2024 Awards Nominees

Candice Bladt Community Manager of the Year Nominees

Donna Galindo, CMCA: Donna started as a part time receptionist/closing coordinator 14 years ago. She never would have thought that beginning as a part timer with small children would have grown into a management position with one of the largest active adult communities in Monroe Township and the state. She has continued to grow in her career going from part-time coordinator to full-time in the Accounting Dept, Operations and then Assistant Manager and now Community Manager. It has been a long road and she has been continuously educating herself through CAI and legal seminars to be able to manage the community and staff with the utmost professionalism. She has had the honor of receiving her CMCA and AMS designations along with a Jules Frankel Manager Educational Award. She has consistently been supported by the Community’s Board and Taylor Management Company every step of the way. She is well known and thought of within her community of over 3,000 people and assists anyone with an issue with the utmost care and consideration.

Being in the industry for such a long time Donna has maintained vendor relationships, negotiated contracts as well as has assisted the attorneys with contracts and collections. She has found that the position of community manager is multifaceted and includes: English, Math, Science, History and most of all Psychology. There are so many different types of people in her community and they all have their own thoughts and ideas. Donna respects everyone’s opinions and ideas and grows from being open to new challenges. Donna heard a quote many years ago that she has tried to live by and has often communicated to her community, “Every negative thought is a down payment on failure. Every positive thought is an investment in the future.” There is no room in her career or her life for negativity and it flows into all aspects of her managing style. She maintains good relationships with her residents and staff and has an open door and open ear should they need anything. Life outside the office is equally as fulfilling and Donna loves spending time with family and friends. She has a 24 year old daughter and 19 year old son and not to forget the husband of 26 years. She enjoys dining out with friends, going to shows and vacationing. The absolute joy of her life beside her husband and kids is her 5 year old maltipoo that is always there to greet her when she comes home from a long day. If asked if she would do it all again the same way Donna’s answer would be a definite yes. Community Management has become the road for success to her. She has enjoyed it for many years and will continue to do so as long as she can.

Katherine Henriques: I am honored to be considered for the Candice Bladt Community Manager of the Year award! Katherine is my birth name, but many call me “Kat.” I have been a portfolio manager for over 10 years. My role as a Portfolio Manager varies from making sure that all communities under my care are operating smoothly. Making sure the appearance and the financial health of the community are maintained. There are a ton of qualities that are essential for a successful property manager. We “Property Managers’ must be able to communicate effectively, be organized and detail-oriented, have strong customer service skills, and stay calm under pressure. One of the things that is an important skill is having the ability to maintain positive relationships with the residents of a community. A property manager must be familiar with the relevant laws and regulations. We carry a load of responsibilities, and as a manager, I try to maintain a healthy, safe atmosphere for all of my residents. Having a good relationship with my Boards is essential to me, and to the overall operations of the community, we are all working and serving. They tell me

what they are looking to accomplish, and I make sure that it gets done. When I am assigned a property, there is so much to learn, such as how many floors there are in the community building and the structure of the building, and before I know it, it is like second nature. You realize so many little things that it becomes natural to pick up on even the smallest things that never stood out. One thing I have learned is that it all comes down to communication, taking the time to know who lives in the building, and making myself available to a homeowner or resident. When difficult situations arise, it is important to work together with the Board of Directors but also allow and bring in the community residents so that they are part of that decision. This is what makes a community. Despite how overwhelming many