CAI-NJ Oct. 2019(w)

MANAGEMENT TRENDS

Tips for Attending the Upcoming CAI-NJ Conference and Expo By Anthony Nardone MBA, CMCA, AMS, PCAM, CEO Corner Property Management

I f I had to recommend just one event to attend this year, the upcoming CAI-NJ Conference and Expo on October 17th at The Event Center @IPA, would be it. Throughout the year, CAI-NJ offers our members an extraor- dinary array of professional programing: Homeowner Leadership workshops, Professional development courses, round table forums on specific issues facing our industry, as well as fun opportunities to network with our peers. The CAI-NJ Conference and Expo is all of that in one day, all under one roof and it may be our most visible and most attended event of the year, Don’t be someone who just wishes to change or learn new things about community living. Get up and take action by attending: One small step at a time and this is a perfect first step. And for the more seasoned homeowners this is the one day in the year when you can expand your knowledge base on all aspects of association living. Having attended the Expo religiously over the years, here are some tips to get the most out of the day. Start With a Plan Register early. The Expo is FREE to attend to all community association manager and homeowner leaders and includes a catered breakfast and lunch. Throughout the day there will be hourly drawings for $1,000 cash. However, if you’ve never attended the Expo it can be a bit overwhelming. You’ll want to review the numerous events, workshops, and educational roundtables scheduled throughout the day and note which ones address topics and issues that are facing your association. If there is more than one or two you’ll want to prioritize the events that appeal to you most and use the Expo map to note the locations and times of the programs you plan to attend.

“If possible, don’t attend by yourself. If you can get other homeowner leaders or colleagues to go as a group...”

If possible, don’t attend by yourself. If you can get other homeowner leaders or colleagues to go as a group you’ll be able to cover more ground and attend more education- al events and make more connections – splitting up the duties between everyone. Insider Tip: With your plan in place, be sure to down- load the Expo Floor Plan from the CAI-NJ website. This will be a real time saver once you arrive. Have a Purpose in Mind It’s very easy to get distracted, believe me, I know. I’ve found that attendees who are facing specific issues within their communities can build an understanding of the possible solutions and often get specific answers to help them move forward. • Perhaps there is a specific project that your community is doing and you’d like to meet vendors who handle that CONT I NU E S ON PAGE 49

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