Speaking Events, Sponsorships & Webinars

PAST WEBINARS

DECEMBER 2023: NATIONAL CLUB ASSOCIATION/CTP WEBINAR

Aired: 12/14/23 at 2pm EST. Turf Wars!

CTP’s industry experts Pat Finlen, Dan Denehy, and Bob James participated in a webinar, “Turf Wars,” hosted by NCA. Participants gained insights from years of golf operations expertise as the experts navigated conflicts between Clubhouse and Golf Operations. Strategies for seamless collaboration, addressing staffing, budgeting, member expectations, long-term planning, communication, and event scheduling were discussed. It was an opportunity to enhance teams’ success and elevate member and guest experiences. Further details can be found here.

APRIL 2023: NATIONAL CLUB ASSOCIATION/CTP WEBINAR

Aired 4/26/2023: DENEHY Club Thinking Partners President, Dan Denehy, and Vice President, Bob James, recently collaborated for an engaging point-counterpoint webcast, where they delved into three compelling topics:

Navigating High-Maintenance Members
Fostering Employee Engagement
Defining Board Roles in Operations

Watch the insightful discussion as these industry leaders shared expertise and perspectives on these critical aspects of club management. Recording can be found here.

SEPTEMBER 2022: NATIONAL CLUB ASSOCIATION/CTP WEBINAR

Aired 9/22/2022: DENEHY Club Thinking Partners President, Dan Denehy, and Vice President, Bob James, recently united for an insightful point-counterpoint webcast addressing pivotal issues within the private club industry. Drawing from their acclaimed Club Director column, Dan and Bob explored the following topics with diverse perspectives:

The Evolution of Committees in Private Clubs
Achieving Work-Life Balance: Is it Attainable?
Private Club Discipline: Defining the Enforcer’s Role

The recorded session is available for viewing here.

Recording can be found here.

JUNE 2020: CTP/NCA Webinar: Getting Members on Board with the New Rules

Aired 6/5/2020: The rules have changed as clubs are slowly getting to the new normal. The team from Club Thinking Partners, a leading executive search and consulting firm serving the private club industry, will discuss how clubs are adapting and communicating these changes to get buy-in from their members.

Recording can be found here

CTP/MGA WEBINAR: The Strategic Role of your Board During the COVID-19 Crisis Board and Management Expectations

Aired 6/4/2020: As clubs gradually reopened in a dynamic environment, the lines between the roles and responsibilities of the Board, committees, and management became blurred. To successfully navigate through the pandemic, clubs needed to adeptly manage change and respond quickly. Denehy and James presented strategies and tools to help boards evaluate their status, assign responsibilities, communicate effectively, and make crucial decisions to lead the Club through and beyond COVID-19.

To view slides from this presentation, please click here.

CTP/NCA WEBINAR: CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE: STAFFING UNTIL LABOR DAY

Aired 3/27/20: The rapid evolution of the Coronavirus pandemic posed a daily challenge for club leaders in managing both their business and personnel. In collaboration with the NCA, the Club Thinking Partners team engaged in a discussion regarding the information available at that time and the essential insights needed to make informed staffing decisions for the subsequent six months.

Recording can be found here.

SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

2025 National Club Conference | April 27-29 | New York Athletic Club

Executive Transitions Panel

This panel, featuring three distinguished leaders from top private clubs across the country and the president of a renowned executive search and management firm, will delve into the nuances of successfully transitioning executive-level staff within private clubs. Attendees will gain valuable perspectives on best practices for navigating executive transitions, ensuring smooth leadership changes, and fostering long-term success. Ideal for general managers and board members, this session offers practical advice, real-world case studies, and actionable strategies to elevate your club’s leadership team. Don’t miss the opportunity to learn from the experts!

Moderated By:

Dan Denehy, CCM, CHA
President
Denehy Club Thinking Partners

Panel:

Lyman Bullard, Jr., President, The Country Club
Rob Rusk, President, Sleepy Hollow
Dan Denehy, CCM, CHA, President, Denehy Club Thinking Partners
Kristen LaCount, CCM, GM/COO, The Country Club
Paul Brock, General Manager/COO, Sleepy Hollow

Learn More Here: https://nationalclubconference.org/speakers/

Media Coverage

ARTICLES

CLUB LEADERSHIP & STRATEGY: INSIGHTS FROM DAN DENEHY & ROBERT C. JAMES

Winter 2025 | Club Director | By Dan Denehy and Robert C James
Point/Counterpoint: Setting Realistic Expectations
Unrealistic expectations can stall progress and impact morale. Private Club leaders must set clear, achievable goals to keep teams motivated and members engaged. Learn the difference between expectations and goals—and how to align them for success!

