President’s Message


Mike Perlof, CMCA President, CAI-OC


Dear Members, Friends, and Colleagues,


As we continue through this year together, I’m excited to revisit my presidential theme: Be Like A.L.E.X. - Always Welcoming,


Leading by Example, Empowering Others, and yes… Xray (or excellence, for those who missed the inside joke).


Each of these pillars can take on a different meaning depending on the moment. In this message, I want to focus on one in particular: Leading by Example. What does it truly look like when it comes to serving others?


My late best friend, Alex Terzich, didn’t just talk about service - he lived it. Every email he sent and every letter he wrote ended the same way:


“In Service,” Alex Terzich


That wasn’t just a signature. It was who he was.


One of the best examples of that spirit was the OC Thanksgiving Basket Brigade, which Alex built alongside his best friend and business partner, Bobby Ameen. What started as a small, grassroots effort - a few pickup trucks delivering 20 to 50 Thanksgiving meals - grew into a large-scale operation serving nearly 1,000 families by 2025. Through all that growth, one thing never changed: Alex.


He was always the hardest worker in the room. Only one question asked, just: “What needs to be done?” If I were carrying three turkeys, Alex was carrying fi ve. He showed up early, stayed late, and never sought recognition. And if you ever tried to thank him, he’d brush it off. He didn’t want credit - he just wanted to serve. It’s not about titles or recognition. It’s about showing up, doing the work, and putting others fi rst - consistently, quietly, and wholeheartedly.


CAID (CAI-AID)


CAID (CAI-AID) is a charitable initiative designed to revitalize community associations (HOAs) that are struggling to maintain or improve their communities. Our mission is to partner with local HOAs to restore shared spaces, enhance infrastructure, and create neighborhoods that inspire pride and connection.


CAID provides no-cost renovation services to qualifying HOAs, helping transform neighborhoods into vibrant,


6 May | June 2026


welcoming communities. Our team of experts, contractors, and volunteers works hand-in-hand with communities to breathe new life into common areas, enhance safety features, and address critical maintenance needs.


Learn about the 2025 project where CAI-OC revitalized the Bishop Manor Community playground in the September/October 2025 issue of OC View: caioc.org/chapter-magazine/september- october-oc-view


At CAI-OC, that spirit is not just something we talk about - it’s something we do.


This year, our Outreach Committee will once again lead one of our most meaningful initiatives: supporting HomeAid Orange County through their Annual Diaper Drive. This marks our third year participating in this incredible effort to help at-risk families meet a basic yet essential need: keeping their children clean, healthy, and cared for.


To make it easy for everyone to get involved, the Chapter will be distributing Amazon and Target gift registry links, allowing members to purchase and ship donations directly. Our goal this year is ambitious: over 25,000 diapers and wipes - and I have no doubt that, together, we will meet it.


This is what leadership looks like in action. It’s not complicated - it’s simply a willingness to step up and serve.


And that same spirit carries into one of the initiatives I’m most proud of: CAID (CAI-AID).


Through CAID, we take service a step further - identifying communities in need and mobilizing our industry to provide real, tangible impact. Whether it’s addressing unsafe conditions, deferred maintenance, or communities facing fi nancial hardship, CAID represents the very best of who we are as a Chapter.


When we show up for projects like these, we’re not just giving back - we’re demonstrating leadership in its purest form. We’re showing what it means to care, to contribute, and to be part of something bigger than ourselves.


So, as we move forward this year, I encourage each of you to fi nd your way to get involved - whether it’s contributing to the diaper drive, volunteering your time, or participating in a CAID project. Because at the end of the day, leading by example isn’t about what we say - it’s about what we do.


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