Senior Certification Associate

Join our team as a Senior Certification Associate!

CAMICB is a 20-year-old international nonprofit that administers the CMCA certification to HOA, condo and co-op managers. We’re looking for a passionate, detail-oriented professional to manage key components of the CMCA certification program.

Be a part of something! CMCA-certified managers have the skills to safeguard the assets of homeowners’ associations, giving home buyers peace of mind and protecting home values. You will not only be assisting professionals in advancing their career, but your role at CAMICB will be protecting consumers worldwide.

CAMICB is a fast-paced, small organization that offers flexibility, excellent benefits and the opportunity to grow professionally and personally. We provide:

• Flexible schedules
• Easy commute (metro accessible and free parking)
• Professional development
• Continued education reimbursement
• 401K matching and a FSA
• Health, vision and dental insurance
• Computer loan assistance
• Healthy living programming and events

Are you ready to join a team of talented, driven, fun association professionals? Learn more about us and what makes CAMICB a great place to work at www.camicb.org.

Purpose of the Job

• Manage the CMCA recertification and reinstatement programs from start to finish, ensuring all CMCAs are audited and approved in a timely fashion. Manage the CMCA recertification and reinstatement marketing. Develop and manage CAMICB’s social media program. Be the liaison to the Continuing Education Review Committee.

Responsibilities

Program management (40%)

Marketing (30%)

Administrative program support (30%)

• Coordinate the CMCA recertification and reinstatement processes including:
  • Processing applications
  • Verifying documentation and compliance
  • Coordinating communication with CMCAs
  • Ensuring accurate data/record management
  • Developing a strategic marketing campaign (print and digital)
  • Oversee the processing of all fees associated with the CMCA recertification and reinstatement applications.
• Develop and implement a branded social media campaign
  • Facebook
  • Blog
  • E-newsletter (Smartbrief)
  • LinkedIn
• Develop and implement a prospecting campaign to capture new CMCA candidates.
• Serve as the point person for organizations submitting course applications for continuing education, including monthly review meetings with the Continuing Education Review Committee.
• Support the Executive Director and Director of Credentialing Services in various short term special projects.

Required Skills

•  Excellent written and verbal communications skills
• Social media management skills
• Detail oriented and excellent organization skills
• Customer service experience and sound judgment
• Database management skills
• Ability to handle multiple projects and demands in a timely manner
• Bachelor’s degree
• Ability to work independently and take direction well

Preferred Skills

• Desire to make a difference through nonprofit work
• Self-starter
• Ability to suggest and adapt to change
• Desire to learn about data analysis and marketing

Email your resume and cover letter to Sara Duginske at sduginske@camicb.org.  Make the subject line: Senior Certification Associate.

By Bernard Marr

Whether you’re job hunting, gathering leads, or networking in your industry, having a professional, eye-catching LinkedIn profile is an excellent idea to make sure that you can be found by the right people at the right time.

First and foremost: It’s not about you! Write your summary in the first person (as in “I accomplished XYZ,”) but remember who your audience is. With each statement you write, consider who you are hoping will read it, and what you’re hoping they will take away.

For example, when reading about your skills, past job duties, or anything else on your profile, a recruiter, hiring manager, or potential customer wants to be able to imagine how you can help them. So, instead of “I managed a team of 10 people,” you might say, “I was able to attract and hire top talent to round out my team, which then exceeded sales goals by 15 percent.”

Filling out a profile isn’t difficult, but there are some important best practices you should follow to make sure yours is as powerful as possible:

