We have some amazing, talented, successful professionals joining us for the 2025 GLRC! Below you will be able to get to know a little more about them.

Richard L. LaRocca, CCM (Certified Club Manager), CCE (Certified Chief Executive), was elected the Chair of the Club Management Association of America (CMAA) at its 2025 World Conference and Club Business Expo, held in Tampa, FL, in February. He was first elected to the Board of Directors in 2018 and re-elected in 2021. He currently serves as the General Manager/Chief Operating Officer of St. Clair Country Club in Upper St. Clair, PA. LaRocca is a Youngstown, OH, native, and a graduate of Youngstown State University.

LaRocca first joined CMAA in 1986. He earned his CCM designation in 1997 and achieved his CCE designation in 2008. In 2017, LaRocca had the distinction of being named the Club Executive of the Year by Club Management magazine. He has volunteered on many national committees including the Audit, Budget & Finance, Corporate Relations, Professional Development, Long-Range Planning, Strategic & Organizational Culture, Technology, and Conference Committees. In 2025, he will chair the Conference Committee and serve as a member of the Audit and Strategic Planning & Organizational Culture Committees. Within his local community, LaRocca has been active in multiple CMAA Chapters including Pittsburgh, Florida, and Greater Cleveland.

As CMAA Chair, LaRocca will lead the CMAA Board of Directors and collaborate with the membership, National Committees and Task Forces, Partners, and the National Headquarters team to advance the profession and foster a thriving club industry by supporting CMAA-educated professionals.

M. Kent Johnson, CCM, CCE, is the current General Manager/COO at Baltimore Country Club. With over 27 years of hospitality management experience, Kent’s passion is deeply rooted in serving others. Kent lives and leads by the philosophy of “Great People Make Favorite Places.” This philosophy embraces the necessity of establishing genuine relationships and going beyond expectations with every given opportunity. This belief encompasses the crucial attitudes, values, and hospitality ideals to operate a private club successfully. Kent is a dynamic and inspirational leader with exemplary skills in food and beverage, positive workplace culture development, and private club management. Baltimore Country Club is currently ranked #39 by the Platinum Clubs of America and is a two-campus facility with over 3,000 members and offers numerous amenities, including racquet sports, swimming, championship golf, and dining. Kent frequently shares his experience and expertise with hospitality students, peers, club leadership, CMAA chapters and is a part of the CMAA BMI Faculty.

As a national speaker, Ben focuses on member engagement, technology, creativity, marketing, fitness, aquatics, sports and recreation, sharing his expertise and setting new standards for excellence in the club industry. His dynamic leadership and his influential speaking engagements make him a trailblazer shaping the future of private clubs nationwide. Ben merges his skillset in recreation with the power of storytelling through video communication and digital platforms. His expertise in developing creative marketing content and leveraging that across mediums is instrumental in driving member engagement and participation. Ben’s professional experience includes roles as Creative Director, Web and Media Director and Aquatics Director for several institutions, responsible for web design and development, producing media content and implementing social media strategies. Ben received his CCM (Certified Club Management) Designation in 2021. He is a graduate of the University of Nebraska – Lincoln with a major in Broadcasting-Video Production, minoring in Communications.

Katie Bodchon is passionate about the transformative power of branding, marketing, and storytelling. She loves the art of leveraging narratives to shape unique experiences, focusing on creating compelling content that fosters emotional connections. Her approach to marketing goes beyond the conventional, focusing on community engagement and the importance of giving back. She strives to create content and share stories that not only resonate on a personal level but also contributes positively to society. Her commitment lies in communication initiatives that do more than just reach an audience-they enrich lives. She aims to inspire lasting change within the private club sector and beyond, seeking collaboration with likeminded individuals who are passionate about hospitality and making a difference.

Nicole’s journey into the private club world began during her studies at the University of Central Florida’s Rosen College of Hospitality Management, where she was an active member of the student CMAA chapter and discovered her affinity for the club industry.

In 2010, Nicole joined one of the country’s most exclusive and distinctive private communities, Ocean Reef Club in Key Largo, Florida. Over the past 15 years, she has cultivated a diverse leadership background, having led teams across Recreation, Fitness, Membership, and most recently, Lodging Operations Quality Control.

Nicole is recognized not only for her operational excellence but also for her ability to engage teams, elevate department culture, and design meaningful training experiences. She was the driving force behind the creation and implementation of Ocean Reef Club’s current member survey system and continues to analyze trends and insights to strengthen both staff and member experiences.

With a strong focus on collaboration, training, and team development, Nicole brings high energy and relevance to every room. Her sessions are known for being practical, engaging, and packed with actionable insights — making her a standout speaker for professionals seeking to improve team dynamics and build positive, high-performing workplace cultures. 

Brad Steele has been an integral part of the private club industry for nearly 15 years. He started Private Club Consultants (PCC) to provide in-depth legal and operational answers for America’s top private clubs. Over the years, Brad has become one of the leading resources for the private club industry on legislative and regulatory matters.
Prior to opening Private Club Consultants, Brad served for over 12 years as the Vice President of Government Relations and General Counsel for the National Club Association. In that capacity, he directed legal and advocacy efforts for the club industry.
Brad first cut his teeth in Washington working for the Vice President of the United States, a member of Congress and a national political committee. He then studied law at Oxford University and earned his degree from the University of Oklahoma.
Upon graduation, he practiced law in Indiana and served as a county and city attorney as well as a judge of an Indiana court. While there, Brad returned to the political arena as a candidate for Congress and the Indiana State House of Representatives. Following his campaigns, he came back to Washington and has been helping private clubs ever since.
Brad is a featured speaker for club management and allied industries and his perspectives have been sought by leading industry periodicals as well as the national media. All told, his over 25 years of experience as an attorney and industry leader allows PCC to offer actionable advice to clubs ensuring they function within the law – even when the law is hard to understand.