Thomas J. Hindman, a partner in the Colorado law firm of Orten & Hindman, P.C., has been named Dean of the Community Associations Institute's College of Community Association Lawyers (CCAL). Hindman will serve a two-year term concluding at the CCAL Law Seminar in early 2005.

Established in 1993, CCAL membership honors CAI member attorneys who have distinguished themselves through contributions to the evolution or practice of community association law and who have committed themselves to high standards of professional and ethical conduct in the field. CCAL provides a forum for the exchange of information among experienced legal professionals toward the goal of advancing the community association field. About 70 lawyers hold CCAL memberships.

Orten & Hindman represents more than 1,200 community associations throughout Colorado. An active member of CAI, Hindman serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Community Association Lawyers (JCAL). He also has served as a commissioner on the National Board of Certification for Community Association Managers (NBC-CAM) and currently serves on the faculty of the Professional Management Development Program (PMDP). Hindman is co-author of two GAP reports, Assessment Collection: Legal Remedies, and Community Association Legal Counsel: How to Select and Use an Attorney.

"Tom Hindman was a natural choice for this prestigious position," said CAI Chief Executive Officer Thomas M. Skiba. "He is highly respected not only by his peers in the field of community association law, but also by other professionals who serve this industry and the association. We are pleased he accepted this position and I look forward to working with him to make CCAL an even more valuable part of CAI."

More information on CCAL, including a roster of members, can be found at www.caionline.org/career/designations/ccal/Pages/CCALMembershipRoster.aspx.

CAI is a national organization dedicated to fostering vibrant, responsive, competent community associations. The organization and its 55 chapters represent cooperatives, condominium and homeowner associations, professional managers, management companies and other businesses and professionals involved in the community association field.