• Start with a professional photo. If you don’t have a professional headshot, add that to your to-do list, and go with the cleanest, most professional looking snapshot you have — and upgrade as soon as possible. And smile! Remember: That photo may be your first impression with a potential employer.
• Make your headline stand out. By default, LinkedIn populates your headline with your job title and current company, but you don’t have to leave it that way. Consider listing your specialty and speaking directly to your audience. If you want your profile to be searchable, include important keywords; if that’s not as big of a concern for you, consider getting away from industry jargon to stand out. Try to keep your headline to about 10 words.
• Fill out the “summary” field with 5–6 of your biggest achievements. Use bullets to make this easy to read. Think about your target reader and then paint a picture of how you can make that person’s life easier. You can also add media files, including videos, so if you are a speaker or presenter, an introduction video could be a great idea.
• Add images or documents to your experience. Did you know that you can add media files to your experience? It’s a great way to create a visual portfolio along with your standard resume information.
• Fill out as much of the profile as possible. That includes skills, volunteer associations, education, etc. This is the place to put all the interesting stuff that doesn’t fit on your resume, but paints you as a well rounded individual.  One quick note: if your volunteer experience directly pertains to your job search, put it in as work history, so it’s up in the relevant section, not down at the bottom.
• Keep your work history relevant. You don’t need to list every single job you ever had. Instead, only list the jobs that are relevant to your current career goals.
• Add links to relevant sites. If you have a work-related blog or online portfolio, make use of the three URLs you are allowed on your profile and link to it. Probably better to leave off the baby blog and cat videos, though. Use discretion.
• Ask for recommendations. Endorsements are great, but recommendations are the currency of the realm on LinkedIn. Reach out to past colleagues, managers, and associates and ask that they write you a recommendation.
• Use status updates to share industry-relevant content. This can help show recruiters that you are focused and in-the-know in your industry.

Follow these tips and you can ensure that you have a killer LinkedIn profile that will stand out to recruiters, hiring managers, and potential customers.

What best practices would you include on the list? I’d love to read your contributions in the comments below.

Bernard Marr is a Best-Selling Author, Keynote Speaker and Leading Business and Data Expert

Homeowners Associations: The Robin Hood of Foreclosure

By Joey Pizzolato

Nevada is just one of a number of states that is experiencing losses in property sale values as a result of homeowner association foreclosures, according to a recent report by the Nevada Association of Realtors. Statutes in Nevada allow HOAs to foreclose on homeowners for not paying their association dues.

HOA liens are given the higher priority over first mortgage holders, so their debt is first, paid off and then the lender and homeowner are taken out of the equation. As a result, many people are able to get foreclosed homes at auction for a fraction of the price by paying back HOA dues compared to what homes were initially worth. Further, all remaining debt is erased, and borrowers can be stuck paying back mortgages for houses they no longer possess.

Homeowners association foreclosures are a controversial subject in Nevada. According to a report by the Nevada Department of Business and Industry, 77 percent of Nevada residents surveyed oppose HOAs ability to foreclose on homes because of unpaid dues. Eighty-two percent believe that debt to lenders should be paid before debt to HOAs.

However, if properly documented, all recorded lien-holders can get their fair share of repayment. According to Tiffany & Bosco, a law firm that practices in Nevada, the two biggest challenges in dealing with HOA foreclosures are, “ensuring that any super-portion of a HOA lien is properly calculated, and that a sale is properly noticed to all recorded lien-holders.”

According to the firm, the increased frequency of HOA lien sales began in 2012 when courts began recognizing HOA liens as having priority over other liens. This was bolstered by a 2014 Nevada Supreme Court decision that held HOA foreclosures could, in fact, eradicate the first Deed of Trust if conducted properly.

It is estimated that HOA foreclosures in Washoe and Clark country conducted between January 1, 2013 and June 30, 2016, resulted in a loss of over $1 billion. According to Tiffany & Bosco, laws that pertain to HOA foreclosures have been heard in the 9^th Circuit Court and the Nevada Supreme Court, which have issued opposing rulings.

Joey Pizzolato is the Online Editor of DS News and MReport. He is a graduate of Spalding University, where he holds a holds an MFA in Writing as well as DePaul University, where he received a B.A. in English. His fiction and nonfiction have been published in a variety of print and online journals and magazines.

Very Positive Outlook for the Career Path of Credentialed Community Association Managers

Community association management remains a strong career path, both in the U.S. and abroad. The job market here at home has dramatically changed over the last decade, with many once-secure positions having shifted out of the country. For the foreseeable future, community association management’s person-to-person focus will protect it from automation, robots, or companies moving overseas, making it a great career choice.

