Pick a beautiful community association. Add one of CAI’s world-renowned community association manager education courses. And mix in valuable in-person networking opportunities with colleagues. What do you get? CAI’s reimagined M-340: Managing the Large-Scale Association.

Last week, community managers from across the country gathered at Sun City Palm Desert in California for the latest version of the course. Designed to provide managers with the knowledge and tools necessary to successfully manage a large-scale community association, instructors covered topics such as safety and security, developer relations, asset management, financial management, budgeting, board-management relationships, and more.

Attendees also had the opportunity to learn from experts in their field and share their own experiences with other managers.

“I learned a lot of great information, things that I think I should have done already, but now I know for future reference to make my association run smoother,” says Melinda Tait, CMCA, AMS, a representative from Cypress Village Homeowners Association in Orange County, Calif.

Dan Goodrich, CMCA, AMS, PCAM, manager of Sierra Dawn Estates Homeowners Association in Hemet, Calif., was excited about the networking opportunities the event provided. “I am so impressed by all of the interactions we’ve had. It’s been great learning from a group of like-minded people,” he says.

Holly Smith, CMCA, AMS, PCAM, from Desert Resort Management in Palm Desert, Calif., notes that the skills and lessons learned at the event were transferable to portfolio management as well. “There’s some invaluable information not only for large-scale managers but also good reminders of best practices on how to run an association,” she observes.

In addition to the training course, attendees had the opportunity to tour the Sun City Palm Desert community. The 55-and-over, active-adult community features a beautiful golf course, multiple rec centers, a recently redesigned restaurant, a softball field, pools, and more.

The M-340 aims to provide valuable information and networking opportunities to community managers, so that they can leave the event well on their way to achieving their Large-Scale Manager (LSM) credential, better equipped to manage large-scale associations, and more connected within their field. Large-scale community associations typically are defined as communities that have more than 1,000 units or 1,000 acres and an annual budget of at least $2 million.

>>CAI’s next M-340 course will be hosted by Lake Naomi Club in the Poconos in Pennsylvania in August. Learn more and register now.

  • Hazel Siff

    Hazel Siff is associate editor at CAI. She graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara's communication department and worked as a student journalist at both UC Santa Barbara and Santa Monica College. Hazel has worked in print media, on multiple podcasts, and on a YouTube show. Originally from Western Massachusetts, she has spent the last several years living in Southern California.

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