President’s Message


Mike Perlof, CMCA President, CAI-OC


Dear Members, Friends, and Colleagues,


In my first President’s Message, I shared how involvement in CAI completely transformed my career, and I introduced the theme that will guide us this year: Be Like A.L.E.X. — Always Welcoming, Leading by Example, Empowering Others, and X-ray… or excellence (refer to the previous letter for the inside joke!).


Since then, I’ve had the privilege of attending events, meeting new faces, and watching our chapter continue to do what it does best — bring people together. The more I see, the more excited I become, because CAI–OC is truly at its strongest when every member feels connected, included, and encouraged to participate.


I want to kick this message off with one of the most important reminders I can share:


Being Always Welcoming means making sure everyone knows — you CAN sit with us.


And I’d like to take that a step further, because the truth is, the table is already set… and now we need you to pull up a chair and join the conversation.


CAI is so much more than an organization you join. It’s more than education, luncheons, or even professional development (though we do have plenty of all of that… and yes, the rubber chicken is still going strong). CAI is a community. It’s where managers find mentors, where business partners become friends, where new professionals discover they belong, and where leaders continue shaping the future of our industry.


It’s also a network of relationships, opportunities, and steppingstones that can truly take your career to the next level.


This chapter thrives because of the people in it. And chapters don’t grow stronger through attendance alone — they grow


stronger through involvement. That is why this year, I want to invite every member — especially those who may be new, quiet, or sitting on the sidelines… and even those of us who may have forgotten what impacted us early in our careers — to take action.


Join a committee. Attend a mixer. Introduce yourself to someone you haven’t met yet. Volunteer for an event. Share your ideas. Ask questions. Show up.


Because step one starts with you.


You don’t need decades of experience. You don’t need a big title. You don’t need to know the “right people.” You simply need to take that first step toward the table.


My theme this year remains rooted in the spirit of my late best friend, Alex Terzich. Alex had a remarkable gift for making people feel welcome — like they belonged in the room, at the table, and in the conversation.


So here’s a small challenge to try at our next event: instead of gathering only with the people you already know, make it a point to meet someone new. Find out what drives them, what excites them, and take a moment to genuinely connect. That one simple step can make all the difference — for them, and for you.


This is going to be an incredible year for CAI–OC, and I’m truly honored to serve alongside each of you. I look forward to seeing you at events, working together, and continuing to grow this chapter into the welcoming, connected community we all know it can be.


Cheers,


6 March | April 2026


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