KOPPLIN KUEBLER & WALLACE is excited to share that Dick Kopplin was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award from BoardRoom’s Distinguished Clubs at the Distinguished Ideas Summit held at West Bay Club, Estero, FL on September 19, 2022. The annual summit was an exclusive gathering of 130 general managers of the most prestigious and successful private clubs from across the country. A hallmark of excellence, Distinguished Club status is the preeminent standard of distinction in the private club industry, and the award recognizes the most well-regarded leaders for their contributions towards this achievement.
With a career spanning decades, Dick has dedicated his service and expertise to the betterment of the private club industry. Following a 35-year journey as a general manager and vice president for nationally recognized clubs, Kopplin started Kopplin Search, Inc. in 1996 to assist clubs in their search for skilled, competent staff. Today he leads KOPPLIN KUEBLER & WALLACE, a dynamic firm with a focus on executive searches, industry education and consulting.
KOPPLIN & KUEBLER emerged in 2007 as Kurt D. Kuebler, CCM, CMAA Fellow joined the firm and expanded to KOPPLIN KUEBLER & WALLACE with the addition of partner Thomas B. Wallace III, CCM, CCE, ECM in 2016.
A graduate of the University of Wisconsin at Eau Claire, Kopplin began his career in the private club industry by managing golf and country clubs in Wisconsin and Minnesota. His career continued as general manager and vice president of operations, including Castle Pines in Denver, CO, Desert Mountain in Scottsdale, AZ, and PGA West in LaQuinta, CA.
Left to right: Tom Wallace, Dick Kopplin and Kurt Kuebler
Dick is also an inductee into the Arizona Golf Hall of Fame and CMAA Fellows, a program recognizing dynamic and active luminaries who embody the leadership, integrity, involvement, and contributions of excelling club management professionals.
“There are few in our club industry who are better known for their commitment to giving back and helping to develop both current and future leaders,” expressed Kurt Kuebler. “Dick’s unwavering dedication inspires our team to follow in his footsteps.”
Tom Wallace shared, “I have been privileged to watch firsthand the effect that he has had on club professionals through his leadership, mentorship and passion. I know this passion will continue into the future. Our team at KOPPLIN KUEBLER & WALLACE couldn’t be prouder of our dedicated leader.”
The firm has conducted search assignments for many of the finest member-owned, developer-owned, golf, country, community-based, yacht, city, and athletic clubs in the country and worldwide. The foundation of their accomplishments has been prioritizing the success of their clients, the professionals that they place, and the industry as a whole. Dick’s legacy has created better club leaders, analytical thinkers, and lifelong learners through continued education among both club professionals and board members. The non-profit organizations he supports have benefited from that same charisma, energy, and enthusiasm. He makes it a mission, in part, to “have fun every day.”
Dick Kopplin with entertainment legend Bob Hope