Member News Local Businesswoman Recognized with National Managers of Excellence Award Stana Gerlach, CMCA, AMS, an association manager with Gittleman Management Corporation in Bloomington, has received a Managers of Excellence award. The award was established by Reserve Advisors, a national provider of reserve studies, insurance appraisals and transition studies, to recognize community association managers who are industry leaders. Gerlach has been in the industry for more than 10 years and oversees seven townhome and condo associations in suburban Minneapolis.
hiding from them. They get resolved through honest and direct conversations.”
Throughout her career, Gerlach has pursued professional development opportunities, such as her CMCA (certified manager of community associations) and AMS (association management specialist) designations through the industry’s trade group, Community Associations Institute. As an award winner, Gerlach fosters open and honest communication with the associations and boards she works with: “I believe in bringing my boards into the conversation. I encourage board members to participate in vendor meetings and supply them with the necessary information they need to make informed decisions,” says Gerlach. “And, I always deliver the truth, even if there’s a problem. Problems don’t get resolved by
Award Background Reserve Advisors established the Managers of Excellence program to honor the best community association managers throughout the country. The Managers of Excellence award is presented on a quarterly basis to managers who: demonstrate a strong commitment to community associations and enhancing the overall value of the properties; exhibit industry experience and expertise; understand the importance and benefits of a reserve study; and exhibit professional conduct.
CAI-MN Remembers Marj Peterson Marjorie “Marj” Peterson died peacefully at home on August 24, 2011 after a 15-month battle with cancer. Distinguished business woman, property and community management pioneer, beloved mother, grandmother and great grandmother. Marjorie was the first female member of the Edina, Minnesota chapter of the Rotary and served as the first female president of the national Community Associations Institute and was one of the first community managers to receive the national designation of “Professional Community Association Manager” awarded by that organization. As a teacher, author, colleague, mentor and friend to many, she made a difference in the many lives she touched. She will be remembered for her laughter, dedication, creativity and the love she shared unselfishly with all. She was preceded in death by her husband, Donald Max, her parents Harry Sweezo and Agnes Sweezo and brother Harry Jr. She will be well remembered and dearly missed by her children, Karmin (Steve) Eisma, Kevin Peterson and Kurtis (Kimberly) Peterson; her grandchildren, Sabrina, Max, Preston, Grace and Lauren; her stepmother, Ardis Sweezo of Watertown SD, and her many friends and colleagues. A memorial service was held on September 17 at the Cremation Society of MN. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you make a contribution, in her memory, to The American Cancer Society at www.cancer. org or mail your donation to American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK 73123-1718, to help wipe out this deadly disease. Heaven just got so much better.
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