TABLE OF CONTENTS


2026 BOARD OF DIRECTORS


6 7 8


10 12


15 16 18


22 24


26


30 38


40 43 44 46


50 54


A Letter from CAI Leadership —Cheryl Murphy


List of Advertisers


The Road to Meaningful Connections: My Journey with CAI — Drew Dziura Volunteer Spotlight Asbestos in Garages


CAI-Illinois Service Day 2026: Small Acts, Big Impact — Karen Schroeder


Professional Designation Recognition


Avoiding Cybercrime Roadblocks on Your Capital Project — Steve Rooney


Illinois Legislative Action Committee Update


Don’t Overpay for Tolls on Your Trip: Why Some Condo Associations are Overpaying on their Utility Charges — Hans Herrmann


The Power of First Impressions: How Landscape Design Elevates Curb Appeal — Amanda DeFisher


Summer Social 2026: Festival On The Lake


Common Sense Snow Removal Considerations for 2027 — David Berg


Safe Travels on Route 66 — Scott Bieda 


Community in Action: CAI Food & Fund Drive


Road Repair: Navigating Shared Maintenance Between HOAs and Municipalities — Elizabeth Sokacich


Map it Out in Advance: How Stress Impacts Decision-Making During a Crisis — Jim O’Callaghan


The Rising Cost of Inaction: How Industry Trends Are Elevating Capital Planning 


Some of the content in Common Interest Magazine may have been developed in part with artificial intelligence. In these cases, a prompt was entered into an AI program focused on the given topic, then the Magazine Committee edited for style, clarity, and content.


4 | COMMON INTEREST® • Fall 2026 • A Publication of CAI-Illinois Chapter


President Randy Grimes, CMCA


President-Elect Joe Schutzius, EBP


Vice President Brittany Kojzarek, CMCA, AMS, PCAM


Treasurer Steve Silberman, CPA


Secretary Diane Pagoulatos, DCAL


Immediate Past-President Carrie Surratt, CMCA, AMS, PCAM


Directors Kathy Kahl, CIRMS, EBP Robyn Kish John Schaller, DCAL Candee Siaw, CMCA, AMS Frankie Sorrentino


Executive Director Cheryl Murphy


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