Feb. 14, 2017—Falls Church, VA— Community Associations Institute (CAI), a leading global authority on community association governance, education and management is proud to announce that Montclair State University in New Jersey is offering “The Essentials in Community Association Management,” a curriculum developed exclusively by CAI, headquartered in Falls Church, Va. 

With more than 68 million Americans and millions of others worldwide living in homeowners associations, condominium communities, and co-ops, there is a critical need for well-trained and educated community managers to oversee these properties.

“Although community management is a relatively new occupation, in the past five decades it has become a vital and sophisticated profession that has evolved in to an international career path for more than 55,000 community managers,” says Thomas M. Skiba, CAE, CAI’s chief executive officer. Skiba added, “And that number is projected to increase globally over the next five years, as the demand increases for professional managers to direct the world’s multi-million dollar master-planned communities in addition to small-scale associations."

From developing and enforcing rules, preparing budgets and funding reserves, building community, to recruiting and managing personnel, the responsibilities of a professional community association manager continues to evolve. CAI’s course: The Essentials of Community Association Management (M-100) is designed for individuals entering the community management industry or as an essential review for veteran managers and homeowner volunteer board members.

Homeowners associations and condominium communities have a range of amenities including swimming pools, tennis courts, fitness centers, playgrounds, lakes, ponds, and golf courses. According to a CAI report, “Community Next: 2020 and Beyond,” 21 percent of Americans live in a community association and the number is expected to increase to more than 30 percent over the next decade.

The new course is part of Montclair State University’s Business Administration Program and is being taught by Michael Pesce, Esq., PCAM. Fourteen students are currently enrolled in the Winter/Spring 2017 course. “I am honored to teach CAI’s Essentials of Community Association Management at Montclair State University," Pesce says. "Community association management is an excellent career path with tremendous opportunities. Delivering this coursework to future community association managers is personally and professionally rewarding."

Community Associations Institute (CAI) is a global nonprofit 501(c)(6) organization founded in 1973 to foster competent, responsive community associations through research, training, and education. CAI is an international membership organization dedicated to building better communities. With more than 34,000 members, CAI works in partnership with 62 chapters, including a chapter in South Africa, as well as with housing leaders in a number of other countries, including Australia, Canada, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom. We work to identify and meet the evolving needs of the professionals and volunteers who serve associations, by being a trusted forum for the collaborative exchange of knowledge and information, and by helping our members learn, achieve and excel. Our mission is to inspire professionalism, effective leadership and responsible citizenship—ideals reflected in associations that are preferred places to call home. For more information, visit www.caionline.org.