Pasadena, California — May 22, 2025
The scent of roses floated through the portico of The Valley Hunt Club on Monday night, closing a busy day of vendor-attendee meetings at The Golden State Chapter of the Club Management Association of America (CMAA) Vendor Show. With its theme, “For the Love of Roses,” the event blended Pasadena’s Rose-Parade heritage with fresh conversations on club leadership, technology, and member experience.
From Langham Elegance to Athenaeum Charm
The conference titled “Accelerate with Resilience” opened Saturday at The Langham Huntington, where more than 120 club managers tackled sessions on insurance trends, disaster-recovery playbooks, natural-catastrophe response, and sustainability initiatives.
On Sunday evening, attendees crossed the Caltech campus to The Athenaeum, a 1930s landmark, for cocktails and conversation beneath wrought-iron chandeliers – an ideal backdrop for turning new insights into new friendships.
Gregg Patterson: “Boost Your Interesting Quotient”
Monday morning, vendors and partners packed the ballroom of The Valley Hunt Club — the birthplace of the first Rose Parade in 1890 — for Gregg Patterson’s keynote, “Boosting Your I.Q.”
“Competence is everywhere,” Patterson noted. “Being memorable — that’s the moat you build around your business.”
He unpacked the Principles of Boost — authenticity, empathy, and follow-through — then offered a practical template for turning first meetings into lasting partnerships.
Partner Vendor Show
Monday afternoon, the Valley Hunt terrace and ballroom became a buzzing marketplace of ideas. Nearly 40 exhibitors — from tech providers and turf equipment manufacturers to wineries and sports-lifestyle brands — hosted interactive booths where managers could test-drive products, compare pricing, and exchange best practices.
At the Club Support booth, conversations ranged from continuous vulnerability scanning and 24/7 network oversight to tailored user-awareness training — underscoring the show’s central message: delivering a seamless, secure member experience.
Roses, Receptions, and the Road Ahead
The day concluded with an evening reception awash in rose-themed linens and florals. A delicious dinner, a live orchestra band, and an energetic drumline from Pasadena High School kept spirits high well into the night.
Special thanks to David Voorhees and Lynne LaFond DeLuca, along with their teams, for hosting and orchestrating the doubtedly remarkable event!
