The industry soon began to grow. It seemed like every corner had a new development and every development was forming as an association. This brought a whole new set of challenges. Homeowners were buying into associations and did not know the implications of community living. Office buildings were also being built as associations known as commercial associations. As associations and the industry began to grow, so did the need to educate.

Mark’s passion has always gone beyond accounting. There is one thing throughout the years that has not changed and that is his true passion: dedication and enthusiasm to teach and educate. Throughout the years Mark’s contribution to the industry has been through his writing of articles, speaking at seminars, conferences, homeowners’ forums, board member and manager training, the list goes on and on. Mark served on the Board of Directors of CAI-Illinois as Treasurer. He also was involved at the National level and served on the committee to help develop CAI National Financial Best Practices and Asset Protection/Risk Management. Mark is always looking for ways to challenge others and his forward-thinking has constantly focused on the needs of the industry and the opportunities on the horizon.

As the industry began to evolve, associations began to face the following challenges: fraud, embezzlement, aging associations, inadequate reserves, economic difficulties, foreclosures, etc. These were becoming all too prominent in our industry. Technology exploded and email and the internet were now the dominant form of communication. In 2001, the Enron scandal changed the accounting world. It took several years, but the effects trickled down to all small business and associations were no exception. It added complexity and new regulations that we were forced to adopt and implement. That meant not only more work for us, but more work for our clients, and the role of educator to communicate these changes became part of the process. Mark looked for ways to transform the environment with new methods and ideas in the middle of a culture and industry that was and still is very sensitive to pricing. By being an innovator in our industry, Mark created an audit product that went beyond that of the competition. He developed a body of work that addressed the needs of all involved by creating reports above what was required. Whether completing, reviewing or presenting information, Mark is always thinking ahead of what is important in his mind, “what would others want to know.”

Mark continues to stay current with the needs of the industry. He constantly challenges our clients and continues to provide education consistent with the times, dealing with internal controls and managing in difficult economic times. As he saw the increasing demands on property managers to fully manage vendors and projects, he developed a software program that will assist with vendor management, communication and development of board tools. Further embracing technology through the use of cell phones, mobile devices and cloud-based communication to allow minute-by- minute communication access and response. He is also the founder of PropertyU, an online homeowners’ forum where board members and homeowners can ask questions of experienced industry professionals. When the industry called for manager licensing in Illinois, Mark became one of the state’s approved pre-license education providers, offering financial courses.

In 2012, Mark Cantey changed the firm name to Cantey Associates. Mark felt it was time for a change and that over the years Cantey Associates had grown and developed into a large team of dedicated and committed employees. He believed that it was not about any one individual but each of our team member’s unique set of skills and experiences combined to create the best services for our clients we could have ever hoped to offer. Looking back, it has been an exciting and challenging time and I look forward to being part of the vision and future of Cantey Associates, the industry, and CAI.

Technology exploded and email and the internet were now the dominant form of communication.

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