2021 Awards Nominees

NOMINEE INFORMATION

Katherine Henriques: I am humbled and honored to be considered a candidate for the Candice Bladt Community Manager of the Year Award.

When I was just 18 years old, I started in the industry, working with the City of Newark’s real estate office handling Section 8 Housing. I joined RCP Management Company as a Portfolio Administrator in 2015. During that time, I had the opportunity to work with many property managers, board members, vendors, and professionals to learn about community association management and expand my professional network through CAI-NJ and other industry-related events. Very quickly, my future became apparent. I knew what I wanted. I didn’t just want to be a manager, I wanted to be the best manager I could be! I was very fortunate to work with a supportive team at RCP that always helped me and encouraged me to do more and grow as a Portfolio Manager. I am an active member of RCP’s Charity Committee Hands of Hope. Together we plan, coordinate and execute community service projects throughout the year. To dedicate yourself to your career, you must love what you do and who you are doing it with. I love what I do, and I am grateful to work with a company and an industry that values community service. The work we do is essential, but the life we build is what matters most! My 3-year-old daughter loves to pick up a laptop and sit down next to me and say, “I’m working!” She will also pretend to be in a meeting because she sees what I do working this past year remotely. I hope that I am setting a good example for my daughter to look up to a professional working woman who can balance a career and be a mom while also giving back to the community to leave this world a better place.

Stephen Slotnick, CMCA, AMS: I consider myself fortunate that I have a career in property management that I love. Though I may call myself a “property manager,” I am also a community manager. I used to think of those two roles as the same but have come to further define my two primary functions. As a property manager, I am responsible for the operation, maintenance and financial matters that pertain to my community. As a community manager, I try to maintain the health, safety and emotional well-being of my residents. My board and I have a fabulous working relationship, which is essential to the overall operation of our community. They set the policies for our community. I execute their wishes. This working model works well for us. They allow me the freedom to be myself, and to impart some of my personality into the communications I convey to my residents. This working model has created a “relationship” with our residents that is palpable. When we first step foot on the property we manage, there is so much to learn. Things as little

as street names can seem daunting. In time, this all becomes second nature. You recognize the small details. The bollard that is third from the end in the back of building 7 needs painting. You wouldn’t notice that when you first arrive. Now it’s second nature. One thing I have found consistent, whether I’ve managed a commercial building with tenants or a residential community with owners and tenants, it’s all about relationships and communication. In getting to know my residents, I’ve been able to communicate more effectively. When it comes to making major decisions, like when our community was deciding whether or not to open gyms and pools, we brought a focus group of residents together to provide us input, and for us to inform them of the guidelines. This helped reduce the “tension” on these topics. Since taking over as manager in my community, we have had 4 straight years without a fee increase and I have obtained my CMCA and AMS designations. I am looking forward to achieving and learning more as my tenure continues.

Jessica Baker, Esq.: Almost five years ago I started working in this industry as an attorney with Hill Wallack’s Community Association’s practice group. Less than a month later I joined a CAI committee and have been involved with CAI ever since! Before joining Hill Wallack, I clerked in the Bergen County Superior Court and practiced law for an insurance defense firm. I first became aware of the community association industry while living in a condominium and breaking about a dozen rules before finally reading the governing documents. I quickly became interested in how attorneys serve communities, which lead to pursuing a career in this industry.

