On this episode of Car Chat we hear from Frankie Cicala about his journey from intern to full-time professional at JGS Insurance, and why he chose to stay in the industry.

Frank's passion for the community association niche and his appreciation for JGS's client-first approach truly stand out.

Don't miss his thoughts on breaking industry stereotypes and the importance of ethical practices!

#CarChatLive #InsuranceIsntBoring

Episode Highlights:

✅ Frank attributes his choice to join the insurance industry to a great internship experience at JGS Insurance. [00:01:10]

✅ Frank appreciates JGS Insurance's ethical approach and commitment to putting clients first, which counters common industry stereotypes. [00:02:30]

✅ Frank is intrigued by the niche market of community associations due to its specific needs and JGS's expertise in the area. [00:03:05]

✅ Frank is excited about the variety in his work at JGS, which keeps his job engaging and different every day. [00:05:16]

✅ Frank gives a shout-out to Ryan Fleming for his mentorship and guidance in helping him enter the insurance industry. [00:07:50]

Thanks for listening! Follow us on LinkedIn and watch us LIVE every Monday at 9am EST! http://www.linkedin.com/company/community-association-car-chat

We're catching up with Eileen Ghenn about the CAI Keystone Ladies on the Link Golf Invitational, an event designed to create an inclusive and welcoming environment for women golfers of all skill levels.

From its inception by Nicole Skaro to its role as a key fundraiser for the Pennsylvania Legislative Action Committee, this event exemplifies the power of community and support.

Join us in celebrating initiatives that promote work-life balance and empower women in our industry!

#CarChatLive #InsuranceIsntBoring

Episode Highlights:

✅ Eileen began her involvement with CAI by serving on her community's board from 2015 to 2018, leading to her membership in CAI. [00:00:53]

✅ The Ladies on the Link Golf Invitational, chaired by Eileen, is an annual event designed to make women feel comfortable and welcome, regardless of their golf experience. [00:01:39]

✅ Nicole Skaro's idea for the Ladies on the Link event was to create a comfortable space for women, addressing their reluctance to join male-dominated golf outings. [00:02:21]

✅ The event includes golf clinics for chipping, putting, and long drive, aiming to make the outing enjoyable and inclusive for all skill levels. [00:02:57]

✅ The Ladies on the Link Invitational serves as the largest fundraiser for the Pennsylvania Legislative Action Committee, supporting their budget and initiatives. [00:03:54]

Thanks for listening! Follow us on LinkedIn and watch us LIVE every Monday at 9am EST! http://www.linkedin.com/company/community-association-car-chat

Join us as we Car Chat with Robert Nordlund, founder and CEO of Association Reserves, to discuss the innovative solutions his company is bringing to the community association industry.

Discover how the new Association Insights and Marketplace platform, inspired by the need for greater transparency and financial health, aims to prevent incidents like the Champlain Tower South collapse.

Robert's commitment to elevating the industry is truly inspiring!

#CarChatLive #InsuranceIsntBoring

Episode Highlights:

✅ Robert introduces Association Insights and Marketplace, a market-driven solution aimed at preventing incidents like the Champlain Tower South collapse by addressing transparency and financial issues. [00:00:38]

✅ He explains the detrimental effects of low monthly assessments, which starve associations of necessary funds. [00:01:25]

✅ Robert describes the FIPHO health score, a metric from 0 to 100 reflecting the financial, physical, and operational health of an association, akin to a FICO score for creditworthiness. [00:02:02]

✅ The platform for generating the FIPHO health score is free, crowdsourced, and allows boards and managers to log in, fill out profiles, and obtain their score within 15 minutes. [00:02:41]

✅ Robert gives a shout out to Kevin Davis, whose encouragement helped inspire the creation of the platform to minimize incidents like the Champlain Tower South collapse. [00:09:36]

Thanks for listening! Follow us on LinkedIn and watch us LIVE every Monday at 9am EST! http://www.linkedin.com/company/community-association-car-chat

Check out our latest interview with Chas Ryan, President of CAI Connecticut and partner at Pilicy & Ryan, where we dive into rising fees in community associations and effective strategies for handling delinquencies.

Learn about Connecticut's unique priority lien law and the importance of clear collection policies. Don't miss Chas's valuable advice on communicating fee increases to unit owners.

#CarChatLive #InsuranceIsntBoring

Episode Highlights:

✅ The discussion covers the increase in delinquencies in communities due to rising fees and the associated challenges. [00:01:53]

✅ Chas emphasizes the importance of explaining to unit owners that fee increases are necessary due to economic pressures and the lack of alternative funding sources. [00:03:05]

✅ Connecticut's unique priority lien law, which allows communities to get paid ahead of banks for unpaid common charges, is explained. [00:04:10]

✅ The need for a clear collection policy and working with residents to create manageable payment plans is highlighted. [00:05:23]

✅ Chas gives advice on how boards can communicate potential fee increases early to help make them more palatable for unit owners. [00:07:26]

Key Quote:

💡 "Compassion is the key though. Everyone's in it together. And I always tell them, your board members, at least the vast majority of mine are volunteers, not getting paid at all. They're paying the same that you're paying, and so they're in it with you." - Chas Ryan

Thanks for listening! Follow us on LinkedIn and watch us LIVE every Monday at 9am EST! http://www.linkedin.com/company/community-association-car-chat

We're welcoming Doug Newman, President and Founder of CPE Property Management Solutions, back to Community Association Car Chat!

