CAI Educated Business Partner The Educated Business Partner distinction provides recognition to business professionals


who have completed a two-part online course which helps them better understand the community association industry.


• Ashley Andryzak – United States Alliance Fire Protection • Dennis M Baier – Viking CRC • Saulius Bertulis – Precision Painting and Decorating Corp. • Cathy Brewer – Itasca Bank & Trust Company • Calvin Cornish – Nania Energy Advisors • Daniel Corwin – Wintrust Community Advantage • Seth Crackel – Pizzo and Associates, Ltd. • Guadalupe Cruz – Edwards Engineering, Ltd. • Anthony Dister – Wintrust Community Advantage • Joshua Donaldson – Woodland Windows & Doors • Michele DuBois – DuBois Paving Co. • Jennifer Eilert – CISA Insurance • Tim Farmer – United States Alliance Fire Protection • Cindy Fitts – CISA Insurance • Karyl Dicker Foray – Rosenthal Brothers, Inc. • Eric Gillhouse – Louisiana Pacific Corp. • Peggy Glenn – Weathershield, LLC • Matt Hall – Wintrust Community Advantage • Timothy Haviland – Inland Bank and Trust • John Hershey – J. Hershey Building Consultants • Brian Hochstetter – Paul Davis Restoration • Kathryn Kahl – Rosenthal Brothers, Inc. • Martin Klauber – Popular Association Banking • Chris Kottra – Building Technology Consultants • Todd Lesperance – Highland Engineering • Colleen Lyons – Inland Bank and Trust • Shelia Malchiodi – Cornerstone Renovation Group • Phillip Mariotti – Woodland Windows & Doors • Donn Muckerheide – Inland Bank and Trust • Anthony Pacione – Edward Jones • Michael Pezza – Pezza Landscape • Brie Rasmussen – Sebert Landscaping Company • Kim Riebel – Sebert Landscaping Company • Eric Rodriguez – CenterPoint Energy • Peter Santangelo – Wintrust Community Advantage • Shannon Schwarzwalder – Keough & Moody, P.C. • Riley Skaggs – Acres Group Professional Landscape & Snow/Ice Management • Marina Sturm – ServiceMaster Kwik Restore • Kevin Terry – Viking CRC • George Toubekis – Pacific Premier Bank • Jose Treto – Signal 88 Security • Sarah Voska – Bluestem Ecological Services • Tom Warfel – Acres Group Professional Landscape & Snow/Ice Management • Jennifer Weil – CISA Insurance • Diane White – Alliance Association Bank • Tara Winters – LiftMasters • Laurie Wishnoff – Engineering Support Services


Endorsement Dear Cheryl Murphy,


I would like to offer a personal endorsement of the Illinois Chapter’s Dedicated Community Association Leader (DCAL) program. I had my first experience with common interest communities when I bought


With the exception of the DCAL recognition, all designation data is pulled from the CAI National database as of 5/1/20. Any discrepancies in designation data accuracy should be corrected by contacting CAI National at 888-224-4321. The Illinois chapter does not manage designation data.


a townhome on the southside of Chicago over 10 years ago. I was immediately exposed to the nuances of this type of shared ownership as I became the president of the Tree Farm Estates Townhome Association in Calumet Park. I had spent years in public relations in California before moving to the Chicagoland area, so I thought I should begin my new association leadership role by getting to know my neighbors since I was to be responsible for managing the community. This was not enough. I found myself overwhelmed with conflicting decision-making scenarios about contracts, insurance, budgets, etc. One of the vendors we used to do some maintenance for the association encouraged me to join the Community Association Institute (CAI) as a board member. I did just that. I started networking with many other experienced managers, lawyers, accountants, and common ownership residents. I began to learn how many of them were able to effectively create harmony between the owners, the Boards of Directors, the management companies and the vendors. I put my energy into studying our governing documents. I realized that they were written in a language that benefitted the developer. Some changes needed to be made soon. As I began to modify the Bylaws, Declarations and Rules in this small self-managed townhome community to model acceptable behavior, I realized I needed some education and guidance. I started my education by taking the DCAL classes offered by the Illinois Chapter of CAI. I completed classes in Fundamentals, Governing Your Community, Rules and Regulations, Fair Practices in Your Community, Insurance- Risk Management, Understanding Financials, Meetings and Elections. I obtained a lot of guidance from the professionals teaching the classes and many of the other students in the classes. I have also gained considerable insight into what it takes to manage relationships between owners, management companies, and vendors. This program has set me apart from other board members in my association. Their respect for my knowledge has increased 100 fold! I was proud to receive Dedicated Community Association Leader (DCAL) recognition from the Community Association Institute at the 38th Annual Condo-HOA Conference & Expo February 21, 2020, at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center. I encourage all current and aspiring board members to pursue this recognition. My townhome association most certainly has received a return on our educational investment.


Sincerely,


Brandon Hamilton – Tree Farm Estates Townhome Association


www.cai-illinois.org • 847.301.7505 | 27


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