Twenty professionals in six states have earned the Community Associations Institute's Reserve Specialist designation, the only national credential for community association reserve study providers. The RS designation is awarded to experienced, qualified professionals who help condominium, cooperative and homeowner associations plan for the long-term repair and replacement of major components.

"Community association roofs, paving, pools and other common elements should be placed on a replacement reserve schedule that allows the association to fulfil its maintenance obligations without resorting to levying special assessments." said Mitchell H. Frumkin, P.E., P.P., RS, chairman of CAI's Reserve Professionals Committee. "CAI's Reserve Specialist designation will give the nation's 205,000 community associations confidence in hiring reserve professionals who meet prescribed experience and skill requirements and perform studies according to accepted national standards."

The prerequisites for the RS designation include the preparation of 50 reserve studies within the last three years; a bachelor's degree in construction management, architecture or engineering (or equivalent experience and education); and professional-level CAI membership in good standing. RS designees must adhere to CAI's Professional Reserve Specialist Code of Ethics.

RS designees are required to perform reserve studies according to CAI's new National Reserve Study Standards, which include a list of tasks that must be performed in each of three levels of service, minimum contents that must be included in each study, required disclosures and terms and definitions. For more information or to locate a credentialed community association professional in your area, call CAI Central at 703/548-8600.

The Community Associations Institute is a nonprofit association created in 1973 to educate and represent the nation's 205,000 community associations - condominium associations, homeowner associations and cooperatives. CAI members include homeowners, associations and related professionals and service providers.

[Editor's note: A list of CAI's Reserve Specialist designees is attached.]

Reserve Specialists

• Dale Armstrong, RS Armstrong & Assoc. Inc., Kailu, Hawaii
• James W. Dodson, Jr., RS US Inspect/R.J. Moore, Annapolis, MD
• Richard B. Emery, RS Hawaii First Inc, Honolulu, HI
• John R. Frazer, RS JR Frazer Apr. & Res., Boca Raton, FL
• Mitchell H. Frumkin, P.E., P.P., RS Kipcon Inc., Highland Park, NJ
• Mario B. Ginnetti, P.E., RS PM Plus, Chantilly, VA
• Glenn Goodwin, RS Sonnenberg & Co., San Diego, CA
• Kathy Herity, RS Kipcon Inc., Highland Park, NJ
• Dave Hoselton, RS Honolulu, HI
• L. George Hukriede, RS Hukriede, Walsh & Assoc., Westminster, CA
• Steve Jackson, RS Advanced Reserve Solutions Inc., Irvine, CA
• Geoffrey Lunt, RS Reserve Studies Inc., Chatsworth, CA
• James G. Mason, RS Facility Engineering Assoc., PC, Fairfax, VA
• N.K. Mason, RS Facility Engineering Assoc., Inc., Fairfax, VA
• Robert Nordlund, P.E., RS Assocation Reserves Inc., Calabasas, CA
• Richard Ruffell, RS Advanced Reserve Solutions Inc., Irvine, CA
• Daniel Rush, RS Flannery, Webb & Hansen, Lakewood, NJ
• Stanley J. Sersen, RS Architectural Support Group Inc., Glen Burnie, MD
• John Stevens, RS Kipcon Inc., Highland Park, NJ
• Ronald J. Williams, RS US Inspect/R.J. Moore, Annapolis, MD