2021 Awards Nominees

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.