We just learned today and are excited to share with our members that the AMA/Magic Castle’s own general manager and friend, Joe Furlow, will be honored with an Excellence in Club Management ® Award in 2017. We hope you will all join the Boards in congratulating Joe on receiving the prestigious Mel Rex Award, one of three, annual award categories which recognize extraordinary industry contributions and private club management by the experts in the country.

Joe will be honored here at the Magic Castle on a date in the new year (to be announced) and again at the 2017 Club Managers Association of America World Conference, Feb. 7-11, in Orlando, Fla., where a special dinner/reception will be held to honor the winners.

The AMA Board nominated Joe in recognition of his contributions over the past five years in club-wide improvements. At the time that Joe came to our club, we felt fortunate to have this talented professional working at the AMA, and to benefit from his experience. Needless to say, the AMA is a one of a kind organization, with a very special mixture of interests, services, and needs. We are always reminded that no mere “cookie cutter” formulas for private clubs will ever work at our club. For many years, we realize that’s been a challenge to our business. Fortunately, Joe arrived and rose to this challenge. For five years, we’ve all seen, first hand, how he’s adapted to our world and made the AMA and the Magic Castle better, more consistent, and more successful each year.

Of course, it one thing for us to know it, for all of us to be proud of our club. But it’s another to see the rest of the world recognize our success and Joe Furlow’s achievements. This award recognizes the special qualities of the AMA, and the unique abilities of our General Manager, blending his expertise, techniques from the industry, with our unique world of magic, magicians, and magic lovers around the world.

Because we know that the AMA is such a special place, we’re proud that Joe’s professionalism has been recognized by the industry. There’s no question that his work has helped elevate the AMA and the Magic Castle to unprecedented heights of popularity and success, with record revenues (once again) in 2016 and more than 500 currently on a waiting list for membership.

The Excellence in Club Management® Awards are sponsored by Club & Resort Business magazine and the McMahon Group, a private club consulting group that serves and evaluates private clubs in all aspects of their operations – including dining, facilities, employees and management – and has consulted with 1,900+ private clubs around the world in its 30+ year history.

We thank Joe for his service and commitment and look forward to continuing to work together. The AMA and the Magic Castle has achieved unparalleled success in recent years, thanks to Joe’s work, and we couldn’t be prouder that the experts in this field have recognized his work.

Randy Sinnott
President
AMA Board of Directors.

Joe Furlow..