2023 Annual Awards Nominees

Candice Bladt Community Manager of the Year Nominees

At the start of the pandemic, I was asked to take on another role within my company, one that since the very beginning I have strived to obtain. I was asked to become a Community Manager! Now came the true test of my abilities and knowledge; not just in the industry but throughout my entire adult life. With the help of my amazing mentors, classes, and the support of my teenage son and family I have worked hard (and sometimes really late into the night) to learn my new role and learn a new way of working. I am currently working on my CMCA designation. I have a plaque in my office that I was given many years ago that says: “Don’t Look Back You’re Not Going That Way” but I cannot help but to look back on everything and feel so much joy and love. I feel I deserve this award because of my passion, persistence for excellence, inquisitiveness, and contagious excitement show not only in the way I communicate with those around me but in my work every day. I strive to achieve new experiences, skills, and information that improve my abilities. The combination of each of these has helped shape me into who I am today and will help me to reach my goals and beyond. To say that I alone deserve this award is an understatement because of the amazing individuals and leaders who came before me and are here alongside me guiding, teaching, and empowering me to greatness. Coming from a culinary and patient care background, community management was a nuova grande avventura (a great new adventure)! This industry and the pandemic not only taught me a new way of communicating but also how community managers are indeed the keys to community living.

Donna Galindo, CMCA: I could not have imagined that 13 years ago accepting a part time position in a local community would result into a fantastic career. I have worked every desk doing every position at one time or another over the years. I have absorbed myself in the community, the board and the staff. After 45 years being self-managed the board choose TaylorManagement tomanage the community and I was lucky to be part of the transition and have grown since. There have been some trying times over the years but the community has come out from under all of it including the weight of Covid and dissension and is now a happier place to live and work. We have become a secondary family to many with a sense of community and togetherness. Isn’t that what it is all about? There is no better feeling than getting it right!

I wanted to be home for my children when they were young. After quite a few years, I decided to start getting back in the workforce slowly. It is funny thinking back now. I went from part time to full time in months not years and closing administrator to facilities in a short time with a stop in finance on the way and then on to management. The board asked me to take my CMCA and in 6 months, I had my certificate. I always looked for more and found it. In 2017, Taylor Management was hired to manage the financing for the community and since finance was mostly done in the Taylor main office and there was an on-site accountant, I moved over as Operations Administrator, dealing with day-to day operations of all common facilities, working with the Facilities Manager and the General Manager. This was a great opportunity and gave me even more knowledge of buildings and build relationships with vendors. In 2019, Taylor was contracted to manage the community and not just finance. After a few managers had come and gone, one was hired that put down roots. I was offered the assistant manager position and I accepted without a second thought. Then there was Covid, a very rough time for all of us but especially the residents. Some showed little kindness and understanding when the common buildings were closed and restrictions were in place. Unfortunately, the previous manager and board took the brunt of it. The board and community needed someone that was strong but kind with the knowledge of the community. It was a position that I have done on and off for years so when asked, I accepted. I was happy taking a roll that I knew would