10 minute read
Certification Through CACM: Why Is It Important?
the real estate market, were reeling from the mortgage and banking crisis. At that time, new development was rare and many smaller developers were walking away from projects, leaving the association and its members lost. This gave me a great perspective on how important the relationship between the association, the developer, and the management company was to contribute to the success of a community association. Associations that start off on the right foot and build a solid foundation are set up for short and long-term success, and I enjoy playing a role in helping to make that happen. I enjoy watching our clients grow both in the physical development of the projects and in the mental development of the people involved. As a manager of new developments, you can have a positive impact on both sides of the project by helping both the developer and the homeowners (both of whom are members in the association). While developers often establish communities with homeowners associations, they do not operate in the HOA world and are not familiar with the laws and regulations they might unknowingly violate and are many times open to ideas or suggestions for what to do within a project to avoid the pitfalls we so often see in older communities with bad documents or logistics. Homeowners in new developments are often buying into an HOA for the very first time, so not only are you educating them about the specific HOA they have bought into but also about HOA living in general. It is our job as experts in the industry to ensure that both sides of the membership (developer and homeowner) get the advice we are paid to give them for the benefit of the entire association.
Commercial and Industrial CID
CATHLEEN GUERRINI, CCAM-HR.CI EUGENE BURGER MANAGEMENT
Often, with residential condo management, there is a requirement to manage condominium associations and Continued on page 12
Certification Through CACM: Why Is It Important?
By Andrew Hay, CCAM-ND.PM
“Unlicensed contractors.” We’ve all heard the horror stories of associations who want to go the “economic” way and choose to use a person who has no professional license or designation to complete a project and the chaos that ensues. Do you view a CCAM ® or specialized certification through CACM the same way you view a company or individual who operates under a contractor’s or professional license? More importantly, do you think that our clients can identify those who don’t and those who do carry CACM certifications?
CACM was established in 1991 as a trade organization for an industry with a substantial need for standardization. Over the next 10+ years, CACM worked to establish professional standards, a code of ethics, state conferences and forums, and educational programs for the professionals who serve this industry. In 1992, CACM began offering the CCAM (Certified Community Association Manager) designation.
Fast forward a decade, and the passage of AB 555 in California further emphasized the need for specific training to be recognized as a professional community association manager. A real compliment to our association, CACM’s certification was the guideline legislators used to formulate AB 555 requirements. Most importantly, CACM helped to reduce government regulation in the industry by showing elected officials that the industry could regulate itself and its members. Imagine the difficulty of passing state audits for each of your associations, especially as often as the laws change.
So how do you maximize the value of your certification? Do you think your employer markets its certified managers differently than those who are not certified? Have you ever discussed that with your supervisor or business owner?
As the common interest development industry progresses and becomes more competitive, it is important to differentiate yourself, and highlighting your CCAM certification is an easy way to do so with your clients and your employer (or potential employers). Concentrate on the value they receive by having someone with the experience and education necessary to deal with the day-today challenges of management and to help your employers retain their clients.
Taking advantage of the continuing education courses offered in the respective specialties is also a way to maximize your value and earning potential. The courses required for specialty certificates help to hone your skills in your respective field and provide you with a plethora of resources and contacts (peers and vendors). In short, the CCAM certification was created to limit government regulation in the industry, which has been accomplished, but it should also be highlighted to help managers achieve both opportunity and credibility with our boards and our employers.
Andrew Hay, CCAM-ND.PM is Vice President of the Management Division for The Helsing Group, Inc., ACMB, in San Ramon.
What’s Your Specialty?
Continued from page 11 their increasing costs for services and unforeseen repairs using finite operating budgets. Many residential board members won’t increase operating budgets as that could mean an increase in monthly assessments. Commercial condominium owners can be a different client base with more of a “for-profit” viewpoint, which often means that when tasked with paying costs for items such as on-site security services, drainage improvement, or signage, they are usually more financially forthcoming to do so. These efforts enhance their places of business which they feel will lead to increased profits.
Also, there is a tendency for commercial condo owners to streamline board meetings, policy, and minimize politics in order to spend less time in meetings and more time on their individual business development. As a result, you are not faced with the frequent “analysis paralysis” often found among many residential boards. These attributes of commercial/industrial condo management render the management job more effective, although it means a faster, more streamlined performance is usually demanded from the manager. If the latter is the approach you like to take, commercial condo management will suit your style. I personally like it when meetings and decisions move quickly. Aspects such as these increase what can be accomplished in a shorter timeframe.
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Homeowner Associations
High/Mid Rise Condominiums Condominium Conversions
Commercial Property Owners Business Litigation Civil General Litigation
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LORI R. STORM, CCAM THE MANAGEMENT TRUST – NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, ACMB
I actually came into active adult management after spending a number of years managing associations whose membership ran toward the 75-95-year-old demographic. This background gave me an extra appreciation of working with people with a wealth of life experience.
The greatest rewards of working with active adults are also the greatest challenges. You are dealing with a well-educated, involved set of owners who have high expectations for management standards.
