F&B, DeChillo held leadership positions with expertise overseeing budgeting, operations, dining, and recreational outlets.

“What an incredible addition to the KK&W team. Chris represents a hospitality leader, trainer, and coach whose skills are in complete alignment with our core values. We recognize our industry can benefit greatly by having Chris partner with club leaders in a thought provoking, creative coaching process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential. His coaching and exemplary skills in hospitality team training elevate our firm on many fronts and we are thrilled that he has joined us,” expressed the Partners.

“The best way to express my excitement about joining the team at KK&W is summed up by this quote from my wife Jennifer. ‘In your 20 years working in the hospitality industry I have never seen you happier or having more fun at work.’ It is with sheer delight that I get to work with this amazing group of professionals as we provide best in class service to our many clients,” DeChillo responded.

DeChillo resides in Castle Rock, CO where he enjoys hiking, biking, and anything outdoors, along with experiencing the local food wherever his travels take him.

Chris can be contacted at: chris@kkandw.com or (720) 258-5937. Please join us in welcoming Chris DeChillo to the KOPPLIN KUEBLER & WALLACE team.

Private Club Search & Consulting Executive – Chris DeChillo2024-09-06T17:21:10+00:00

CMAE Announces Premier Partnership With KOPPLIN KUEBLER & WALLACE

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CMAE Announces Premier Partnership with KOPPLIN KUEBLER & WALLACE

London, United Kingdom – October 9, 2023

CMAE is delighted to announce a Premier Partnership with the leading recruiting and consulting firm, KOPPLIN KUEBLER & WALLACE (KK&W). Through this partnership, CMAE members will benefit from KK&W’s expertise in the areas of private club executive search and governance.

Commercial Director at CMAE, Craig Cotterill, commented on the partnership, “staffing and governance present significant challenges for club managers right now, and securing relevant insight and support in these areas through this Premier Partnership with KOPPLIN KUEBLER & WALLACE will prove invaluable.”

KK&W’s executive search expertise includes GM/COO, CEO, AGM, Clubhouse Management, F&B, Financial, Golf, Culinary, Agronomy, Racquets, Human Resources, Fitness & Wellness, and Membership/Marketing. In addition to executive search, KK&W is a benchmark in private club governance and operational consulting.

Cotterill continues, “the partnership will see us work closely with Michael Herd, a well-known and respected professional, who has worked within this space for many years. Together our organisations will strive to identify industry needs and deliver solutions through education to better equip club managers across the CMAE family. As an association, we are delighted to welcome Michael and his esteemed colleagues at KK&W to our growing portfolio of Premier Partners.”

Michael Herd, Head of International Search and Consulting shares, “we are honoured to partner with CMAE and look forward to opportunities to educate on leadership, governance, and best practices. Additionally, we are thrilled for the opportunity to bring our firm’s unmatched process for delivering comprehensive executive search solutions to future candidates and private club clients seeking top-tier professionals for key leadership roles.”

Club Management Association of Europe

The Club Management Association of Europe (CMAE) is a non-profit making professional association with members involved in the management of sports clubs (golf, tennis, sailing, rowing, rugby, football, cricket), health & fitness clubs, leisure, city and dining clubs located throughout Europe, Middle East and Northern Africa.

The CMAE is also the pan-European ‘umbrella’ organisation for a variety of national professional associations for club managers and secretaries. National associations can affiliate to the CMAE, thereby giving their membership access to the CMAE education programme and other CMAE international activities and events.

CMAE is closely aligned with the Club Management Association of America (CMAA) and actively participates in the annual World Conference for club managers and other international events.

KOPPLIN KUEBLER & WALLACE

People Focused, Quality Driven. When you work with KOPPLIN KUEBLER & WALLACE, you can expect an experience that will be centred around the well-being of their clients, the candidates they place, and the industry they love. Their process has been perfected since 1996 and involves merging more than 500 years of combined expertise with a comprehensive understanding of stakeholders’ needs. Their Board Dynamics/Model has been presented to over 1000 private clubs and communities. They are an award-winning executive search and consulting firm and a trusted partner dedicated to the success of the organizations they work with. For more information, visit kkandw.com.

Follow us! Twitter | LinkedIn | YouTube | Instagram | Podcast

For more information please contact:

Thomas B. Wallace III, CCM, CCE, ECM, Managing Partner
(412) 670-2021 | tom@kkandw.com

Michael Herd, Head of International Search & Consulting
+44 (0) 7903 035312 | michael.herd@kkandw.com

CMAE Announces Premier Partnership With KOPPLIN KUEBLER & WALLACE2023-10-11T16:02:32+00:00

Private Club Governance: A Handbook Of Principles And Best Practices

Private-Club-Governance-Handbook

The National Club Association (NCA) and Club Management Association of America (CMAA) released “Private Club Governance: A Handbook of Principles and Best Practices.” Written by a joint committee of experts including KK&W partner, Thomas B. Wallace III, CCM, CCE, ECM, the new publication is a definitive guide to governance of private clubs, designed to be a framework of best practices for clubs at any place on the spectrum of effective governance.

“Governance is among the most discussed issue at any private club,” said joint Governance Committee Chair Tim Muessle, CCM, CCE, Chief Operating Officer, The Olympic Club, San Francisco. “This new publication was written to clearly define the standard of effective governance, offering best practices for club boards, committees and general managers/CEOs.”

The handbook is a comprehensive guide on establishing and maintaining good governance, and covers everything from bylaws and articles of incorporation to board policies, committee structure and roles to evaluations and improvement. It also includes a chapter of sample documents every club board should have.

NCA members can access the handbook here. CMAA members can access it here.

“Private Club Governance” was developed by a joint committee of experts from both associations in a partnership structured to benefit the entire private club community. NCA and CMAA will offer continuing education based on it for club presidents, boards, and CEOs/general managers, including at CMAA’s 2023 Leadership/Legislative Conference Sept. 11-13, and during a joint, online symposium hosted by NCA Sept. 25.

For more information, contact:

Kim Fernandez, CAE, at NCA (fernandez@nationalclub.org)
Melissa Low, CAE, at CMAA (melissa.low@cmaa.org)

Private Club Governance: A Handbook Of Principles And Best Practices2023-09-11T21:48:37+00:00
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