April 2025 CT

LOOKING AHEAD ANGELA KAVANAUGH | CAI-NJ CHAPTER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

S pring is by far my favorite season! Whether you are planning on planting seasonal blooms, tackling one of your outdoor projects on your to-do list, or spring cleaning, we can all gather motivation from this wonderful season. After what seems like a long winter, we can enjoy the outdoors and all that it has to offer. It is the season that nature has a rebirth, and we should take inspiration from it to reflect on personal growth and change, to begin our individual journey of creating the person that we see our selves to be. The committees, along with the chapter team, have been planning many new programs that they are excited to offer to our members. The New Jersey chapter’s Women’s Leadership Committee will be hosting Conquer + Connect on Tuesday, April 8th at the Wilshire Grand in West Orange. The program will shine a spotlight on strong female leaders who will share their experiences and knowledge that have gotten them to where they are within the community association industry. The day will open with Meditations and Affirmations, a quick 15-minute session, setting the day’s goals with breathing techniques. The education will begin with a key note presentation featuring Ishea Shepherd on the topic: Mindful Mastery: Balancing Mental Wellness & Multiple Priorities. The program will then break into two education al tracks for the morning, CONNECT so we all Conquer!, hosted by our CAI-NJ members Chelsea Brodmerkel, EBP, Jessica Long, and Lauren Vadenais, EBP and Ishea Shepherd will return for Defeating the Inner Critic: Overcoming Impostor Syndrome. You won’t want to miss our Envision Yourself Workshop, where all of our attendees will have the opportunity to create their own vision boards and walk away with their own inspired creation! Following lunch, we will again break into two educational tracks, CAI-NJ mem bers, Nora Campbell, and Maegan Woytek will present Unlocking Success: Navigating Personalities for Stronger Leadership & Communication and Amelia Holguin will

present, Next Generation Sales: Bridging the Gap in Community Association Management. As the closing key note, the chapter is excited to have Dawn Bauman, CAE, CAI Senior Vice President, Government & Public Affairs, showcase her journey as a female leader in our industry and lead, Empowered Advocacy: A Journey Through Legislation and Leadership in Community Associations, a discussion on current legislation affecting the industry on a national and state level. Throughout the day, attendees will “I hope that you join us for Conquer + Connect and build your network to gain support and encouragement while educating yourself to become leaders in the industry.” also have the opportunity to network with tabletop exhibi tors and learn what is currently trending in the industry. This annual event empowers attendees to ask questions, meet those “veterans” who have paved the trail, and create an environment to grow from one another. I hope that you join us for Conquer + Connect and build your network to gain support and encouragement while educating yourself to become leaders in the indus try. Managers will earn 5 CEUs, business partners can build relationships throughout the day and all participants will leave with professional development techniques that enhance our industry. We are also excited to once again host the designer shoe raffle where all attendees will have the opportunity to win the pair of Christian Louboutin. I wish you a wonderful Spring season, wherever your fun outdoor activities take you. For further information and to register for all our upcoming programs, please visit, https://cainj.org/network-events/ for networking events, https://cainj.org/education-events/, for educa tional programs. Enjoy and I hope to see you at our upcoming events! n

6

APRIL 2025