CAI-NJ Oct. 2018(w)

LOOKING AHEAD LARRY THOMAS, PCAM | CAI-NJ CHAPTER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

F irst, I want to thank everyone involved in CAI-NJ for working along with me and allowing me to be a part of an organization that not only gives in so many ways but allows friendships to be created within our indus- try. CAI-NJ was formed back in 1978 and the individuals who formed this chapter were motivated and persistent in pursuing a goal of success for all of its members. I’ve recently had the privilege of sitting with Wendell Smith, our chapter’s first president and discussing the early days of CAI-NJ. At the end of the conversation, it was evident that the goals and aspirations are still the same today — educate our members, advocate for our industry and be the go-to resource for all our stakeholders. It’s an amazing story of how we’ve grown over the past 40 years. We are rapidly approaching the 2,000-member plateau and have gone from a part-time Executive Director to an office of four full-timers and three-part timers. The purpose of this article is to welcome everyone to this year’s Conference and Expo. We are excited about the new venue. Angela Kavanaugh and her Conference and Expo Committee have spent dozens of hours preparing for the event making sure that your day will be as beneficial as possible. Please make sure to take advantage of every-

thing that is offered, and who knows you may be one of the lucky $1,000 cash prize winners. I also want to remind everyone to encourage their col- leagues to attend. If you’re a board member, invite your committee volunteers and management and maintenance teams. If you’re a manager, persuade your board mem- bers to attend. Load up the car and make a day of it. Remember there is no charge for board members and managers to attend. I suggest that you pre-register to avoid

“I’ve recently had the privilege of sitting with Wendell Smith, our

chapter’s first president and discussing the early days of CAI-NJ.”

the on-site registration process. Information on how to pre-register can be found on page 21. So, without further ado, I’d like to present to you the 2018 CAI-NJ Conference and Expo “40 Years of Prime Time with CAI-NJ.” n

Encore Event Center at iPlay America Freehold, NJ Thursday, October 18, 2018

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