ANNUAL REPORT
Building what’s next, together
A LETTER FROM PRESIDENT/CEO
SHAWN M AC INNES:
Every time our residents exercise along a pathway, attend a Lakefront Live event or enjoy Columbia’s open space, their annual charge is at work. As stewards of this investment, the team at Columbia Association (CA) carefully plans improvements that support a vibrant, thriving community.
MISSION
Engage our diverse community, cultivate a unique sense of place and enhance quality of life.
VISION
A Columbia that is intentionally diverse, committed to wellness, sustainable, beautiful, connected and resilient.
As you’ll see in this Annual Report, in Fiscal Year 2026, we made meaningful investments that strengthen CA and enrich the broader Columbia community. These include major enhancements to the Lakefront and the development of a Natural Resources Stewardship Plan that help us prepare for our future. Within our facilities, we upgraded key amenities to enhance programming, including a new Zamboni® at the Columbia Ice Rink and a new kiln at the Columbia Art Center. New cluster play areas engage our youngest residents, while expanded wellness programming informs and engages Columbians of all ages.
While this report provides a snapshot of the past year, our work throughout the year was firmly focused on the future. As we prepared the Fiscal Year 2027 budget, we balanced fiscal strength with strategic investments in infrastructure, sustainability, modernization, and community services that will benefit our community for decades to come. Just as importantly, we have maintained the annual charge rate and cap unchanged for more than 20 years.
As Columbia marks its 60th year in 2027, we will celebrate our shared history while looking ahead to what’s next. I invite you to use this moment to engage with CA, connect with our community at events, and explore everything that is afforded to you as part of CA.
45,217 calls, emails and walk-ins managed by CA’s Customer Care team, helping residents access programs, services and support throughout the year
1,421 team members support CA operations across facilities, programs and services
1,183 staff hours dedicated during a single weekend to winter storm response and community safety operations
99 employees have served CA for 20+ years
ADVANCING INDUSTRY LEADERSHIP
CA staff continued to elevate the organization’s impact beyond Columbia by contributing expertise at the national level:
• Participated in the 2025 Health & Fitness Association Fly-In & Advocacy Summit, joining 100+ industry leaders on Capitol Hill to advocate for healthier communities and expanded access to physical activity
• Presented at the 2026 ESRI FedGIS Conference, showcasing CA’s Project & Access Das board and its role in improving transparency and public access to community projects
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AT CA, WE’RE DEEPLY COMMITTED TO PROMOTING COMMUNITY HEALTH AND WELLBEING. IT WAS AN HONOR TO TAKE THAT MISSION EVEN FURTHER AND ADVOCATE ON CAPITOL HILL FOR EXPANDED ACCESS TO FITNESS OFFERINGS .
Tavia Patusky
CA Wellness & Fitness Director
EXPERTISE & EXCELLENCE
Building success together
Every CA space or experience is powered by a dedicated team committed to serving the community with care and intentionality. CA’s workforce is the foundation of its impact across Columbia.
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SPACES & PLACES
Building the spaces that bring us together
In FY26, CA made strategic investments to enhance everyday experiences while strengthening the long-term assets that serve the Columbia community.
INVESTING IN COMMUNITY SPACES
$1.3 million in enhancements at the Columbia Association Lakefront, including construction of the new CA Lakefront Stage - creating expanded opportunities for arts, entertainment and community programming.
$ 730,000 invested in newly reimagined play areas designed to be more inclusive for children of all ages while incorporating sustainable, durable materials.
CREATING SPACES OF BELONGING
CA cultural programming continued reaching new milestones. From first-time community celebrations like Pride in July and Teen Night at Lakefront Live to Heritage Unplugged (multicultural open mic nights), CA created welcoming experiences where more residents could feel represented, connected and included.
CA invested in Placer.ai technology to better understand community use patterns across CA’s 3 lakes, which recorded more than 700,000 combined visits during FY26.
New additions across CA facilities included a state-of-the-art kiln at the Columbia Art Center, a new Zamboni® at Columbia Ice Rink and a 3rd fenced area at Columbia DogPark.
WAYFINDING & ACCESS
Discover CA continued serving as an important tool for residents and visitors and gained greater visibility through new directional signage installed at Lake Elkhorn. The Land Administration team also launched CA’s new pool guide featuring real-time pool usage updates to improve the member and guest experience.
HEALTH & WELLNESS
Building a healthier community
CA wellness and recreation programs helped more residents stay active, connected and engaged - driving record participation and increasing access to inclusive experiences.
WELLNESS BEYOND OUR WALLS
40+ free wellness events - including yoga, barre, dance and Walk with a Doccreated accessible opportunities for hundreds of residents to prioritize physical and mental wellbeing.
For the 2nd year, CA offered Mental Health First Aid training for team members, equipping staff with tools to better support community mental wellness.
8,637 Columbia Cards were distributed to give non-members discounted access to CA wellness offerings.
CREATING INCLUSIVE EXPERIENCES
KidSpace and Racquet Sports earned Certified Autism Center™ (CAC) designation, reinforcing CA’s commitment to creating welcoming, supportive experiences for sensory-sensitive members and guests.
