Capital Projects: Funding, Approval, and Execution – A GM Panel Discussion

Ash Chadha, CCM – General Manager, The Glencoe Club (Calgary, AB)

Ash Chadha, CCM, is the General Manager of The Glencoe Club in Calgary, Alberta, a role he assumed in May 2024. With more than two decades of leadership in the private club and hospitality industry, Ash brings a proven track record of operational excellence, strategic vision, and member-focused service.

Prior to his current role, Ash served as General Manager of The Glencoe Golf & Country Club, one of Canada’s most prestigious golf facilities. During his tenure, he played a pivotal role in securing capital approval for the highly anticipated Meadow Course Rejuvenation project, demonstrating his expertise in long-term planning and stakeholder alignment.

Ash’s earlier career includes leadership roles at Nanaimo Golf Club and Waccabuc Country Club, where he gained broad experience in capital planning, food and beverage operations, and team development. He holds a Bachelor's degree from The Robert Gordon University and a diploma from the Institute of Advanced Management.

As a Certified Club Manager (CCM), Ash is known for his thoughtful approach to capital planning, balancing financial stewardship with bold, future-facing investments. His depth of experience makes him a valued voice in conversations around sustainable growth and infrastructure planning in private club environments.

Cris Toma, CCM – General Manager, Derrick Golf and Winter Club (Edmonton, AB)

Cris Toma, CCM, is an innovative and multilingual hospitality professional with over two decades of international experience in private club leadership. Currently serving as General Manager and Chief Operating Officer at The Derrick Golf and Winter Club in Edmonton, Cris is recognized for his strategic mindset, passion for service excellence, and ability to build empowered, high-performing teams.

A Certified Club Manager (CCM) and an active member of CMAC, Cris has held senior roles at several premier clubs, including Beaconsfield Golf Club, Whitlock Golf and Country Club, and The Royal Montreal Golf Club. His leadership style emphasizes collaboration, accountability, and a member-first approach, driving both operational performance and a culture of appreciation.

Robert Klombies, BComm – General Manager, Riverside Country Club (Saskatoon, SK)

Robert Klombies has served as the Executive Director of Riverside Country Club in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan since March 2020. He leads the operations of one of Canada’s premier golf destinations—ranked 53rd on SCOREGolf’s Top 100 list in 2024. During his tenure, the club has seen remarkable growth in membership and continued enhancements to the member experience.

His appointment marked a return to his home province after a 30-year career in the hospitality and private club industry across British Columbia, Ontario, and Manitoba.

Robert holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Hospitality Administration/Management from Ryerson University. He furthered his education at the Business Management Institute through the Club Management Association of America. Robert has extensive experience in board governance, chairing national committees as a CMAC Board Director, chairing provincial boards in Manitoba, and reporting to several private club boards over his career.

Throughout his career Robert has been involved with master planning initiatives including a major food & beverage renovation at the Granite Club, and Hospitality Center at Inniskillin Winery in NIagara-on-the-Lake.

In 2022, Robert led a major clubhouse renovation project, collaborating with Gibbs Gage Architects & Concept3 Business Interiors to enhance the club's dining, lounge, and meeting spaces and a new cart storage facility. The project received positive feedback from members and guests, reflecting his commitment to delivering exceptional experiences.