Fall 2024 | Club Director | By Dan Denehy and Robert C James
Point/Counterpoint: The Power of Process: Directly Linked to High Performance
If you don’t invest in the process, you’ll never achieve consistent performance. Success comes from setting clear expectations, aligning goals, and staying the course. Ready to elevate your private club’s performance?

May/June 2024 | Boardroom | By Robert C James
Work-Life Balance and Beyond
Employees who feel truly cared for are happier, more engaged, and resilient against burnout. In hospitality, where stress is high, leadership must go beyond programs and focus on workplace culture—because caring for employees is more powerful than just caring about them.

Summer 2024 | Club Director | By Dan Denehy and Robert C James
Point/Counterpoint: Managing Up Because We Don’t Know What We Don’t Know!
Why do 50-70% of executives fail in their first 18 months? Lack of onboarding and leadership support. In an exclusive Point/Counterpoint article, Dan Denehy, CCM, and Robert C. James, CCM, CCE, CHE reveal how club leaders can “manage up” for success.

Spring 2024 | Club Director | By Dan Denehy and Robert C James
Point/Counterpoint: Employee Engagement Sometimes, it’s just showing that you care!
Employee engagement isn’t just a buzzword—it’s the key to a thriving club culture, better retention, and exceptional member experiences. In our latest article, Dan Denehy and Robert James explore practical strategies clubs can implement to build a more committed and motivated workforce.

Fall 2023 | Club Director | By Dan Denehy and Robert C James
Point/Counterpoint: Board Retreats: Boondoggle or Panacea?
BOARD RETREATS are gaining popularity within private clubs, but not at the pace of other nonprofits and for-profit businesses. Why not? Where is the bottleneck? With the president, the board, or the general manager?

Summer 2023 | Club Director | By Dan Denehy and Robert C James
“Stop the Meeting Madness,” cut out the committees
Club managers are the experts in operating the club, and committees sometimes interfere in areas where they have little or no expertise, typically represent a small constituency of friends and family and consume too much management time.

Spring 2023 | Club Director | By Dan Denehy and Robert C James
Maintenance Members: Lessons For Leadership
In the past, poor member behavior rarely rose to the level that necessitated a hearing or impose discipline, but many clubs continue to report, with more frequency, that they have a pervasive issue of dealing with high-maintenance members. This is, of course, the civil way to refer to members who are overly demanding, outspoken, short tempered, verbally aggressive or instigators

Winter 2023 | Club Director | By Dan Denehy and Robert C James
Point/Counterpoint: Are we ready for the downturn?
As the threat of a recession looms, the private club industry faces both challenges and opportunities. While many clubs, particularly city clubs, are more resilient than before, the key to success in uncertain times lies in creative revenue generation and delivering exceptional, indispensable experiences for members.

December 2022 | Club Director | By Dan Denehy and Patrick Finlen
The Great Communication Divide
One of the most common frustrations of golf course superintendents is the lack of timely communication between department heads, especially with and from the General Manager. The boss.

Fall 2022 | Club Director | By Dan Denehy and Robert C James
Budget Time is Here Is a 20% dues increase palatable?
Dan and Bob highlight the importance of balancing financial strategy with innovation in private clubs. With rising costs and an evolving membership base, they stress the need for thoughtful dues increases and flexible budgeting that empowers clubs to enhance member experiences. Now is the time for clubs to rethink their approach, invest in the future, and position themselves for sustained success.

Point/Counterpoint Webinar | By Dan Denehy and Robert C James
DENEHY Club Thinking Partners President Dan Denehy and Vice President Bob James come together for a point-counterpoint webcast on topics affecting the private club industry. Based on their popular Club Director column, Dan and Bob will explore the following issues with varying points of view:

Topic 1: Future of Committees In Private Clubs
Topic 2: Topic 2: Work Life Balance: Is it Doable in the private club industry?
Topic 3: Topic 3: Private Club Discipline: Who Should Enforce?

Recording can be found here.

Summer 2022 | By Dan Denehy and Robert C James
Point/Counterpoint: Holding Your President Accountable
Within a distributive structure, is there any one person or group who can or will hold your private club President accountable and define what they are accountable for?

March/April 2022 | By Dan Denehy
Vetting Prospective Firms: It’s vital to identify and select the right firm for your club’s executive search and consulting needs.
It’s vital to identify and select the right firm for your club’s executive search and consulting needs. We encourage you to take the time to discuss any prospective firm’s experience, process, capabilities, and follow-up. Below we highlight critical pre-screening questions you should be asking prior to engaging any firm. Requesting this information will increase the prospect of a successful partnership.

