Congratulations Managers

It is with pride that we recognize managers who have taken the next step in their professional career by pursuing advanced educational opportunities. Congratulations to our newest Certified Community Association Manager (CCAM), Specialty Certificate recipients, the Master of Community Association Management (MCAM) recipients for the second and third quarter of 2018!

NEW CCAMs

Paul Anderson, CCAM Maria Barrios, CCAM Aubria Bauder, CCAM Stacy Blom, CCAM Aaron Button, CCAM Luis Chim, CCAM Scot Cool, CCAM Sherry Crevani, CCAM Lori Draper, CCAM Dean Driscoll, CCAM Emma Eckroth, CCAM Dolores Fernandez, CCAM Adam Futo, CCAM Monica Gale, CCAM Marlene Gamboa, CCAM Lisa Glogow, CCAM Maria Goins, CCAM Victoria Hall, CCAM Elliott Harwell, CCAM Angela Hill, CCAM John Hopkins, CCAM Claire Hosking, CCAM Rosanna Indie, CCAM Jana Jenkins, CCAM Patricia Johns, CCAM Cara Kallen, CCAM Kelley Kemp, CCAM Shari Kenyon, CCAM Brad Kohler, CCAM Melanie Kuhn, CCAM Yvette Lee, CCAM Kevin Lehman, CCAM Debra Lewis, CCAM Arthur Livitz, CCAM Amaya Lopez, CCAM Amy Malet, CCAM Jaime Mann, CCAM Tareq Mashal, CCAM Caitlin McClelland, CCAM Melissa Medina, CCAM Kaley Mobraaten, CCAM John Mudge, CCAM Samnang Muy, CCAM Mark Muzzini, CCAM Sandra Na, CCAM Cecilia Ou, CCAM Leala Oulalla, CCAM Michele Parenteau, CCAM Frances Pawlak, CCAM Eli Perez, CCAM Sommer Perry, CCAM Robert Quinn, CCAM Segev Ras, CCAM Samantha Romero, CCAM Cynthia Schick, CCAM Jonathan Scott-Haines, CCAM Stanley Shambaugh, CCAM Vanessa Silva, CCAM David Smith, CCAM Ashley Sousa, CCAM Ryan Sowers, CCAM Fabiana Spinelli, CCAM Adam Stokes, CCAM Vanessa Stoltenberg, CCAM Vanessa Strickland, CCAM Gary Tang, CCAM Danielle Uhalde, CCAM Alicia Van Norman, CCAM

Christopher Waage, CCAM Antwone Wade, CCAM Richard West, CCAM Kelly Whichello, CCAM Melva Willey, CCAM Deanna Willis, CCAM Melissa Wudzke, CCAM Priscilla Yoo, CCAM Victoria York, CCAM Samantha Yruegas, CCAM

NEW MCAMs

Linda Mootry, CAMEx, MCAM-ND David Scott, MCAM-LS

SPECIALTY CERTIFICATES Large Scale Community Management

Jane Frazee, CCAM-LS.AA Jorge Garcia, CCAM-LS Alfred Logan, CCAM-LS Troy Reis, CCAM-LS Dawn Suskin, CCAM-LS.CI

High Rise Community Management

Jean-Pierre Alotte, CCAM-HR Thomas Elliott, CCAM-HR Ryan Preston, CCAM-HR

Portfolio Management

Raeanne Ladwig, CCAM-PM Derek Mobraaten, CCAM-PM Betsy Roig, CCAM-PM Kassie Ulen, CCAM-PM

ADJUNCT DESIGNATIONS Active Adult

Jane Frazee, CCAM-LS.AA Morgen Hardigree, CCAM-ND.AA Patricia Klock, CCAM-HR.CI.AA

