Each year, CAI honors a select group of individuals who have made significant contributions to CAI and the community association way of life. We're proud to announce this year's recipients of our highest honors.
2025 Volunteer Awards
(Presented in 2026)
Distinguished Service Award
Debra Warren, CMCA, PCAM
Chapter Executive Director Rising Star Award
Renee Kayal
Lisa LeClere
CAI Rising Star
Leslee Cicogna, CMCA, AMS, PCAM
Byron Hanke Award
Don Boswell, CMCA
Distinguished Service Award
Debra Warren, CMCA, PCAM
CAI Visionary Award
Jeevan D’Mello, CMCA, AMS, LSM, PCAM
Act of Courage Award
Christina Yepes, CMCA
Chapter Executive Director of the Year Award
Angela Kavanaugh
Organizational Impact Award
2025 CEO Search Task Force
- Greg Smith, CMCA, AMS, PCAM—CHAIR
- Staci Gelfound, CMCA, AMS, PCAM
- Jessica Gottschalk-Towles, AMS, PCAM
- Michael Johnson, CMCA, AMS, PCAM
- Jessica Knutsen, CIRMS
- Matt Ober, Esq.
- Lucy Robertson
Author of the Year
Community Association Manager Handbook Review Committee
- Leslie Alvarez, CMCA, AMS, LSM, PCAM
- Clint Atherton, CMCA, AMS, LSM, PCAM
- Amanda Duckworth, AMS, PCAM
- Cameo Fong, AMS, PCAM
- Kregg Hale
- Jeff Westendorf, CMCA, AMS
- Gail Windisch, CMCA, AMS, PCAM
Educator of the Year
Greg Smith, CMCA, AMS, PCAM – Lodi, CA
Legislative Action Committee of the Year
Oregon Legislative Action Committee
Award of Excellence in Membership
Jim Norman, CMCA, AMS, PCAM – Fort Collins, CO
Award of Excellence in Designations
Not presented this year.
Award of Excellence in Education
Caroline Record, Esq.
Award of Excellence in Chapter Leadership
Tavarius Butts
Award of Excellence in Government and Public Affairs
Della Miller, CMCA, AMS, LSM, PCAM
CAI Oklahoma Advocacy Task Force
- Laura Beckelman, PCAM
- Wendy Hazelwood, CMCA
- Michael Johnson, CMCA, AMS, PCAM
- Lindsey Kaiser
- John Krueger
- Patrick McClanahan, CMCA
- Joe Robson
- Aimee Winegar, CMCA, AMS, LSM, PCAM
- Rodney Wright, CMCA, AMS, PCAM
Recruiter of the Year
Leah Messmore, CMCA, AMS, PCAM
2025 CAI Chapter Achievement & Excellence Awards
CAI has annually honored and celebrated chapters' innovative and successful initiatives that contribute to the betterment of CAI and the community association industry.