Never Stop Learning

By Scott Swinton

I taste the metallic panic that stings the back of my tongue as I stare at a new piece of software. The new position requires that I use it. I’m clueless, and my palms are starting to sweat. You know that feeling, too. Your heart rate quickens, and if you are a particularly pessimistic person, you start questioning the wisdom of the decision that landed you here.

And then someone walks in and says, “Let me show you how to use that.” What a relief! Yes, please help!

If you are a product of the ‘80s, then you will remember the G.I. Joe mantra: “And knowing is half the battle.” I believe Joe was typically talking to kids about character-building and life lessons, but the truism is universal. “Knowing” is an inescapable preamble to “doing” – or, at the very least, doing something well. When you know, you can move forward with confidence.

As a California contractor, I had to pass multiple exams for my General B and Painting C-33 licenses. A year of classes and a multi-hour test were required and prepared me to become a Certified Construction Manager. Attorneys and accountants have it worse! However, on the upside, these credentials let our customers know that we are professionals, qualified, and legally established to work in our field.

But what makes us qualified to work for HOA customers? How can you know that we will work well with CID communities, board members, and your management company? Will we stay in our lane? Will we work well with other team members? Do we know the laws and norms specific to CIDs?

In the past, it has been the job of the community association manager to “bring along” the newcomer. It happened to me 20-plus years ago. I made all the mistakes in the book. I said the wrong thing to the wrong people. I invoiced wrong, notified owners incorrectly, and offended manager after manager. I learned the hard way.

I entered that school of hard knocks back when we were still faxing work orders, and it was an excellent time to be a novice. Word did not travel as fast, and damage control was easier. However, things are different now. As a manager, if your vendor gets it wrong, you will know before they get back to their truck, and you’ll be blamed on Nextdoor or Facebook within the hour.

CACM sees the need for vendors that “get it.” Understanding their field of work is not enough for today’s CID service providers. If you do not understand the CID landscape, you will quickly find landmines, quagmires, and cliffs.

Over the past year, CACM has, with the aid of its industry partners, developed a certification process for vendors who work for CIDs. The first multisession course was nearly complete at the time of this article, and the early reviews are positive.

Managers can now look at a California Certified Industry Partner (CCIP) certification and know that a vendor has the knowledge and foundation to make good decisions in their communities.

Mandi Newton of Varsity Painting recently completed the first course. Mandi reported that “The CCIP course is a great way for industry partners to elevate their education and to have a deeper understanding of the industry they serve. I highly recommend making this investment in yourself.”

The CCIP certification offers three courses that cover the following:

• HOA Core Principles: Working with boards, history of CIDs, laws that apply to CIDs, terminology, community governance, management models and contracting process.

• Enhanced Professional Presence: Creating effective written communications, email protocol, presenting information, effective listening and facilitation skills, communication styles, generational differences, and managing personal social media accounts.

• Foundational Ethics: CACM’s Code of Professional Ethics and Standards of Practice and understanding of ethics complaints, disciplinary actions, and the appeals procedures.

Industry partners need to apply and submit recommendations to achieve the certification.

Do not settle for mediocre. If you are an industry partner, step up and get the training you need to be excellent. If you are a manager, look for the CCIP certification and present vendors to your communities with confidence.

As service providers, we owe it to ourselves and our clients to be knowledgeable about what they do and how CIDs operate.

Scott Swinton is the General Contractor and Certified Construction Manager at Unlimited Property Services, Inc. He has many years of lessons learned under his belt in the CID industry.