We dove into the challenges of community associations, the importance of effective communication, and strategies for engaging unit owners.

A big shoutout to CAI for their invaluable resources and to Doug for his insightful contributions.

#CarChatLive #InsuranceIsntBoring

Episode Highlights:

✅ Doug describes CPE Property Management Solutions and emphasizes the importance of communication, planning, and execution. [00:01:08]

✅ Doug outlines the top challenges for community associations: high-functioning boards, unit owner engagement, and insurance. [00:02:21]

✅ Doug explains the effectiveness of using surveys to engage unit owners and gather their opinions. [00:04:01]

✅ Doug discusses the importance of increasing deductibles to save money for associations. [00:07:58]

✅ Doug highlights the value of CAI resources and gives a shoutout to Community Association Car Chat for its helpful content. [00:10:57]

Key Quote:

💡"The more engaged unit owners and the better educated the board is, is a direct relation to how well the place is going to function." - Doug Newman

Thanks for listening! Follow us on LinkedIn and watch us LIVE every Monday at 9am EST! http://www.linkedin.com/company/community-association-car-chat

Don't miss our interview with Adam Arcuri from CondoVoter on Community Association Car Chat! 🚗💬

We discussed the future of electronic voting for condos and HOAs, and how it’s revolutionizing participation and governance.

Adam shared valuable insights on overcoming legislative hurdles and the importance of intuitive technology.

Tune in to learn how electronic voting is transforming communities across North America!

#CarChatLive #InsuranceIsntBoring

Episode Highlights:

✅ Adam Arcuri explains how Condo Voter provides electronic voting for condos and HOAs, allowing votes to be cast anywhere and at any time. [00:01:22]

✅ Adam highlights the significant increase in voter participation during the pandemic, with some communities reaching 60-70% participation in online elections. [00:02:27]

✅ Discussing legislative hurdles, Adam notes that while some states like California do not allow electronic voting, many are updating their laws to permit it. [00:03:42]

✅ Adam mentions that even without internet or phones, technology can be intuitive, and the company helps communities update owner lists with necessary contact information. [00:05:00]

✅ Looking to the future, Adam envisions tighter security, guidelines, and voter identification as key advancements in electronic voting technology. [00:08:24]

Key Quote:

💡"We launched actually in Ontario, Canada, before we moved to the States. Under some of the most restrictive conditions during the pandemic, it forced people to look for out-of-the-box solutions, and electronic voting and virtual meetings were certainly part of that."

Thanks for listening! Follow us on LinkedIn and watch us LIVE every Monday at 9am EST! http://www.linkedin.com/company/community-association-car-chat

Meet Corinna Caracci, a seasoned self-defense instructor, who shared invaluable insights on the importance of awareness and empowerment in personal safety.

Corinna's journey and dedication to proactive self-defense training illuminate her passion for empowering individuals to trust their instincts and stay safe.

Catch the full discussion to learn practical self-defense techniques and the power of positive visualization for real-world application.

#CarChatLive #InsuranceIsntBoring

Episode Highlights:

✅ Steve announces Corinna Caracci, a self-defense instructor, as today’s special guest, setting the stage for a discussion on personal safety. (00:00:38)

✅ Corinna explains her motivation for becoming a self-defense instructor, inspired by incidents of harassment on her college campus. (00:01:47)

✅ Highlighting the significance of awareness, Corinna details how self-defense primarily involves being alert and avoiding potential threats. (00:03:04)

✅ David shares his firsthand experience in one of Corinna's self-defense classes, emphasizing the practicality of the skills he learned. (00:05:02)

✅ Corinna discusses the power of positive visualization in self-defense, teaching individuals to plan and see themselves as survivors. (00:08:36)

Key Quote:

💡"I really want to empower people and not to walk around afraid, but walk around knowing that if they're aware of their surroundings, you know if they have some techniques that they can use and hopefully to avoid a situation, if there were ever to, you know, occur that's kind of where my passion comes from."

Thanks for listening! Follow us on LinkedIn and watch us LIVE every Monday at 9am EST! http://www.linkedin.com/company/community-association-car-chat

Meet Elaine Warga-Murray, the first female PCAM in New Jersey, who shares insights from her extensive career in our latest interview.

Tune in to hear how she navigated the shift from manual to digital in community management. She discusses the critical role of mentorship and continuous learning for modern managers.

Don't miss her valuable perspectives on leadership and professional growth!

#CarChatLive #InsuranceIsntBoring

Episode Highlights:

✅ Elaine Warga-Murray shares her journey since 1981 in property management, celebrating her milestone as New Jersey's first female PCAM. [00:00:42]

✅ Elaine highlights the transformation in community management from manual processes to digital, enhancing efficiency and service focus. [00:03:16]

✅ Elaine emphasizes the importance of industry events like the Conquer and Connect Conference for networking, learning, and professional growth. [00:04:23]

✅ Discussing leadership challenges in her field, Elaine stresses the need for respect and effective management over mere authority. [00:05:33]

✅ Elaine advises new managers on the importance of mentorship and personal development in knowledge, attitude, skills, and habits. [00:08:42]

Key Quote:

💡 "Leadership is not being the boss. Anybody can be a boss, but being a leader is something that has to happen kind of empirically from influence." - Elaine Warga-Murray

Thanks for listening! Follow us on LinkedIn and watch us LIVE every Monday at 9am EST! http://www.linkedin.com/company/community-association-car-chat