Megan Elgard: Hi! My name is Megan Elgard and I am the Director of Business Development at The Falcon Group. It is an honor to be nominated and even though I hate talking about myself, I’ll try my best! Many of you know me as always smiling, laughing, or singing (and no, I do not have a good voice). I have my parents to thank for who I am today. Growing up in the small town of Raritan, NJ, I always enjoyed being outside, playing softball, cheerleading, and of course, I am a huge football fan come fall. I attended Rider University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and Entrepreneurial Studies and to be honest, like many people in this industry, I had no idea what direction I wanted my career to go in. I tried car sales, recruiting, retail, but I felt like something was still missing at the end of each day. In 2015, I came across an ad for an Administrative Assistant at The Falcon Group. I had just under a year of experience working as a recruiter within the engineering field, but was excited about the opportunity as engineering was always something that fascinated me. On a bit of a whim, I applied for the position and my career has taken off since. I’m a firm believer in that if you find a career that you’re passionate about, success will follow. In addition to being a member of CAI NJ, I am the Chair of the NJ Regional Council of the CAI Keystone Chapter and a volunteer in my town’s Art Council. Being an active member of my community is incredibly important to me and I hope my actions help make the places we live and work even better. Outside of work and volunteering, I am a mother of an energetic 2-year-old boy who insists on being outside as much as possible. Luckily, I also love spending time outdoors, especially gardening. I am proud of what CAI has accomplished during this difficult year and I am excited for what the future holds. For the last few years I have had an amazing experience serving on the F.A.S.T. Committee and this year I have served as the Vice-Chair of the F.A.S.T. Committee. The pandemic has presented many new challenges but my involvement in CAI has been a bright spot and instrumental in facilitating networking, education and professional development. CAI has provided so many opportunities to continue to (virtually) see and connect with members during this time of social distancing. This year, I am proud to have organized the F.A.S.T.’s Paint & Sip networking and fundraiser event, which raised over $1,600 for Make-A-Wish New Jersey and participated in F.A.S.T.’s Adopt-A-Family, providing holiday gifts to deserving families. I also took part in F.A.S.T.’s virtual charity events, Tricky-Tray and Cyber Trivia, which have been a great way to stay connected and raise funds for the many causes that F.A.S.T. supports. When I’m not planning or participating in CAI events, I represent community associations throughout New Jersey. This year has brought many challenges for our associations, and I am privileged to guide associations through the unique and novel issues affecting communities today. I work with an amazing group of attorneys who have mentored me as a young attorney and inspired my involvement with CAI.

Working at Falcon these past six years, I’ve grown tremendously, thanks in large part to the amazing people who work here. I’m quite proud to say that my hard work has been recognized as was initially promoted to the Director of Business Development. I’m hopeful that my outgoing personality will allow me to continue to have success in my new role at Falcon. Being a part of The Falcon Group and this family has truly been a blessing. I have made some remarkable friends and have had incredible mentors along the way of my career. It has also given me a great opportunity to help others, doing fundraising for charities like St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, the Special Olympics, Salvation Army, Casa SHaW, and for Breast Cancer research (which hits close to home as my mom is a survivor). I love bringing my positive outlook on life to others and I am thankful to have found a home at Falcon with people who care as much about these things as I do!

Kristina Munson, CMCA, AMS, PCAM: I am honored to be considered for the 2021 Outstanding Young Professional of the Year Award. Frankly, I am thrilled to be considered a “young” professional after twenty years in the industry! I got my start as a part time clubhouse monitor in the community where I bought my first home. I joined RCP as a customer service representative in 2002 and I was quickly promoted to an on- site manager role for a community in Princeton where I served for 9 years. I am grateful for my career foundation that was built alongside dedicated Board Members who worked together - on three different boards - to successfully navigate from new construction, through transition, and beyond - and they are still RCP clients nearly 20 years later! In 2011 I had the opportunity to join the corporate office to develop a new division dedicated to smaller clients. The SAM (Small Association Management) Division has grown by providing exceptional infrastructure and accounting services together with scalable management solutions

to meet the needs of clients of all sizes. I continued to learn more about the business while serving as Vice President and then as Chief Operating Officer taking on more responsibility for management company administration over the past several years. I would be remiss if I did not say THANK YOU to my “Boss Lady” and mentor Mary Faith Nugiel! She has been an inspiration to me as a professional woman and I cannot thank her enough for her wisdom, guidance, and leadership throughout my career. It is my great honor to carry on the banner as the President of RCP and continue to lead our team of dedicated management professionals into the future. As a founding member of RCP’s Charity Committee, Hands of Hope, I work with other RCP employees to plan and execute charitable events and community service projects. Giving back through volunteering our time and talents is just one of the things that makes our company culture so special. I have served on the CAI-NJ Managers Committee for several years and in the role of Committee Chair in 2020. It is my privilege to currently serve on the CAI-NJ Board of Directors. I am an advocate for the advancement and promotion of professional community management through education, certification, recruitment, information sharing, and best practices.

