Winners

Support Staff of the Year | Barbara Smith | SBB Community Management, AAMC

“Barbara is the very spirit of Sendera and SBB. It is impossible to have a conversation with a staff member, board member, or homeowner who does not smile when they hear the name Barbara Smith and Sendera. Everyone who walks into the Sendera Ranch onsite office is greeted with a smile and often times a friendly hug from their friend Mrs. Barbara. That is the type of person that she is. She’s a joy to work with and continually offers a word of encouragement.”

Support Staff of the Year | Leslie Willis | Goodwin & Company

“As Compliance Drivers we see many different types of homeowners, board members, and even tenants, Leslie still speaks to everyone the same and has done this while in my department for the last 3 years. With all the chaos that goes on in Communities for Compliance Drivers she is still able and willing to put on a friendly smile… She has a heart bigger than the award she has been nominated for.”

Newcomer Managers of the Year | Eva Apelian | CCMC

“Eva stepped into a challenging new role in an ever-changing industry, determined to grow a healthy and engaged team, deliver high service standards, and continue improving community dynamics. She was undaunted by the unknown and simply focused on why she joined CCMC. Eva explains, ‘I have always enjoyed helping people in some way, which is why I knew I would be fulfilled working for CCMC, whose mission is to build community and bring people together. I also knew CCMC would allow me to grow professionally and take on new challenges.”

Newcomer Managers of the Year | Karl Fukuda, Jr. | SBB Community Management, AAMC

“Karl has an infectious personality. He is warm, approachable, and while he takes his job seriously, he injects fun and humor into the office environment. He extends that warmth to his co-workers, clients, and business partners. He volunteers for in-house projects, works in-house volunteer events, and has become a go-to person for questions about the management software. Karl has shown the level of dedication, professionalism, community, service, and leadership that managers aspire to, communities deserve, and management companies want in their team members.”

Volunteer of the Year | Jena Abernathy | Cagle Pugh

“Jena is always willing to step in and help at a moment’s notice and is shining a positive light on the industry. She has always been the first to volunteer to help set up, take down, or do the dirty jobs. She has shown up to the trade show to not only set up her booth but stayed for hours to pack bags for the attendees and took charge of helping with the speakers and anything else needed during the event. The industry in a whole only tends to only be seen for the bad but she is helping the industry in DFW and Texas to be seen in a positive light.”

Lifestyle Director of the Year | Ryan Alexander | CCMC

“Ryan was fearless in taking traditional programs like the Halloween Trunk or Treat and Fall Festival and combining them to create a new program like Haunted Heartland. By making these subtle changes, he increased the attendance to over 1,000. He made sure to have something for every age group, including Tiny Terror Town and a Monster Mash Music zone. Ryan isn’t afraid to push the envelope on community programming and try something new to get a laugh.”

Community Spirit | Spring Ridge HOA | Block Party & Fire Victims Benefit

“On the heels of tragedy, the Spring Ridge community, and many other residents of Balch Springs Texas Rallied together to turn their previously planned Block Party, into a donation platform helping out neighbors affected by fire. In the heat of the summer after 9 homes burned down and twenty-six total were damaged by a grass fire, members of the community rallied together to help provide donations and comfort. Spring Ridge deserves the award for Community Spirit this year, as they illustrate the true meaning of community and what being a good neighbor is all about!”

Community of the Year (There is no category 3)

Category

Business Partner of the Year | Alliance Association Bank

Alliance Association Bank has been a huge supporter of our chapter for many years. Wendy Hazelwood (our local chapter rep) is very involved with a number of committees and always makes a point to attend every committee meeting. She also serves on our LAC and is happy to step up and make announcements, and request donations during every luncheon. Wendy does all of this while also supporting the Heartland chapter of CAI. I believe her company - Alliance Association Bank - gives her the freedom to support our chapter the way she does, and that’s why they deserve to be Business Partner of the year.”

Management Company of the Year | Goodwin & Company

“Our property has done business with several management companies in the DFW area over the years and have found Goodwin & Company to be the leader in this Industry. From their accounting services, vendor relations, customer service, property managers and leadership at the top, they have out-performed in every area of our association’s expectations. What makes them a cut above everyone else is when an issue arises, they address it promptly and have a solution in place at a record pace. The bonus is that Goodwin and company then makes proactive changes to not have the same issue again.”

Community Manager of the Year | Marty Whitaker, CMCA, AMS

“Marty Whitaker has been a driving force for success and a valued team member of CCMC for the better part of a decade, while most recently performing as Community Manager of the Villages of Frisco Lakes, a master-planned Del Webb community in the heart of Frisco, Texas.

Marty is instrumental to the Board’s success at the Villages of Frisco Lakes and has worked hard to build a strong relationship with her Board, her residents, her team, and the overall operations of CCMC at Frisco Lakes.”