Spring 2022 | By Dan Denehy and Robert C James
Point/Counterpoint: How do club boards balance transparency and confidentiality?
Today, we all cry out for transparency because we believe we have a right to know.

Winter 2022 | By Robert C James
As A Club Leader, I Often Hear More Complaints Than Compliments. What Is The Best Way To Handle Feedback?
Author and clinical psychologist Dr. Laura Markham recently wrote that when we listen to complaints, even our own, we become demoralized, which is picked up and shared by everyone around us. How should Club Leaders respond?

Fall 2021 | By Robert C James
Retaining Your Key Executives – A Look at Retirement Packages and Experiences
We often advise clubs on compensation packages, ensuring they stay competitive to attract and retain top talent. Tenured management is particularly at risk of falling behind, with regular salary increases not always keeping pace with market standards. Retirement benefits play a key role in a strong compensation package, helping ensure equity and long-term retention.

Summer 2021 | By Dan Denehy and Robert C James
The role of the Chief Operating Officer/General Manager
Private Club governance is complicated and delicate and nowhere more so than in the nominating process. That begs the question, if it can get political, is it a role the COO/GM should take on?

Spring 2021 | By Dan Denehy and Robert C James
The Nominating Process: The Lynchpin of Great Governance
There are many structures and processes for Private Club Nominating Committees to leverage and no one is necessarily better or worse than the other, but there are best practices.

Winter 2021 | By Dan Denehy and Robert C James
Point/Counterpoint — Is Stakeholder capital right for your club’s future?
As society becomes more socially conscious, private clubs have the opportunity to embrace stakeholder capitalism and expand their mission to serve not just stockholders but also customers, employees, suppliers, and communities.

Fall 2020 | By Dan Denehy and Robert C James
Point/Counterpoint — Is Golf Still the Most Important Aspect of the Country Club?
The article debates whether golf remains the most vital aspect of country clubs. Bob argues that golf, especially during the pandemic, proved essential for club survival and drives initiation fees. Dan counters that top-tier food and beverage experiences are now central to member satisfaction. While dining had overtaken golf in importance pre-pandemic, golf may have reclaimed its top spot, with family dynamics also playing a growing role in membership decisions.

September/October 2020
Passing The Baton — Successful Transition of Board Members
The article offers guidance on managing the often delicate transition of outgoing and incoming country club board members. Drawing on 40 years of experience, the author emphasizes that the general manager plays a crucial leadership role in ensuring a smooth handoff. Key steps include conducting a comprehensive orientation with both the GM and club president, providing well-organized resources—ideally via digital platforms—and offering a full facility tour to help new board members understand all aspects of club operations.

Summer 2020 | By Dan Denehy and Robert C James
Point/Counterpoint — What’s The Best Way to Deal with a Malcontent at the Club?
Explore smart strategies for private clubs addressing difficult personalities without disrupting board or committee dynamics.

Spring 2020
Can you still afford to be all things to all members?
As private clubs reopen post-crisis, leaders must rethink priorities, embrace zero-based budgeting, and refocus on core services. This session explores how successful management companies stay profitable—and how member-run clubs can adapt and survive in a slower, check-mark-shaped recovery. It’s time to move faster, simplify, and make smart, structural changes.

Winter 2020 | By Dan Denehy and Robert C James
Point/Counterpoint: Are Clubs “Businesses” in the Business Sense?
Rethink. Refocus. Rebuild.
How private clubs can simplify operations, reset priorities, and thrive in a post-crisis world.

Fall 2019 | By Dan Denehy and Robert C James
Point/Counterpoint: Overtime — Should it be vilified any longer?

Winter 2019 | By Robert C James
What are some ways clubs can compete for entry-level employees in today’s job market?

Summer 2019 | By Robert C James
Risk Management: What is the fourth step in a risk management program?

Spring 2019 | By Dan Denehy and Robert C James
Risk Management: What are the fiduciary responsibilities of boards to protect the club financially from natural disasters?

Fall 2018 | By Robert C James
Executive Contracts: How can employment agreements be a win-win for both the club and manager?

Summer 2018 | By Robert C James
Wage & Benefits: What’s your compensation philosophy?

Winter 2017 | By Dan Denehy
Where has all the talent gone, or, where is it going?

Fall 2017 | By Dan Denehy
How is governance different with a management company?

Spring 2016 | By Dan Denehy
Why is it so hard for my club to ﬁnd a membership director?

Winter 2015 | By Dan Denehy
What are some of the fundamentals of high functioning service cultures?

Fall 2015 | By Dan Denehy
What is the difference between an employment contract and offer letter?

Spring 2015 | By Dan Denehy
How do you ﬁnd the right interim GM and ensure his or her success?