Often the communities have a large set of amenities: pools, clubhouses, tennis and bocce courts, patios and barbecue areas, etc. Along with such amenities, you get committees (facilities, events, landscape) and clubs too numerous to describe. There is scheduling and accommodating all these groups, ensuring information regarding events and activities are disseminated effectively and keeping up with the management of the facilities that are in constant use.
Members that are near or already in retirement have the time to keep a close eye on activities and do not hesitate to point out items that are not up to community standards. They attend board meetings in greater numbers and voice their opinions. They are also more willing to volunteer to serve on boards and committees, to stay engaged in governance of the community.
The reason I love active adult communities is that, as a manager, I am challenged to be at the top of my game at all times. I need to be informed in all aspects of community management and facility maintenance. I am expected to not only have researched all potential information that anyone might request at any moment, I must be able to provide intelligent reasoning for best practices for the community. Anyone who is looking for a truly challenging and ultimately satisfying direction in management would do well to take a closer look at the Active Adult Management Specialty.
When pursuing a career in community management, the paths that the manager may choose are many and varied. From Portfolio Management to Age Restricted Active Adult, from High Rise Management to New Development or Commercial and Industrial CID, and all of the sub-specialties (equestrian, boating, even private airports), it is possible for the adventurous manager to find just the right niche and to excel. Community management is not just about portfolio, but it often starts there, and dependent upon the choices one can make on their journey, the sky’s the limit.
Dean Jackson, CCAM-HR, is General Manager of Pacific Park Plaza Homeowners Association in Emeryville.
Welcome to 2018. In our world of professional community management, it seems we are always looking ahead and focused on clients’ needs and issues and that, consequently, we put our own education or goals aside.
Well – consider this your reminder that CACM exists so that members can enjoy an environment that is necessary for professional success.
What does “an environment necessary for professional success” mean to you? Are you taking advantage of all that CACM has to offer? As you dive deeper into your career, consider striving for higher levels of education in your specific area – Portfolio? High Rise? Large Scale (with extra attention to Active Adult Communities)? New Development (we all know filings for new communities are increasing), Financial? Commercial? Industrial? CAMEx? MCAM?
Are you involved in one or multiple specialties? Multiple specialty designations are viewed as one benchmark of continued learning, improvement in our career and enhanced recognition by our peers, our employers and our clients – not to mention our own pride. It never hurts to pat ourselves on the back once in a while or look back and say, “WOW – I did that!”
At the Northern and Southern California Law Seminars, CACM’s Professional Pathway was presented. As CACM continues to improve and elevate its education program, we encourage you to take advantage of all that CACM has to offer: classes, in-person or online, Regional Forums, Summits (High Rise and Large Scale) and the Executive Leadership Summit.
With knowledge, we can provide leadership to our clients and boards, mentoring to those less experienced in our diverse field and, ultimately, feel that sense of pride and accomplishment.
I hope to see you at these learning venues. Please feel free to approach me, or any CACM board member or a CACM team member as we continue to grow, improve and meet your needs as a professional community manager.
On behalf of the CACM Board, Carra S. Clampitt, CAMEx, CCAM-LS.AA.PM, Board Chair
upcoming courses & events
Northern California Calendar
DATE
JULY
10 12 12 12 12 17-18 24 25-26 31
AUGUST
7 8-9 9 14 21 22 22 28
SEPTEMBER
4 12-13 13 18 25
OCTOBER
9 11-12 11-12 16 17 18 18
NOVEMBER
6 27
DECEMBER
4 4 11 LEGEND
COURSE/EVENT
Events Online Courses Classroom Courses
COURSE/EVENT CODE
Assessment Collections Ethics for Community Managers Advanced Ethics: Leadership & Decision Making Human Resource Management Risk Management in Community Associations The California Law Series Landscape Water Management Certification Course The Basic of Association Management Series Attorney Connection Webinar I FIN210 CMM130 LDR500 LDR400 INS400 CMM121-124 WMCC CMM101-102 WEBATTY101
Attorney Connection Webinar II WEBATTY102 The Basics of Association Management Series CMM101-102 Risk Management in Community Associations INS400 Attorney Connection Webinar III WEBATTY103 Attorney Connection Webinar IV WEBATTY104 Ethics for Community Managers CMM130 Advanced Ethics: Leadership & Decision Making LDR500 Age-Restricted Active Adult Community ManagementSPC420
Insurance Principles The California Law Series Explaining Financial Statements Budgeting Strategic Financial Planning
Advanced Insurance Principles High Rise Summit Large Scale Summit Fall Forum Breakfast Fall Forum Lunch Fall Forum Lunch Ethics for Community Manager
Effective Meeting & Election Tools Fundamentals of Effective Governance
Holiday Reception Conflict Resolution for Community Managers Enhance Your Professional Presence INS200 CMM121-124 FIN220 FIN300 FIN320
INS300 FRMHRS FRMLSS FRMSAC FRMEB FRMSB CMM130
BDA220 BDA300
CMM220 CMM200
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