Jose Romero: Hi everyone, my name is Jose Romero. I am the Business Development Specialist with Clearview Washing, NJ’s Premier Exterior Cleaning Company. I am 25 years old and have worked in sales and business development almost my whole professional career. I was able to graduate Rutgers in 2017 with a B.A in Economics and a minor in Entrepreneurship with very minimal student debt. This is because at the same time I was going to school I was also running a CUTCO CUTLERY branch office where I was in charge of hiring and training my own sales force and office team. Our office came in at #6 in all of the branch offices in the Northeast Region. Most of my employees were either my age or older than me which made it challenging but at the same time forced me to grow and adapt myself professionally. After Rutgers I started working at Honda Corp as a financial analyst but soon realized that an office job was not for me. I then began to work at New York Life as a financial planner where I was able to further my skills in customer service, relationship management, and time management. With New York Life I

won several awards such as the Strive for Excellence award, Career Life Success Award, and the Career Life Producer Award. All of these different experiences and roles helped me build a solid foundation and develop the skills that I need in order to succeed and excel with Clearview Washing today. On a more personal side I am part of the New Jersey Army National Guard. I am a CBRN specialist for the 50th Chemical Company in Somerset, NJ. Last year I was sent to Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri fromMay to the end of September. Shortly after returning my then girlfriend and I decided to get married! Due to the pandemic and indoor restrictions we decided to have an outdoor wedding and it turned out better then we could ever imagine. Some of my hobbies include playing soccer, watching horror movies with my wife, and finding new air fryer recipes.

David Velasco: David Velasco, or Frenchy, is not your standard young professional. He loves a challenge, strives to make an impression, and dedicates himself to make a (zoom) room laugh. His career in the US started at the age of 21 in the aerospace industry. This experience provided education in communication and navigation in the business world. 10 years later he was working for a dynamic new manufacturer in the roofing industry and his journey in the Common Interest Community started. He loved the challenge of bringing a new product to the market, informing professionals about ways to improve their roofs and he grew a passion in what he is best at: building connections with people. He quickly made a name for himself becoming an educator and trainer in the roofing industry. David helped the company grow with excellent sales and creating new marketing strategies making his product widely used by Engineers in NJ. During the pandemic he searched and created opportunities to establish new customer relationships and hold tight of the existing

ones. He took on the challenge of beating the pandemic blues and focused exclusively on the multifamily industry. He hosted webinars, took advantage that CAI provided education and created a social media following. He used his public speaking skills to keep the conversations going. Ultimately it was his original involvement in the multifamily industry (CAI chapters) that brought out David’s passion, creativity, and energy of forging and building lasting relationships. In the end, this is exactly what CAI is about! Currently David is working in the field of Community Association Insurance with JGS Insurance. With this recent transition he has been able to spearhead his experience and energy to create Community Association Car Chat on LinkedIn. When he is busy sipping French roast espresso, bringing industry leaders together, and fighting with his wifi on Car Chat, he is also a member of several CAI chapters, as well as serving on the CAI-NJ Business Partner Committee to which he is dedicated to help all business partners benefit from their membership. David has been featured on the Community Asset Magazine, FUN committee Member, and has been nominated for CAI’s Excellence in Education Award. David understands the unparalleled value of teamwork, communication, and trust in this industry. He believes in the value of genuine relationships. When he is not working, you may find him working on a car, working on his house or at the gym. He is a passionate volunteer and family man.

VIRTUAL CEREMONY Wednesday, June 23 COCKTAIL PARTY Thursday, June 24

Greenbriar Oceanaire Community Association is not your typical adult community. Building started in 2002 by US homes with transition in 2017. With 1,425 homes spread along 10 miles of roadway this gated community nestled in the pine barrens is continually active to say the least. The association is governed by a 5-member, elected Board of Directors who enlist 13 committees. These committees are truly representative of the community, they offer their insights and advice to the Board. Also supporting the board is Taylor Management and a 28 person CAI trained staff who keep the facilities well maintained and open from 6:30 in the morning to 11:00 o’clock at night weekly.

