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 CARDINAL CHRONICLES

Spring 2014 

Message from President Farrah Esquer

Farrah-Staff Photos

  

I am happy to report that Cardinal has had a wonderful transition from 2013 to 2014. We have been proud to add new clients to our customer base, we received runner up for the second consecutive year for Community Associations Institute's (CAI) Corporate Sponsor of the Year award, two of our managers received portfolio manager of the year from CAI, and we've added new members to our dedicated family.

We've all heard the famous quote by Heraclitus that "the only thing that is constant is change." At Cardinal, we welcome change because if you're standing in a pond of tranquility you never discover that there is an ocean out there.

However, the one quality at Cardinal that has not changed and will not change is our commitment to customer service and our clients. Nothing is more important to us than the ethical execution of our commitments to our board members and homeowners.

Founder and CEO Susan Naples started Cardinal Property Management 32 years ago, and although the company has seen many changes over the decades, the one thing that has held steady is our unwavering dedication to our clients.

Every meeting we attend, every stroke of our pens, every phone call we make, and every hand we shake is dedicated to our never-ending service to you.

 

Farrah Esquer, President

Welcome Home, Garden Estates!  

 

Cardinal is proud to welcome Garden Estates Maintenance Association back to the family. Located in Irvine, Garden Estates is a planned unit development of single-family residences and is part of the Master Community of Woodbridge Village. Cardinal and Garden Estates enjoyed a 16-year relationship together before the Association decided to give other management firms the opportunity to serve them. During the two years they were away from Cardinal, Garden Estates tried two other management companies before returning to the Cardinal family. We welcome them home, and we will continue to provide them Cardinal's suite of full-scale resources with the utmost integrity.

Cardinal Director Earns National Designation 

 

JoAnn Von Dollen Cardinal's Director of Operations JoAnn Von Dollen recently earned the national designation of Certified Manager of Community Associations (CMCA) from the Community Association Managers International Certification Board (CAMICB).

 

The CMCA is the only national certification program designed exclusively for managers of homeowner and condominium associations and cooperatives. The CMCA recognizes individuals who have demonstrated the fundamental knowledge required to manage community associations.

To obtain the CMCA certification, JoAnn took the required courses and passed the national examination, demonstrating basic knowledge in many areas of community management, including:

  • Governance and legal matters
  • Budgets, reserves, investments, and assessments
  • Risk management and insurance
  • Maintenance
  • Contracting
  • Meetings management
  • Human resource management
To maintain her certification, JoAnn will meet specific requirements through continuing education and compliance with the Standards of Professional Conduct.

Two Cardinal Property Management Managers Receive Portfolio Manager of the Year Award         

 

Congratulations to Cardinal Property Management's Maryanne Hurley-Cicconi and Karen Holthe for receiving Portfolio Manager of the Year awards for outstanding service from the Community Associations Institute, Orange County Chapter. On February 7, during the annual awards dinner at Disney's Grand Californian Hotel, Karen and Maryanne were lauded as Portfolio Manager of the Year, Rookie, and Portfolio Manager of the Year, Veteran, respectively.

 

 

Maryanne has been with Cardinal for 5 years. In support of CAI, she served as the Co-Chair of the Programs Committee 2013, and was responsible for coordinating the monthly educational luncheons. Through Maryanne's leadership, the luncheons were highly effective and provided sound educational value to the Chapter. In fact, due in part to Maryanne and her Committee's efforts, the Orange County Chapter's educational luncheons were often sold-out, received rave reviews, and were among the largest luncheon educational events in the state. As Co-Chair, Maryanne worked tirelessly and enthusiastically to ensure that the coordinators for every luncheon met their deadlines, provided Powerpoint presentations and outlines on time, and even filled in for coordinators on several occasions. Her dedication to the Programs Committee exemplifies the quality of service recognized by the Portfolio Manager of the Year Award.

  

As a portfolio manager, Maryanne efficiently manages a portfolio of seven accounts that includes a wide variety of communities. Maryanne works with the boards of planned unit developments, waterfront properties with boat docks, an age 55+ community, and condominiums. During 2013 she also successfully transitioned a new account to the company into her portfolio. In addition, Maryanne assisted her portfolio communities with a wide variety of enhancement projects including a new vehicle gate access system, a roofing project, and a recall election.

  

During 2013, Karen Holthe dedicated herself to the Education Committee. She audited every Community Leadership Training Program (CLTP) so she could serve as an instructor for each class, when needed. She was indeed needed, and Karen co-instructed the Finance class twice.

  

In her quest for excellence for the Education Committee, Karen suggested the Committee quantitatively determine the effectiveness of each class to expand the reach of the classes and educate more board members and managers. Her goal was to increase the attendance of board members and managers to exceed rather than merely meet the minimum number of attendees. Karen then gauged the attendance against her goal and monitored the progress of every Committee meeting. Following these meetings, she extended her goal even further. During this process to bolster attendance and extend the reach of the Education Committee, Karen relentlessly advertised the CLTP courses to association clients. Karen also parlayed her Education Committee experience to assist Cardinal Property Management, AAMC/ACMF, prepare for and run its Board Education classes.

  

Karen manages a portfolio of seven accounts that include PUDs, equestrian communities, and condominiums. She is also the Director of Property Management at Cardinal Property Management, AAMC/ACMF. She provides manager oversight, mentoring, training, and marketing.

