Staffan Tuomolin, an experienced club management professional in his native Finland, has earned the prestigious Certified Chief Executive designation through the Club Management Association of America.
Staffan, a member of the Club Management Association of Europe, becomes only the second manager across Europe and the Middle East to hold the designation, joining Marc Newey, CEO of Roehampton Club.
Newey expressed his delight at Staffan’s accomplishment, saying: “I am so pleased for Staffan as it was getting lonely on the CCE perch. More to join us, which is wonderful for CMAE.”
CMAE’s CEO Torbjörn Johansson also praised the achievement: “We are incredibly proud of Staffan. His dedication to education, professional standards, and lifelong learning embodies everything CMAE stands for. Having another European leader achieve the CCE raises the profile of club management excellence in our entire region.”
Staffan qualified for the CCE as a professional member of CMAA who had achieved their CCM designation and admission to the CMAA Honor Society, completed Business Management Institutes Strategic Leadership and Tactical Leadership and having served as the top executive in a club for a minimum of five years. Staffan has overseen the operations of Sarfvik Golf Club in Finland, a 36-hole facility in Kirkkonummi, 20 minutes from Helsinki.
Speaking about his achievement, Staffan said: “I have always felt that education and continuous improvement have been important to my journey. It’s something I use at my club and, of course, what we teach within CMAE. I want to keep learning from the best in the industry, and for me, the CCE was the logical next step. I have been fortunate to attend many conferences overseas, and in the US many of our colleagues hold the CCE certification. A few years ago, I watched a keynote speaker at World Conference talk about a ‘bucket list’, and I ended up writing one for myself. One of the professional goals I included was the CCE certification — so, mission accomplished.”
He added: “I had the privilege to serve on the CMAE Board when Marc Newey was President, so I know him well, and he has been a great support throughout the process. I remember asking Marc about his certification quite a few years ago, and even more so a couple of years ago when I finally had the time and opportunity to pursue the education required for the CCE. Jason Koenigsfeld from CMAA has also been very supportive, so a big thank you to both Marc and Jason. The number of CCMs in Europe could potentially increase quite a bit over the next few years, so it’s always good to have new goals — like the CCE — on the horizon.”