Your experience starts when you are greeted by the Marion Security officer at our main entrance. Coming down Greenbriar Boulevard you see the golf course as you approach the picturesque clubhouse. The 38,000 square foot clubhouse hosts 60+ clubs. In addition to all the club events the association sponsors well known entertainers especially from the New York market. This results in the ballroom which seats 400 people being in demand and booked over a year in advance. The clubhouse features the typical amenities including gym, indoor pool, billiards, various meeting, and arts and crafts rooms. Do you want to relax in the summertime? The outdoor pool provides a perfect setting overlooking the 1st and 18th holes. During the summertime Friday night outdoor socials are held with DJs. Members bring their lawn chairs and party the night away. After a game of tennis, pickle ball, bocce, an 18-hole round of golf or just hanging out, the pub is a welcome area for members to sit and relax and enjoy the offerings of the bartender. Feel like eating? The restaurant is open and ready to serve you with a variety of dishes. Yes, we even have Karaoke nights. As with everyone else the board is taking the steps to getting back to “normal”. Our outside amenities are open, and they are gradually opening the indoor rooms while staying in compliance with the Executive Orders of the Governor. The board’s motto has been “This board will err on the side of caution.” They hope that everyone comes through this pandemic healthy.

Regency at Monroe Homeowners Association is a Lifestyle Community of 1,274 homes in Monroe Township. It goes without saying that all communities faced challenges during the past year, especially lifestyle communities in which a certain level of events and activities are expected. The Board of Trustees at Regency in conjunction with the FirstService onsite management team remained steadfast in this mission and created a phased plan approach to opening and keeping open all the community outdoor amenities for homeowners to enjoy during the pandemic. Outdoor amenities that the community opened are the Golf Course, Outdoor

Swimming Pool, all 6 tennis courts, pickleball courts, bocce and shuffleboard. This community did not stop there, due to the cooperation of the community members to follow all executive orders and NJ DOH guidelines, the onsite management team was able to execute outdoor social functions in the clubhouse parking lots, as well as, community themed dinner nights. By staggering reservations for these events, any community member who wished join their neighbors, socially distanced of course, for an evening of fun and laughter had the opportunity. And the weather got colder we didn’t stop there….we had contest around the community like our Search for Snowy, in which 20 snowmen were placed around the community for the members to find and we would be remiss if we did not mention our holiday ice carving event held in the parking lot in which 200 homeowners came out to enjoy a beautiful dessert spread and watch a block of ice be turned into a snowman and another into a deer. During a time when other communities were locked down tight, Regency at Monroe continued to strive towards the very thing we are a COMMUNITY.

Gateway at Royce Brook : In a year that’s been tragic, terrifying & isolating for so many around the world and here in New Jersey, home has never been so important nor meant so much as our regular worlds shrank with lockdowns. Yet, innovative leaders worked to bring people together in spite of all that was 2020 - and the Board of Directors of Gateway at Royce Brook in Hillsborough exemplified that principle.

This small board is the very definition of active 55 plus residents - in just the past year alone they gathered the most volunteers in its history to put them to work for the community and each other - making over 300 masks & PPE for nearby hospitals, collecting for a food drive for the Hillsborough Food Pantry, bringing toys to the children in St. Peter’s Pediatric Ward, donating gift cards for clothing to New Jersey’s veterans and so much more. They didn’t ignore fighting the isolation brought on by lockdown either - a community who thrived on shared moments now faced this new challenge and met it head on - helping homeowners learn to zoom, coordinating committees to move online for bingo, murder mystery parties, Beatles sing-alongs, trivia, new homeowner parties and more. Board President Kathie Stuart launched a new, interactive web site & homeowner portal to connect homeowners and launched multiple town halls, forums and insight reports to help homeowners stay informed and connected, while she & Vice President Steve Rosen & Board Developer Member Andy Nowack met with homeowners one-on-one through Zoom - to help ensure everyone was heard. They cleared driveways in the worst winter in a decade for homeowners who had vaccination appointments before the contractor could get to them, and Steve - a pharmacist before retirement - heeded the call to help vaccinate the Hillsborough community, giving out over 200 doses personally. In total, the Board of Directors at Gateway at Royce Brook typifies what it means to be dedicated leaders who care, but perhaps even more important in this most unique year, they were leaders who care and are dedicated to helping homeowners adapt to a new normal while being a beacon of support for our entire New Jersey community.

