CAI HONORS INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS FOR OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION HOUSING MODEL
May 20, 2022 — Falls Church, Va. — Community Associations Institute (CAI), the leading international authority on community association governance, management, and education, announced the recipients of its highest honors at an annual awards ceremony, held on May 6 in Orlando, Fla., in conjunction with the 2022 CAI Annual Conference and Exposition: Community NOW. The honors salute individuals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership to advance community association living.
Robert Felix, CMCA, PCAM, RS, was presented the Distinguished Service Award, CAI's most prestigious recognition given periodically to an individual for long-standing, extraordinary contributions. Felix, now serving as president of Verity Property Management in Boise, Idaho, has been an industry leader and has served in numerous CAI roles for more than four decades. He was the first faculty member to teach CAI's M-100: Essentials in Community Association Management course in Dubai and has been the primary trainer for new CAI faculty for over 20 years. He has served on the CAI Business Partners Council, CAI Audit Committee, Foundation for Community Association Research Board of Directors, and on the Community Association Managers International Certification Board of Commissioners.
Michael Johnson, CMCA, AMS, PCAM, was recognized as Educator of the Year. This award goes to an individual who has excelled in elevating the quality of CAI's education programs by developing, teaching, or leading a significant national course. Johnson, CEO of HOALiving in Draper, Utah, has been a CAI faculty member since 2005 and has taught dozens of courses in the U.S. and Middle East, instructing more than 1,000 students. In 2021, he was instrumental in helping CAI modify in-person education courses for a virtual platform.
Tonya Gale, CMCA, AMS, PCAM, was recognized for the second year in a row as Recruiter of the Year, an honor given to a member who has demonstrated continued leadership by supporting CAI membership campaigns and recruiting the greatest number of new members. Gale, owner of Epic Association Management in Las Vegas, has been a dedicated CAI advocate since 2011, serving as the CAI Nevada Chapter's membership committee chair, on its board of directors, and as its 2020 president. She recruited 59 new CAI members in 2020 and 31 in 2021.
Noelle Hicks, Esq., was named the CAI Rising Star, an honor given to an individual whose leadership abilities and professional contributions signify even greater accomplishments in the future. Hicks, an attorney with Roberts Markel Weinberg Butler Hailey law firm in San Antonio, made her debut as a national speaker at the 2021 Community Association Law Seminar with a powerful panel presentation on overcoming racism in community associations. The session manuscript earned the 2021 best manuscript award from CAI's College of Community Association Lawyers; portions of the manuscript were turned into CAI's Diverse & Inclusive Communities Guide, which helps board members and community association managers navigate these important topics. She also participated in a panel presentation on the topic at the 2021 CAI Annual Conference and is now serving on CAI's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee.
T. Peter Kristian, CMCA, LSM, PCAM; Mitchell H. Frumkin, RS; Robert M. Diamond, Esq.; Stephen M. Marcus, Esq.; Lisa A. Magill, Esq.; Robert W. Browning, PCAM, RS; Phillip Masi, CIRMS; A.J. Scott, CIRMS; and Jennifer Eilert, CIRMS; were honored with the Excellence in Government and Public Affairs Award. Following the tragic collapse of the Champlain Towers South Condominium in Surfside, Fla., these members served on three task forces to address public policy issues related to condominium safety, including insurance and risk management, reserve study and funding, and building maintenance.
CAI Nevada Legislation Action Committee was honored with the Legislative Action Committee of the Year Award. The Nevada LAC was recognized for its strategic grassroots engagement during the 2021 legislative session.
James H. “Jim" Dodson IV, CMCA, AMS, LSM, PCAM, CAI's 2021 president, honored Wendy Taylor, CMCA, AMS, LSM, PCAM, general manager of South Riding Proprietary in South Riding, Va., with the 2021 President's Award.
Given solely at the discretion of CAI's immediate past president, this award recognizes an individual who has displayed exemplary service and commitment to CAI and who has been instrumental in helping the president achieve CAI's goals.
“For years, Wendy has contributed her time to CAI and is a subject matter expert, advocate, conference presenter, and faculty member," says Dodson. “As my mentor, counselor, and colleague, it is my honor to recognize her with the 2021 President's Award."
For a complete list of honorees and award recipients, including chapter awards, visit www.caionline.org/CAIAnnualAwards.
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About Community Associations Institute
Since 1973, Community Associations Institute (CAI) has been the leading provider of resources and information for homeowners, volunteer board leaders, professional managers, and business professionals in the more than 355,000 homeowners associations, condominiums, and housing cooperatives in the United States and millions of communities worldwide. With more than 43,000 members, CAI works in partnership with 36 legislative action committees and 63 affiliated chapters within the U.S., Canada, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates as well as with housing leaders in several other countries, including Australia, Spain, and the United Kingdom. A global nonprofit 501(c)(6) organization, CAI is the foremost authority in community association management, governance, education, and advocacy. Our mission is to inspire professionalism, effective leadership, and responsible citizenship—ideals reflected in community associations that are preferred places to call home. Visit us at www.caionline.org, and follow us on Twitter and Facebook @CAISocial.
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