Management Connection is an accredited AMC led by top private club industry leader Crystal Thomas, CAE, MCM, CHE. She established her association management business in 2005 with the intention to further contribute to professional excellence across the private club industry. Through its decade and a half of experience, Management Connection delivers top-tier management for club industry associations. Because of this expertise, it has a particular focus on also supporting associations within the hospitality, recreation, and sports landscapes. In addition to offering full management services for associations, Management Connection also manages golf tournaments to generate funds for associations and foundations. Crystal Thomas | CAE, MCM, CCE, CHE CEO A club GM for 30 years in Canada and the United States and a recipient of the Excellence in Club Management Award, Crystal is one of the 22 industry leaders worldwide to achieve a Master Club Manager designation. After leading The Athenaeum at California Institute of Technology to Platinum Club status in 2003, Crystal founded Crystal Clear Concepts in 2005 to drive the success of other clubs as a consultant and educator. That same year, her team began managing one of California’s CMAA chapters. In 2008, she collaborated with leading club managers to unify California’s four CMAA chapters into The Golden State Chapter. Her team has managed that association ever since. Her team also manages that chapter’s foundation. Concurrently, her company has managed a legal association for private clubs in California for more than a decade. The BoardRoom magazine has twice recognized her as one of the most influential women in the private club industry and in 2019 honored her with its Lifetime Achievement Award. Crystal is also a recipient of the Gary Player Educator of the Year Award. She has provided club industry education internationally including in China. Crystal has authored dozens of articles and three manuscripts/books, Learning to Love, Harnessing the Fear Factor and Business with a Heart. Intrigued by all aspects of human behavior, she holds a Master’s Degree from the University of Santa Monica in Spiritual Psychology. Nick Bundra COO Nick and Crystal first collaborated in 2008 on a job performance tool that Crystal pioneered for the private club industry. Nick worked with Crystal and her team periodically thereafter. He joined the team full time in 2019. One of his first projects was to oversee Management Connection in becoming an accredited AMC, a process completed in July 2020.In the associations that the firm manages, Nick oversees operations and contributes to organizational strategy, design, video, and collateral content, and membership development. He has extensive writing experience having ghostwritten and edited a handful of professional and personal development books and manuscripts. He began his career in human behavior consulting. Nick has three master’s degrees, including one from NYU in Sports Business, and he earned his undergraduate from Pepperdine University. Rick Adams CFO Rick has nearly three decades of experience in performing the duties and responsibilities of Controller and Chief Financial Officer for several service organizations. In addition to accounting and finance, his background includes direct marketing, high-tech secure transaction processing, IT services, club management software and jet leasing/charter management. Several of those positions required partnering with international organizations and navigating cultural differences to achieve production and financial goals. Rick is a husband and a father of two. He graduated from the University of Southern California with a degree in Business Administration. Lindsay Pizarro, CCM, CCE CMO Lindsay Pizarro, CCM, CCE, brings over 18 years of club Industry experience, including roles at California clubs with Platinum Club of America Status. She has served as an Events Manager, Director of Food and Beverage, Clubhouse Operations Manager, and General Manager. Lindsay’s skills encompass strategic leadership, event management, operational efficiency, staff development, and a profound understanding of the hospitality industry. Her experience in member relations, financial management, and adaptability underscore the valuable perspectives she offers to associations.With a background in California’s club scene, Lindsay has experience in various roles that have prepared her to handle diverse responsibilities. Her unwavering commitment to member satisfaction, proven track record in operational management, bilingual proficiency in Spanish, and a touch of energy and creativity highlight her ability to bring significant strengths to associations. Alexandra Chordas Director of Partnership Alexandra oversees partnerships and other industry relationships for the associations that Management Connection manages. She also manages sponsorships for golf tournaments managed by the company. As a whole, she always seeks collaborative opportunities between association members and the partners and sponsors looking to develop relationships with them. Alexandra worked at the University of Washington Club for 22 years, the final eight of which she was the General Manager. She also served on the board of the Evergreen Chapter of the Club Management Association of America. An avid student of self-development Alexandra graduated from the Master’s Program in Spiritual Psychology in 2013 from the University of Santa Monica and completed an additional year-long program in Consciousness, Health, and Healing there in 2016. She has also completed a program in Self I-Dentity through Ho’oponopono, an updated Hawaiian problem-solving process.