Nominee Packet 2022

Gigi Brunson: My Name is Gigi Brunson and, I am a Community Manager with Taylor Management Company, AAMC. AMO. The 19-year career I nurtured has manifested into an outstanding opportunity to provide exceptional services to my clients. The leadership management style I adopt is a testament to the professionalism and respect for my role as a Community Manager.

The experience that I bring to the management profession gives me the edge to how I made a difference to my community overall. I am a skilled negotiator who prioritizes risk management, conflict resolution, and the development of a cohesive standard operating procedure to accommodate the community. My primary focus is to improve the clients’ financials by preparing the most accurate budget, staying within the costs, and having a surplus to carry into the next fiscal year. The goal is to prevent special assessments and significant increases in management fees. I can accomplish the task by the efforts of successful contract negotiations, project bidding, and dealing with insurance renewal and claims. I will do anything to avoid significant increases in cost, legal and maintenance fees. Having a solid team that understands and respects your work ethic is the key to being a successful manager. I connect with my vendors personally and treat everyone with respect. I will never ask someone to do something that I am unwilling to do myself. I go over and beyond to help out anyone I can because it is my pleasure to do so. I am always willing to pitch in for the good of the community regardless of the mission. I understand my role as a leader, and I enjoy my work. I take pride in making a positive difference both personally and professionally. The passion and the pride that I put into my work are a testament to my accomplishment. I am truly devoted to enhancing the lives of my homeowners, and it is essential to build good relationships with vendors and co-workers. I am delighted to be nominated for the CAI-NJ Candice Bladt Community Manager of the Year Award. It is something that I will be proud to receive and honor.

Maria Cassidy, CMCA: There were many influencers and experiences that led to my career in Community Association Management. My parents emphasized the value of a positive mindset and encouraged self-development. My experience in musical ensembles mirrors the importance of building a strong staff. The combined effort and focus of each staff member are similar to the discipline and sensibility required by each musician to achieve beautiful sound. As a manager I have learned to focus on the people rather than singular tasks. Recognize and encourage their individual talents to form a strong and cohesive team.

Faced with challenges I learned to be open minded and flexible in order to achieve the end goal. My studies in Fine Arts in Florence Italy required me to assimilate to a new culture, people and language to successfully develop as an artist. As a manager I employ this ability to adapt and be receptive to new ideas when guiding the Board and staff through challenging experiences. There is the need to be forward looking and prepare for what may be coming. Later I developed computer graphics skills and launched my career of 15 years with Lehman Brothers in NYC. This afforded a desired lifestyle for my husband and I as we raised 4 children. Managers are required to shift gears and prioritize as issues arise. The tragic events of 9/11 precipitated my family to relocate to the Jersey Shore. In 2006 I began my career in Community Management, soon after obtained the designation of CMCA. In 2012, I accepted a position with FirstService Residential, AAMC and participated in the Emerging Leaders Program while maintaining the position of manager of Greenbriar Woodlands of Toms River. Since 2012, I have partnered with the board, working together to uphold the community’s reputation as one of the most desirable communities in Ocean County. This group of forward thinkers was awarded Board of the Year for a Largescale Community by CAI in 2019. My creative side is where I exercise my intuitiveness to “see the big picture”, heighten awareness, and see the possibilities of what can be in the areas we as managers touch.