Chief Operating Officer & General Manager
River Oaks Country Club

Lectured November 9, 2017

C. J. “Joe” Bendy Jr., CCM, CCE is a 1989 graduate of the University of Houston Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management. A native of Beaumont, Texas, he has lived most of his life in Houston. 

Joe began his hospitality career at the age of 12, working in various restaurants and fast-food operations. While attending UH, he began working at Houston Country Club, where he eventually landed his first professional club management position under General Manager Robert G. “Bob” Southwell. After graduation, Joe held the positions of assistant and clubhouse manager at Houston Country Club, and as vice president of operations and general manager of Northwood Club in Dallas. Since 2002, he has served as the chief operating officer and general manager of Houston’s River Oaks Country Club.

An active member of the Club Managers Association of America (CMAA) since 1990, Joe has served two terms as president of the South Texas Region and three terms as director of the North Region Board. He also served on the board of directors for the Texas Lone Star Chapter of CMAA from 1995 to 2002, and as the chapter’s president in 2001.

On the state level, Joe has been involved in various organizations and has served on the board of directors for the Texas Alliance of Recreational Organizations (TARO). TARO’s charge is to participate effectively in the state’s legislative and regulatory processes for the benefit of its supporters and their constituents. Joe served on this board from 2001 to 2014, and as president in 2011 and 2012. Additionally, he has volunteered as a council or committee member for the National Club Association (NCA) since 2007. In 2011, he was elected to the board of directors of the NCA and currently serves as co-chairman for the membership committee.

Joe holds the Certified Club Manager (CCM) and the Certified Chief Executive (CCE) designations. He was elected to the CMAA Honor Society in 2005. Like his involvement with the industry, Joe has stayed connected and involved with his alma mater. He has been an instructor at Hilton College since 1991, has served on the Dean’s Advisory Board, and lectured as part of the Dean’s Distinguished Leadership Series. Currently, he serves as an adjunct professor in club management.

A mentor to many, Joe is known for supporting young professionals and aiding in the professional development and advancement of these future industry leaders. He serves as co-chairman of the Southwell, Steger, Brecunier (SSB) Scholarship Endowment, which provides scholarship opportunities for students interested in the private club industry.

In recognition for his myriad contributions to the industry, he was honored by his peers in 2012 as the Manager of the Year for CMAA’s Texas Lone Star Chapter, and was named the Large Facility Manager of the Year by the United States Tennis Association in 2014. Most recently, Joe accepted the Club Executive of the Year honor presented by CMAA.

Joe’s professional career has allowed him many opportunities to develop and grow highly effective leadership teams, as well as to design, develop and implement capital improvement projects exceeding $80 million over the past few years.

Joe has two children – Jordan a graduate of Oklahoma Christian University and manager with Nothing Bundt Cakes, and Cole, a junior studying history at Lone Star College. In his spare time he enjoys spending time with friends and family, and takes opportunities to enjoy the outdoors – especially fishing along the beautiful Texas coast.