  

In her property management role, she assisted one of her communities during a major "facelift" to the entrance of the association. This project encompassed hardscape, landscape, lighting, asphalt replacement, and signage.

  

She also managed a tree replacement program that exchanged dying eucalyptus trees with other viable trees and plants. She assisted with slurry projects in multiple communities, and she astutely managed a 30-year old property during a lighting project for all its monuments. Karen also managed a community project to replace all the irrigation controllers with Smart controllers.

  

It is with great pride that Cardinal congratulates Maryanne and Karen for these prestigious awards.

2014 Board Education Opportunities        

 

At the beginning of every year, Cardinal renews its commitment to educating board members to help them serve their communities in the most effective manner possible. One way we implement our commitment is through our Board Education series. Cardinal hosts evening classes free of charge for all board members and directors. Keep an eye out for the class schedule for 2014. We look forward to seeing you in class. Some of the topics will be:

  • Financial Review: What Every Board Member Should Know
  • Assessment Collection Aftermath: The Steps After Judgments and Foreclosures
  • Hot Topics: Nuisances, Patrol, Parking, Case Law, and other Pressing Topics

Black and White Event to Be in Living Color 

    

 
Please join Cardinal Property Management as we continue our ardent mission to raise funds for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) which works tirelessly to treat and ultimately cure leukemia and blood cancers.

 

We are hosting a Black and White Soiree at the Downtown Community Center Friday, May 2, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. 250 E Center Street in Anaheim.

 

Although we are asking our guests to dress in black and white, it does not necessarily mean formal attire. Casual black and white wardrobe is fine.

 

We will dance to two bands, and enjoy a variety of hors d'oeuvres and desserts. There will be a no-host bar, a wide array of exciting raffle prizes throughout the evening and a 50/50 raffle.

 

All proceeds from the evening will go to our LLS fund to be given to the Society at the end of the year. Please join us for an evening of fun and to help us reach our fund-raising goals.

 
In This Issue
Message from President Farrah Esquer
Welcome Home, Garden Estates!
Cardinal Director Earns National Designation
Two Cardinal Property Management Managers Receive Portfolio Manager of the Year Award
2014 Board Education Opportunities
Black and White Event to Be in Living Color
Cardinal Champions for a Cause
Stork Delivers to Cardinal
Cardinal on the Fly
The Power of a Thank You
Help Cardinal Fly Farther in 2014 and Receive a Discount for Your Association
Did You Know?

Cardinal Champions for a Cause 

Property Manager
Theresa Hirschman
was selected as Cardinal's Champion for a Cause (CCC) during a recent staff meeting. CCC is a program internal to Cardinal that allows employees and the company to team together to donate money to employees' favorite charitable organizations throughout the year. Employees who participate in Casual Friday dress day each week donate a small sum of money to do so. Cardinal matches the collected funds, and a participating employee's name is randomly chosen during a staff meeting. The randomly chosen employee selects the charity to receive the donation.


"The charity I've chosen to receive our funds is the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society," said Theresa.  "I chose LLS for two reasons. My sister was just diagnosed with a low-grade lymphoma that is looking like it can be treated successfully. Her prognosis is good. Also, Cardinal has a long-standing commitment to help LLS raise funds for research and treatment."

A great deal of Cardinal's philanthropic efforts throughout the year goes into helping LLS. From the annual national Light the Night walk to the popular Bunco Night to the new Black and White event, Cardinal family members work all year to raise money for this important organization in honor of Cardinal family members and friends who have battled and are battling a variety of blood and other cancers.
Stork Delivers to Cardinal
 
Congratulations to Property Manager
Kristen Rodriguez and her husband AJ on the birth of their first child, Ava. Ava was born January 20 at 5:13 a.m., just in time for breakfast. She was 5 pounds and 11 ounces. The couple can be seen taking quick naps when and where they can.
Cardinal on the Fly

You live your life on the fly. Now Cardinal-Online can flit with you wherever you go. We are proud to announce that Cardinal Property Management's website is available now on smart phones and tablets.

 

Cardinal on the Fly! is active now, just as you are.

The Power of a Thank You

"Thank you" can be one of the most powerful pairs of words in the English language. Has a Cardinal Team Member made your Board work a little easier? Did a Cardinal member go "above and beyond" for you? Be sure to thank him or her through our website to ensure that person gets a pat on the back during a Cardinal staff meeting. Your comments will be read aloud during a Cardinal staff meeting so your kind words can inspire the whole team.

 

Oh yes and, "Thank you!"

Help Cardinal Fly Farther in 2014 and Receive a Discount for Your Association

Would you like your association to receive a $200 discount on its next monthly management fee? Cardinal has been dedicated to helping Boards and Directors throughout Orange County for more than 30 years. Our strategic plan for 2014 and beyond includes not only further spreading our wings in Orange County but also into the Inland Empire and Los Angeles County. We continue to be the only property management firm in California that has earned both the national certification (AAMC) and state designation (ACMF) to serve our clients.

 

We are offering our client associations $200 off their next monthly management fee for referring a new client who signs a contract with Cardinal. Refer your friends to our website so they can see who we are and how we can help their communities to enhance the quality of their community living experience.


Watch our website and newsletter for further information in the coming year.

Did You Know?

Water is the only substance on earth that is lighter as a solid than a liquid.  Right now, water is a scarce commodity. California is currently in a state of emergency after 2013 turned into the driest year on record. Our state is the world's 10th largest economy.
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