Oct_2017_Conf

MANAGEMENT TRENDS Conference Checklist:

A Community Manager’s Guide By Jeff Cirkus, CMCA, AMS, PCAM Associa - Community Management Corp., AAMC

"Make sure to bring business cards with you so that the professionals you meet know how to reach you."

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W ith the CAI-NJ Conference and Expo quickly approaching on October 18, 2017, commu- nity managers have an excellent opportunity to meet new professionals within the industry, connect with existing colleagues, as well as hear from industry experts on various important and timely topics. Regardless of whether you’re a veteran community manager or just get- ting started, the Conference is well worth your time. Below are some important reasons to attend along with tips for how to get the most out of the Conference. Walk the exhibit floor A conference wouldn’t be a conference without an exhibit floor. This year, the CAI-NJ Conference and Expo will have 167 exhibitors! Including in the mix are service providers covering any and every service needed for com- munity associations. As Community Managers, it is import-

ant to know who to call in any given situation that arises for the communities we serve. Take this opportunity to walk around and chat with the different exhibitors and see what services they can provide. Make sure to bring business cards with you so that the professionals you meet know how to reach you. Additionally, you may want to have a system for keeping track of who you met. For instance, keep the business cards of service providers you plan to reach out to shortly after the Conference in one pocket, and keep those you plan to contact at a later date in another. Education This year, there are six separate educational sessions, covering topics ranging from disaster preparedness to an update on recent legislative activity impacting the commu- nity association industry. The topics are hand picked to pro-

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