CACM Awards First Master Certification Congratulations to
Shaw is the first candidate to achieve the MCAM
CACM’s first Master of
designation, which requires solid expertise in nine key
Community Association
areas of community management:
Management (MCAM®):
•
California law for common interest developments
Darren Shaw, MCAM-LS
•
Financial operations
general manager for
•
Leadership and ethics
the Villages Golf &
•
Facilities and property maintenance
Country Club in San
•
Jose. Shaw is the first
Effective communications with owners, boards of directors and committees
community manager
•
Risk management
in the state to earn the
•
Human resources
MCAM, the highest level
•
Policy Governance
•
Meeting management and records
of professional certification in California’s community association management industry. Shaw said he decided to pursue the MCAM
Candidates for the MCAM must hold CACM’s Certified
designation because he believes management
Community Association Manager (CCAM®) designation
professionals must continue to learn due to the ever-
for at least six consecutive years prior to applying for the
changing landscape of HOA management in California.
MCAM and must pass a three-part assessment consisting of a challenging written exam, a written thesis addressing
“As managers, we often serve as consultants for HOA boards of directors,” Shaw says. “Our credibility
numerous community management issues, and an oral presentation of the thesis before a review panel.
is sustained only when we are able to provide accurate and current information on a wide range of topics that
Candidates must also earn a management Specialty
HOAs encounter on a daily basis. The MCAM designation
Certificate and maintain the MCAM designation through
demonstrates to my homeowners that education is
recertification every three years.
important to me because it will ultimately benefit them.” “The MCAM designation requires the most stringent Shaw has been a Certified Community Association
certification process for community association
Manager (CCAM®) for 12 years and has served as the
managers in the nation,” says Karen Conlon, CACM’s
general manager for the Villages since 2007. The Villages
former President & CEO. “The MCAM is the ultimate
Golf & Country Club is a 55+ community with more than
achievement in association management and represents
2,530 condominiums and single-family homes in addition
our industry’s commitment to continuing education even
to four community centers, two golf courses, tennis
for our most experienced professionals. The designation
complex, bocce courts, clubhouse and pro shop, stables,
is designed to be extremely difficult to achieve because
RV storage area, 2.5 miles of lake shoreline and hiking
our industry must continue to raise the definition of
trails located on 547 acres of recreational hill lands.
what constitutes professional community association management. We congratulate Darren on this wonderful
CACM’s new MCAM certification program was
MCAM designations to equally deserving professionals in
who demonstrate extensive knowledge and experience
the near future.”
in professional management in the state of California. 48
accomplishment and look forward to awarding more
unveiled in 2012 for senior-level community managers
Vision Spring 2015 | www.cacm.org