Four Seasons at Manalapan Homeowners Association is a beautiful active adult community consisting of 692 single family homes. The association is governed by a volunteer board of five (5) homeowner members who have very different backgrounds which assist them to work great together as a group as they all bring different views and aspects to the table. Together they have accomplished a lot including, but not limited to, a three-phased $800k redecorating / remodeling project of the entire clubhouse without a Project Manager. This project also included a complete remodeling of the indoor pool, as well. Every aspect of the clubhouse was renovated, including brand new fitness equipment, all flooring and wall coverings, accessories, etc. They also completed the installation of cameras throughout the entire clubhouse for

better management of residents and guests and completed a major renovation of the tennis courts and bocce courts. The board navigated through many hours of meetings with the builder and was awarded a significant sum with a successful transition settlement. During the last year of COVID, the board’s commitment to keeping the community, the staff and the association facilities safe and sanitized was their number one priority. They attended many virtual webinars and worked with management and vendors to assure that Four Seasons Manalapan was in compliance with the CDC as well as NJ state and local regulations. The board has a very unique relationship. They don’t always agree, but they talk though each matter prior to making a

decision and regardless of the vote outcome, will always respect the majority vote. They have a way of coming together for the greater good and in the best interest of the whole community. They have a professional attitude and handle their residents with respect, courtesy and professionalism. This board also is an advocate for continuing education. They frequently attend webinars and educational seminars to better educate themselves and have been dedicated attendees at all board member training sessions/classes provided by CAI and Taylor Management Company. Their commitment, due diligence and their continual efforts to keep Four Seasons Manalapan the beautiful community it is, is a tribute to their dedication and time contributions they provide. Providing them with an Award recognizing this community and their efforts is not only an honor to them but an inspiration for future boards.

The Ponds at Clearbrook Condominium Association: Welcome to the Ponds. We are a 25-year old, active adult condominium community located in Monroe Township. Built in 1995, we boast 577-units, a state-of-the-art clubhouse, our signature pond and nature area. The Pond’s Board of Directors have proven to be very dedicated, especially to their community. They regularly attend educational seminars and workshops offered through CAI-NJ, as well as those offered through individual firms and professionals. They dedicatemuch of their personal time to discuss events that impactThe Ponds.Though they may not share the same opinions at times, they respectfully listen to each member concerns prior to making a unified decision. The knowledge and professionalism that they exhibit has worked well for the community, especially in the repair and modernization of community amenities and the cost-saving endeavors that they have initiated. Through this board’s tenure, they have commissioned an LED lighting project for the association clubhouse, which has saved, to date, over $22,000.00 in electrical expenses. They have upgraded the heating, cooling and dehumidifier equipment, as well as install

a new flat roof on the clubhouse, to offer additional savings and comfort for the residents. The association has partnered with Distributed Resource Ventures to develop and install an aesthetically pleasing solar system that lowers energy expenses for The Pond’s clubhouse, with no capital expenditure. This project has allowed the community to benefit from increased savings, that leads to good fiscal health. In initiating most of these much-needed projects, they needed carefully expend much of the capital reserves in account. But in the course of two years, after strict fiduciary oversight they successfully replenished the reserves by almost 115%. They meet and exceed their fiduciary duties by reviewing and updating laws and amendments to bring the community up to date. They attend all committee and club functions to keep the residents involved and active. They hold a bi-monthly “Board Talk” session, whereby two individual Boardmembers sit and discuss concerns with residents.They have an actual investment in the community and hold their offices with respect and honor. It is an honor to nominate them for this acknowledgment.

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF OUR AWARD NOMINEES!