The Community Associations Institute (CAI) estimates that as of 2016, there are approximately 342,000 to 344,000 community associations in the United States housing over 68 million residents. This is a significant increase, up from 222,500 community associations and 42.5 million residents in 2000. As the number of people living in community associations increases, so does the number of jobs for community association managers.

Career Outlook

Job prospects in the field of community association management are excellent. According to CAI’s Community Association Manager Compensation and Salary Survey, it’s estimated that 24% – 26% of all ownership housing is in one of the three basic types of community associations. Many new job opportunities will open for those interested in the field, while others will arise from the need to replace community association managers who transfer, retire, or leave the field. As of May 2016, the median annual wage for community association managers was just over $57,000.  Employment in the industry is projected to grow eight percent from 2014 to 2024.

As job prospects and wages vary from state to state, it’s a good idea to check out your area’s particulars.

CMCA – The Essential Credential

The Certified Manager of Community Associations (CMCA) credential is key to building a successful career in community association management. It signifies to employers that you are competent in specific management practices and are committed to professional excellence, ethical business standards, and continuing education. Employers are always on the lookout for dedicated professionals, and the CMCA certification after your name can often make the difference between whether or not you land the all-important first interview.

The CMCA credential is highly accessible:

• It can be achieved with a minimal investment of time and money on your part.
• It takes just a few days of prerequisite course work, one day for an exam, and some time for study in between.
• It’s relatively low cost is a great investment in your future.

Obtaining the CMCA credential is a great first step in building your professional expertise and image. It opens the door to earning additional credentials and higher earnings – on average 18% more than non-credentialed community association managers.

Is a Certified Manager of Community Associations Career Right for You?

This may be an excellent career choice for you if you have a strong interest in working for community associations, providing the management activities they need to keep residents satisfied. As a certified manager, you should have a thorough knowledge of the policies of the community association you hope to work for.

Attention to detail, flexibility, good organization skills and, as previously mentioned, that all-important patience, are essential characteristics that good community association managers possess. There’s more! Community association managers must also have excellent interpersonal skills, be able to effectively communicate with a diverse range of people, and be able to deal with a variety of unrelated tasks at once.

All Work and No Fun?

Not at all! The best parts of life as a community association manager are also built into the job itself. Not only do you earn a decent living, but you are constantly learning new things, and meeting interesting people from all walks of life. The odds of becoming bored on the job are slim – there are just too many different and interesting things to do.

That said, community association management is not for everyone. If you prefer a more laid-back work life with fixed hours and minimal or no job-related stress, you might want to pursue another career. But if you’re a real people person who gets excited about staying up to date on frequent community management regulatory changes, possess a positive and enthusiastic attitude towards life, and can keep your wits about you when others around you are stressed, you can’t ask for a more engaging and stimulating career!

Becoming a certified manager of community associations is not merely a certification – it can be the journey of a lifetime. It elevates your credibility as a community association manager and makes employers more confident in hiring you. Finally, it offers you a wealth of opportunity, stability, and growth in an exciting career that shows no sign of slowing down.

By Kimberly Weisul

Accenture says these are the trends that will affect big companies. They’re going to influence you, too

File this under “Know Your Customer:” Accenture recently released its Technology Vision 2014 report, detailing the six big technology trends that the global consutling firm thinks will soon transform large companies.

At first glance, you might not care too terribly much about what’s going on at big companies. But if you sell into a large company of any type, you know that whatever affects it sooner or later affects you. And since many of these trends have their roots in the consumer world (wearable technology, for instance), they’re likely to affect businesses of all sizes before long.

 1. The digital-physical blur

What this really means is that we’ll increasingly get information exactly when we need it, rather than stopping mid-project to Google that missing fact or pausing mid-run to see how our vital signs are doing. We already see beginnings of this in products such as a Fitband or Google’s Glass. Smart businesses of all sizes that can take advantage of this same instant, integrated access to information will use it to empower their workforces and re-engineer their processes.

