Thanks for the Memories: Reflections from Brenda K. Teter

THANKS FOR THE

BRENDA K. TETER REFLECTS ON HER 24 YEARS WITH CACM AND UPCOMING RETIREMENT

AS I SIT HERE AT MY DESK PONDERING WHAT MY

RETIREMENT AT THE END OF THE YEAR WILL BE LIKE , I can’t help but reminisce about the last 24 years of working with CACM and what it has meant to me personally. Nearly a quarter century has gone by? How could that be? I don’t feel any older than I did the first day I met Karen Conlon and realized we could create some great products and services to help CACM members grow and prosper.

And did we ever! Looking back to 1994 when the then law firm of Fiore, Nordberg, Walker & Wolf-Willis was one of my advertising agency clients and Janet L.S. Powers, Esq. was an up and coming attorney in the firm. At the time, Karen Conlon was looking for someone to help her promote her growing annual Statewide Conference & Expo for our young organization. Janet referred me to Karen and my agency helped promote the annual events as CACM continued to gain ground serving community managers across the state of California. In December 1997 I closed my agency and came on board as a staff employee.

What exciting times they were! We launched our first website in 1999, the electronic directory in 2000, a full color Vision magazine in 2005 and our own Career Center in 2009. I remember when we were growing our manager members from 550 to 700 and then to 850 and beyond. Today we are proud to say we now serve more than 2,100 professional community managers, 150 plus management companies and more than 550 industry partners statewide.

I may be leaving my desk behind when I retire on December 31, 2018 but I will be taking incredible memories with me. The wonderful connections I have made with so many of you, our members, throughout the years, the support and encouragement from the leaders in the industry and the fun of working with an incredibly great team here at the CACM office have been so fulfilling.

I am also beyond excited for the future of CACM. You have a great leader with Tom Freeley as the CEO and he has the best team to support his vision for the organization. As I retire to take time for a new grandbaby and an ailing family member, it is reassuring to know that CACM is in such good hands and will continue to expand on the quality education and services our members deserve.

Thank you all from the bottom of my heart. If I do not get to speak with you personally before my retirement at the end of the year, please know being able to serve you has been an extremely rewarding experience. And one I will always treasure.

By Andrew Hay, CCAM-ND.PM Your Career BUILDING

Successful managers perform at a high level as both the student and the teacher.

There comes a time in every manager’s career where you surprise yourself with how much you know. Usually it comes when sharing your knowledge with someone less experienced. Now that you realize how knowledgeable you are at your job, how do you turn that into a career? Here are a few tips to help you dig in and establish yourself as a successful manager.

ENGAGE IN THE INDUSTRY – While there are a large number of CIDs in California, the industry is relatively small. • CACM provides tremendous resources for the industry and many opportunities to help shape our field. • Networking at industry events is a very powerful tool.

You will establish relationships with industry partners who can help you impress your clients, as well as other managers and business owners who can share their experiences. These key relationships and experiences come into play when you are faced with similar situations – you understand what to do. Getting to know the experts in construction, law, and insurance will provide you with priceless contacts and resources to help you sustain a long and successful career. Continued on page 18

Building Your Career

Continued from page 17 EDUCATION IS KEY – It is a bit cliché to say ‘knowledge is power’ but in this industry, there really is no better way to say it. Successful managers perform at a high level as both the student and the teacher. First, become an expert when it comes to your associations. Understand the nuances of the associations you manage by reading and comprehending all facets of the governing documents. You will find that you are more effective when responding to homeowner inquiries and assisting your board if you’ve put in the time. Second, find a way to educate yourself on what is happening in the industry. Keep up to date on all current and upcoming legislature and case law (in addition to attending industry events). This will help keep you

EXPERT REPRESENTATION OUTSTANDING CREDENTIALS EXCEPTIONAL RESULTS

Full-service community association representation

Governing document amendment and update program

Contract review and dispute resolution

Construction and reconstruction experts

The largest and most experienced construction defect firm in California, recovering over $1 billion for our clients

2175 N. CALIFORNIA BLVD., #500 WALNUT CREEK, CA 94596 575 ANTON BLVD., #460 COSTA MESA, CA 92626 and your clients out of hot water and help you build rapport with your clients showcasing you as a trusted resource for information which further solidifies your reputation as “someone to respect.” Third, educate your boards. You will find your job is much easier when you have clients who also understand their role. Sometimes this is a difficult conversation to have but as volunteers more often than not, our Board members do not know what they don’t know. It is imperative to your success that you communicate your knowledge of the industry and their governing documents to them.

HONE YOUR SKILLS AND KNOW YOUR

WEAKNESSES – No person is an island so don’t feel like everything is up to you to resolve. You know your strengths and weaknesses better than anyone. Focus on the skills you believe you do very well and sharpen those to a point where they become second nature. This will allow you to work on your weaknesses making you the best employee to the company you work for and the highest level manager possible to your clients.

If there is an area that you struggle with or just simply don’t have a good understanding of, turn to the contacts you’ve built within the industry and your coworkers. You’ll find a way to reciprocate the support, as you’ve worked diligently to hone your skills in areas they will need support in later.

Andrew Hay, CCAM-ND.PM is the Vice President, Management Division at The Helsing Group, Inc. in San Ramon.