2026 Fall Conference

WHEN: November 2nd - 3rd, 2026.
WHERE: The Ledges Golf Club + Monday morning at Black Desert Resort, St. George, UT

COST: $225/person and $75/spouse. Includes education, putting course and tour of Black Desert Resort, putting course, optional golf at the Ledges GC, dinner, drinks and comedy show Monday evening + education and light breakfast, lunch and optional golf at the Ledges on Tuesday. The spouse rate includes the Comedy show + dinner and drinks. Great value!

OVERVIEW: Join us in St. George, UT where the weather in November is temperate and sunshine is prevalent. Combined with fantastic speakers, a comedy show with the infamous, Turner Sparks and our 2027 Installation of Officers, lots of CE credits for attendees, networking opportunities and loads of fun!Bring your staff, spouse and family, but don't miss this one! Thank you, Chad Pettingill for allowing the Chapter to use the Ledges Golf Club as a Retreat, education facility and play your amazing golf course. Thanks to our new Chapter member Emma van der Werff from the Black Desert Resort, we will also incorporate a half day at Black Desert Resort. St. George is a great destination to incorporate a little adventure or mini-family vacation as there is so much to do and see.

TIMELINE:

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 2ND -BLACK DESERT RESORT -MORNING
8:30AM-9:00AM - Coffee and light breakfast social
9:00AM -10:00AM – "A Game Plan for Success" - Lance Sabella
10:00AM – 10:30AM - Black Desert Clubhouse and facility tour
10:30AM - 11:00AM - Lunch
11:00AM - 11:30AM - Putting course (optional) – Bring a putter and ball
11:30AM- 5:00PM - Break
Optional Golf at the Ledges GC (see event registration) Or, use the time to enjoy St. George with e-biking, hiking, etc. See below for activity ideas.

EVENING - THE LEDGES GOLF CLUB (SPOUSES WELCOME).
5:00PM-6:00PM: "Defining Your Club’s Brand: Building a Strategy for the Future." - Derek Sussner.
6:00PM-6:15PM: Chapter Announcements and Installation of 2027 Officers
6:15PM - 6:45PM: Cocktails and networking
6:45PM -7:30PM: Dinner
7:30PM - 9:00PM: Comedy Show with Turner Sparks

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3RD - THE LEDGES GOLF CLUB
8:30AM-9:00AM: Coffee and light breakfast social
9:00AM -11:00AM: Carrie Eyler - "Food & Beverage Workshop"
11:00AM – 12:00PM: Haissam Baityeh, from CMAA National Office – “The Pathway to CCM”
12:00PM -12:30PM: Lunch
12:30PM: Optional golf (included). Tee times are limited and Utah Chapter members have first priority. Please indicate whether or not you will be golfing on the event registration.

ATTIRE: Business casual or Country Club attire.

REGISTRATION: Please RSVP for both days via the online registration links below so that our host clubs will have an accurate headcount. The price is the same regardless of the number of seminiars you plan to attend. . Non-Chapter members who wish to attend may register with a Chapter Member or directly with our Executive Director, Cortney Murphy at: cortney@cortneymurphy.com

PRESENTATION: This session will focus on the strategic side of branding and helps club leaders step back and clarify who they are as a club and where they're headed. Brand Positioning, Brand Architecture, and Brand Planning with an emphasis on reducing misalignment across communications and experiences will be discussed. The goal is to give members a clear framework that can be used to align decisions, messaging and priorities moving forward.

ABOUT DEREK SUSSNER: Derek Sussner is the Founder and Executive Creative Director at Sussner, a brand partner for private clubs. He hosts the Clubs Made Meaningful podcast and is a frequent speaker on club identity and transformation.

With over 25 years of branding expertise, Derek leads the Sussner team in helping club leadership define what makes their club unique, then design how that uniqueness is seen, felt, and heard. The team partners with clubs navigating pivotal moments: milestone anniversaries, capital projects, leadership transitions, and the evolving expectations of the next generation.

The Sussner team works with clubs across the country, including Frenchman's Creek Beach and Country Club (FL), Thunderbird Country Club (CA), The Club at Golden Valley (MN), Canoe Brook Country Club (NJ), and Lakeside Country Club (TX).
Website: sussner.com

Speaker: sussner.com/derek-sussner/

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dereksussner/

Podcast: clubsmademeaningful.com

ABOUT LANCE SABELLA

Lance Sabella, CCM is a Partner with GHMG, a specialized advisory firm serving private clubs and golf facilities nationwide. The firm provides expertise in golf course project consulting and management, club operations, mentorship, governance, strategic planning, and new club development.

Lance has more than 27 years of executive leadership experience at some of the nation's most distinguished private clubs. Most recently, he served as Chief Operating Officer of Cherry Hills Country Club, where he led more than 300 employees, directed all club operations, oversaw more than $100 million in capital improvements, and helped lead the successful hosting of the 2023 U.S. Amateur Championship
.
Previously, he served 17 years as General Manager of Lakeside Golf Club, earning national recognition with the Excellence in Club Management® Award for outstanding leadership and operational excellence..
Website: www.ghmg.golf
Email: Lance@ghmg.golf

TURNER SPARKS, Comedian
Come for the education, but don't miss this epic comedy show! Turner Sparks is hilarious and is a staple at many comedy clubs in NYC. His new stand-up comedy album “Double Happiness” debuted at #1 in America on the iTunes Comedy Charts and is in regular rotation on SiriusXM Radio. The album was his second release for Larry The Cable Guy’s record label Git R Done Records, it was recorded on location at The Friars Club in New York City where he sits on the Board of Governors.
We are fortunate to have this headliner at our Fall Conference!

OPTIONAL ADVENTURE ACTIVITIES DURING YOUR STAY

Hike the Anasazi Valley Trail (easy) and check out the petroglyphs. NOTE: This trail is not in Snow Canyon State Park.
Hiking the trails in Snow Canyon. Favorites include: The Butterfly Trail (moderate), The Lava Flow Trail (moderate), Snow Canyon (moderate), Petrified Sand dunes trail (easy), and Jenny's Canyon (very easy and short slot canyon).
Owen’s Loop Trail (moderate). In the Red Cliffs National Conservation Area
Sand Hollow State Park. The UTV rentals are tons of fun!: www.sandhollowrentals.com/
Rent e-bikes through Snow Canyon https://snowcanyonebike.com
Catch a concert or performance at the iconic Tuachan Amphitheater. https://www.tuacahn.org/
Shop and dine downtown St. George. Wood Ash Rye, Cliffside Restaurant, George's Corner Pub and the Feel Love Cafe are a few of my favorites St. George restaurants.
Lunch on the patio at Xetava and browse the artsy shops and gallery's at Kayenta Art Village. Also a cool labyrith next to the village.
Hike Zion National Park (allow for a full day)
Relax at your hotel pool.

LODGING: There are many great (very reasonably priced) accommodations within the Ledges Golf Club community. Those attending the meeting can receive a 10% discount on lodging within the Ledges Golf Club by using the link: www.ledges.com and entering the code: CMAA10.

REGISTRATION: Utah Chapter members and their guests may register via our online event registration. Non-Chapter members who wish to attend may register directly with our Executive Director, Cortney Murphy at: cortney@cortneymurphy.com

EDUCATION OVERVIEW AND SPEAKER INFORMATION