 2. From workforce to crowdsource

When big companies talk about crowdsourcing, it often means they’re more open to ideas from their smaller suppliers and from entrepreneurs. Procter & Gamble had a stunning success in so-called outsourced innovation with the Swiffer. A small design company actually came up with the idea, and then P&G worked with them to license, develop and market it. A similar process led to the Olay Regenerist product. Expect to see more willingness to pursue deals like this from the big companies in your ecosystem.

 3. Data supply chain

Big companies, like smaller ones, often have more data than they know what to do with, and certainly more than they can analyze in a timely, competent, and useful way. The key to getting the most from “Big Data,” says Accenture, is in treating it like a supply chain issue. Data is just one more input that has to be processed and delivered to the right people at the right time to enable them to do their jobs–whether they’re vendors, employees, or customers.

 4. Harnessing hyperscale

In search of higher efficiency and lower costs, companies are looking to optimize their power consumption and get more out of their processors, solid state memory, and infrastructure architectures. Sounds like a great opportunity for entrepreneurs with expertise in these areas.

 5. Business of applications

Accenture says 54 percent of the highest-performing IT teams already have in-house app stores. If you’re selling a tech-related product or service to a big customer, do you have an app to help them use and manage it? And would it make sense to make that app available to a wider range of people through the customer’s own app store?

 6. Architecting resilience

Businesses of all size increasingly have to be prepared to run 24/7, but most operations aren’t designed to run non-stop. Accenture says that means systems must be ‘designed for failure,’ not designed to spec. In other words, the product or service you’re selling needs to be rock-steady. And then you need a plan B and C.

Are you part of our LinkedIn group? Why not?!

To join the CMCA group on LinkedIn, you must first log in to your LinkedIn account. Then visit the group’s page at https://www.linkedin.com/groups/97333 and click the “Ask to Join” button. Your request will be reviewed within 24 hours and you will then receive a notification regarding the status of your request.

Join the conversation!

CMCA credential holders celebrating 10, 15 and 20 years as credential holders were sent a commemorative pin to recognize their achievement.   Congratulations!

All CMCAs work with CAMICB to set and maintain the standard for the community association management profession worldwide. Take a moment to reflect on what you have achieved:

• You earned the CMCA credential, the only internationally recognized credential for community association managers, making a clear and visible commitment to professionalism in your field and becoming part of a highly respected community of over 17,000 CMCA-credentialed managers around the world
• You committed to uphold the CMCA Standards of Professional Conduct, a commitment indicative of genuine respect for your clients, your peers, and your profession, and you have honored that commitment
• You have reaffirmed your commitment to professionalism in your field by maintaining your CMCA credential in good standing and completing an ongoing program of professional continuing education

For those of you with a new pin, wear it with pride!  Take a selfie with your pin and send it to CAMICB at info@camicb.org – we’d love to share your accomplishment on our Facebook page.

CAMICB’s mission is to ensure that community association managers practice with professionalism, integrity, and knowledge.  For more than 20 years we have been dedicated to working on your behalf, maintaining the strength and integrity of the CMCA credential and advancing the community association management profession.  Your commitment to your CMCA credential represents your commitment to your career, your peers, and your profession.

Buckeye HOA Bans Sex Offenders From Common Areas

By  Casey Kuhn

Late last year a Goodyear homeowner’s association voted to ban sex offenders from living in the neighborhood. Now an HOA in Buckeye is following suit.

Master-planned community Verrado voted unanimously to stop Level II and III sex offenders from being in the neighborhood’s common areas.

Residents were recently notified by police of a Level III offender moving into the community.

The Verrado resolution determined Level III offenders present an unreasonable danger to residents because of their access to common areas. So, the community banned them.

The decision comes after the Arizona legislature passed a bill last year allowing HOA’s to regulate those level sex offenders living in the community.

What community rules do you have regarding sex offenders? Leave a note in the comments below.