Michael G. Smith, CCM, CCE, ECM
Search & Consulting Executive
Michael Smith comes to the KOPPLIN KUEBLER & WALLACE team with 30 years of private club industry experience.
Michael joins KK&W following a six year tenure as the General Manager and Chief Operating Officer at The Country Club of Rochester, nationally recognized by Platinum Clubs of America and Distinguished Clubs of Board Room Magazine. Michael began his career in hospitality at The Rochester Yacht Club. From there, he furthered his career in management and leadership roles at The Union League Club of Chicago, Hilton Restaurant Group and the Country Club of Ithaca, New York. Prior to leading the team at The Country Club of Rochester, Michael served as General Manager and Chief Operating Officer at Penfield Country Club in New York.
Michael achieved several notable accomplishments at The Country Club of Rochester. He began in his GM role by leading a 6-million-dollar club capital improvement project, which added key amenities that focus around family and state of the art facilities for casual dining, pool and fitness. Michael led the process in establishing capital budgeting procedures, which was instrumental in planning for future capital projects at the club and recently lead a 3-million-dollar capital campaign in 2021. Michael worked with his team in establishing the “Thistle Promise,” a service excellence program which has set the highest level of standards for the team’s service culture at The Country Club of Rochester. Michael and his team worked to develope premier manager-in-training and internship programs, which have attracted the highest quality young professionals interested in private club management. These highly regarded accomplishments have become a standard for local and national clubs.
Michael’s professional accomplishments in his 30-year career include receiving the 2008 Willmoore H. Kendall Scholarship; achieving his Club Management and Chief Executive Certifications, serving six years on the Board of Directors for the New York State Chapter of CMAA, including two years as Chapter President, the 2018 Rich Regan Club Manager of the Year Award by the New York State Chapter of the Club Management Association of America, and the 2019 Excellence in Club Management Recipient of The Mead Grady Award presented annually by the McMahon Group and voted on by a panel of industry experts. Michael has spoken on local and national panels for CMAA and the National Club Association. Michael also serves as a mentor to young professionals in the industry including students at The Rochester Institute of Technology’s Saunders School of Business and Niagara University’s Student Chapter of CMAA.
Michael’s extensive career in club management has provided him the knowledge and expertise to work with clubs seeking to establish a road map to the future.
Email: michael@kkandw.com
Phone: 585-794-6150