Commercial / Industrial

Shelley Bobitch, CCAM-PM.CID Dawn Suskin, CCAM-LS.CID

The Steak & the Sizzle

BY DEAN JACKSON, CCAM-HR

I had an interesting experience The board of directors had called for a “Community Meeting,” open to owners and renters alike, to gather ideas last night. for improvements to the aging building. The meeting was set up so that everyone could provide ideas to address items such as aesthetics, functionality, energy efficiency and community. The ideas would be compiled, without judgement or comment, for the board’s further review, discussion, distillation and for possible action. By and large the board got what they wanted, and my fingers are still cramped from typing an exhaustive list of ideas, some bold, some simple, some easy, and some extravagant. What was missing, however, was the pulling back of the curtain to reveal the resources necessary for maintaining, repairing and updating the building’s infrastructure. Last night’s meeting was about the flash, not the foundation. This was not unexpected, as there are many visible items in a 1980s era building that may need updating, and many of the new residents were born after the building was erected. The shift in demographics towards the millennial generation, who grew up with technology as an integral part of their lives, brings a welcome energy, a lot of imagination, some great ideas, and some ideas which would generate unrealistically large price tags. Those with a touch (or more) of gray also had some whoppers. As the meeting was under way I had to frequently remind myself of the no judgment or comment stipulation, and my tongue is still sore from having to bite it to keep from speaking. But now the meeting is over. No, we will not be putting a glass enclosed barbecue, Jacuzzi and seating area on the roof, but yes we will be updating the lobby… about two years from now (but pink mood lighting likely won’t be part of the design, sheesh!). No, the gym will not be moved into the area currently occupied by the lounge, but yes, both the lounge and gym will get a facelift… about three years from now. The challenge is to balance the need to update the building aesthetically and technologically, while also addressing low profile, large ticket, items such as sewer lateral replacement, repairing and waterproofing a leaky garage or bringing the boiler system up to code and the garage elevator up to date. The sizzle gets all of the attention, but the steak still needs to be seasoned with the following ingredients.

EDUCATION: In my opinion, the process starts with educating the community. We have a reserve schedule which addresses both infrastructure and aesthetics over time and there are some sizzle items which would add to the expenditures that are planned and require a larger reserve allocation. Are the homeowners willing to pay for this? That’s the $64,000 question. Are the homeowners willing to start saving for improvements that might not happen until years from now when they might not enjoy the benefits? In a world of short term decisions and expectations; keep the assessments low and keep the money in my pocket (but I want pink mood lighting now), versus long

Continued on page 42

The Steak and The Sizzle

Continued from page 41 term goals; invest in the long term health and viability of the HOA asset (because we have to replace the roof in fifteen years and we don’t want to put Band-Aids on issues and defer maintenance on other items), the more information homeowners have the more they might be willing to invest in the future.

QUICK FIXES: Are there items which can be refreshed, upgraded, or changed now without breaking the bank, whether or not they are scheduled? We are now looking into modernizing the signage and logo of the HOA, upgrading some lighting for energy efficiency and aesthetics, and upgrading the HOA’s website so that it can be utilized for building community. Items which are already being researched, such as the installation of EV charging stations and automated package lockers may be expedited. All the while though, the infrastructure work will continue.

INFORMATION: We will be better about informing the community about both the glamor and the hammer. They will see the quick fixes taking shape and at the same time they will learn that the gym upgrades are only a couple of years away and that the modernization of the lobby is now in the planning stages (any volunteers for the lobby committee?). They will also learn that we have to save for a multimillion dollar elevator modernization in eight years, while accomplishing a quarter million dollar sewer lateral replacement project that is required by the local water district.

TIME (NOT THYME): Over time the community will observe improvements to those items that they can see and learn about improvements to items that work behind the scenes. As education and information continue to be disseminated, the community may just be willing to invest a bit more so that the steak will be done perfectly, with just the right amount of sizzle.

Until then, my plate is pretty full!

Dean Jackson, CCAM-HR is the General Manager of Pacific Park Plaza Homeowners Association in Emeryville.