More than 2.7 million wellness and recreation check-ins across CA facilitiesa 23% increase from FY25
233,590 visits to Columbia Ice Rink, up 25%
226,261 group fitness check-ins, up 8.5%
165,149 tennis and pickleball check-ins, up 9%
158,938 rounds of golf, up 14%
INNOVATIVE PROGRAMMING CONTINUED TO EXPAND ENGAGEMENT, INCLUDING NEW OFFERINGS SUCH AS AQUA CYCLE FITNESS CLASSES, CARDIO TENNIS AND THE SUCCESSFUL LAUNCH OF CA MARTIAL ARTS AT SUPREME SPORTS CLUB.
FOR THE KIDS
11,323 CA swim lessons
9,055 children enrolled in Before and After School Care
3,028 participants in CA’s Learn to Skate program - an all-time high
712 students earned free CA memberships through CA’s 2025-26 CA Points program, which rewards strong grades and attendance for students from low-income families
SUSTAINABILITY
Building a sustainable future
Throughout FY26, CA continued investing in projects that protect natural resources, strengthen climate resilience and engage the community in sustainability efforts.
RENEWABLE ENERGY
A new 28kW solar installation at Columbia SportsPark became CA’s 13th solar site, bringing total installed solar capacity to 304kW - enough energy to power ~30 homes annually.
CA was selected to serve as a test site for next-generation clean energy technology alongside organizations including Amazon and General Motors. In partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy and Rheem, CA is piloting a cold-climate heat pump capable of operating efficiently in temperatures as low as -10°F.
ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP REMAINS CENTRAL TO CA’S MISSION AND IS GUIDED BY THE NATURAL RESOURCES STEWARDSHIP PLAN
Learn more about green initiatives taking root in your backyard in CA’s 2026 Sustainability Snapshot.
GREEN INVESTMENTS
$1.8 million dredging project at Lake Kittamaqundi removed more than 21,000 cubic yards of sediment to improve long-term lake health.
$1.4 million invested in pathway enhancements to improve accessibility, safety and connectivity
CA’s 48th rain garden - and the largest to date - was installed at Lake Elkhorn, with partial support from the Chesapeake Bay Trust.
COMMUNITY STEWARDSHIP
4,467 envelopes of native seeds were distributed to the community to support local biodiversity.
2,221 CA volunteer hours in open space. To expand educational opportunities and help residents foster a deeper connection to the local ecosystem, CA installed identification tags on native trees throughout the community.
CA launched a new “Salt Smart” campaign to encourage safer winter salting practices. Through the Salt Watch program, volunteers monitored local waterways at 50+ sites to protect watershed health.
PARTNERSHIP S
Building a stronger Columbia
CA invests in new and long-standing partnerships and responding directly to local needs.
SHARED SUSTAINABILITY EFFORTS
CA continued to deepen regional collaboration and advance shared sustainability goals across Howard County:
• Signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Howard County to support coordinated environmental initiatives, with a focus on climate change and energy independence
• Co-hosted the inaugural Sustainability Partners Action Network (SPAN) alongside the Howard County Office of Community Sustainability, convening 60+ regional stakeholders
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WE ARE APPRECIATIVE OF CA’S HISTORIC AND CONTINUED ROLE IN THIS COMMUNITY OF NEIGHBORS WHO BELIEVE EVERY CHILD DESERVES A STRONG START. YOUR PARTICIPATION ONCE AGAIN MADE A REAL DIFFERENCE.
Roy Appletree Prepare for Success Founder
INVESTING IN COMMUNITY IMPACT
CA renewed its partnership with the Community Foundation of Howard County, awarding $225,000 to 32 local nonprofits.
CA’s 24th year with Prepare for Success was the most impactful season yet, equipping 5,300 students with backpacks and supplies for the school year.
CA collected 1,606 pounds of food for the Howard County Food Bank during winter, helping support local families facing food insecurity.
PARTNERED WITH ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS:
Bureau of Environmental Services
Chesapeake Bay Trust
Howard Community College
Howard County Conservancy
Howard County Office of Community Sustainability
Howard County Recreation & Parks
Howard EcoWorks
Maryland Department of Natural Resources
Robinson Nature Center
U.S. Department of Energy
BUILDING THE FUTURE
The approved budget for FY27 is $91,197,000. Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) runs from May 1, 2026 to April 30, 2027. Detailed budget materials can be viewed at ColumbiaAssociation.org/Budget.
CA LEADERSHIP FY2027
CA’s Board of Directors is responsible for a number of significant decisions, including the annual budget. The board is elected by the village community for one or two year terms, and term length varies by village. Board members serve CA in a strategic, advisory capacity to meet the best interests of the organization and the community at-large. The FY27 Board of Directors will be instrumental in guiding CA in pivotal moments as it plans its 60th year and beyond.
Collin Sullivan Town Center
Michael Golibersuch Owen Brown
At the time of the Annual Report publication, the following seats are vacant and awaiting appointments from the Village Board: Kings Contrivance, River Hill, Long Reach and Oakland Mills.
SENIOR LEADERSHIP TEAM
Shawn MacInnes President/CEO
Shon McCollum Sr. Vice President/CFO
Dan Burns Sr. Vice President of Community Programs & Services
Jeremy Scharfenberg Vice President of Community Operations Tim Pinel Director of Marketing Julie Miller Director of Communications & Media Relations
John Kuchno General Counsel
Jackie Tuma Director of Audit & Advisory Services Armsby Carbon Vice President of Administrative Services
Monica McMellon-Ajayi Director of Human Resources, Diversity & Inclusion
Stephanie Nester Director of Finance/Treasurer