Chicagoland BD Interviewed by Common Interest Magazine
Erica Horndash, CMCA®, AMS®, and Vice President of Business Development for Associa Chicagoland was recently interviewed by Common Interest Magazine as part of their "CAI Volunteer Spotlight" series, breaking down her role as a volunteer helping the Illinois chapter of the Community Associations Institute (CAI) further their mission. Download the issue today and check out the article below:
How long have you been a member of CAI?
A long time…
On which committee(s) do you serve, and for how long? Do you Chair the committees?
I currently serve on the Volunteer Commission. I believe it’s been about two years. Throughout my career and membership with CAI, I have served on the trade show committee and the board of directors.
What made you decide to volunteer for CAI-IL?
I love volunteering, but what I love even more is planning events and parties while volunteering. For anyone that truly knows me, this will come as no surprise. So, when Kerry Bartell called and asked me about joining the volunteer committee to serve alongside the past presidents of CAI and my friends; I could not say no to the opportunity or to her.
What skills do you feel are needed to be a successful volunteer for CAI?
You have to love people. If you don’t love people, this is not the right organization or industry for you. Two skills that are top of mind would be teamwork and commitment. It’s important for everyone to play nice in the sandbox and do their part to contribute to the betterment of the organization and the chapter's overall success.
What are you passionate about?
I am passionate about my career; however, my biggest passion is being the best version of myself, being a good wife and the best mom I can be. My family is everything to me!
What is bringing you joy lately?
I’m about to become a grandma…yes, a grandma, nana, gamma, whatever my granddaughter wants to call me. I am beyond excited to welcome Aleyah Rose to our family.
What do you see as the most common misconception within our industry?
Honestly, I don't know where to start. Most of the misconceptions in the management industry come from lack of education and understanding about what it means to live in an association. Homeowners blame volunteer board members and the manager or "big bad management companies" for everything. I talk to hundreds of board members every year, and not a lot surprises me anymore, but there's still this expectation that a manager and management company should do everything but shouldn't be compensated fairly for their time.
I've been in the management arena for over 30 years and management fees have not increased, yet salary requirements, cost of living, technology demands, cyber security protections, operating csots etc. have all increased significantly. More and more is expected from our communities, yet compensation is always a debate.
What is the biggest challenge you have faced in your role within our industry?
I would say the two biggest challenges we face on a daily basis are client expectations and finding the next generation of managers. Property management has never been an easy job, but over the past 10 years, it's become increasingly difficult. There are many factors that lead to this, but management is often compared to other service industries, which leads to unrealistic expecations for what we do.
If money was no object, how would you further the mission of CAI?
If money was no object, I think we need to get management courses introduced at the college level. Creating curriculums for universities to develop awareness for this side of the real estate industry is key to shining light on the pathways at an earlier stage of career developement. We need a larger reach that only money can buy.
What have you learned most about yourself volunteering for CAI-IL?
Volunteering is something I truly enjoy and is a part of who I am. I think it's ingrained in my DNA.
If you are a manager or business partner, how does your employer support your volunteer contributions to CAI-IL?
Associa completely supports all our employees' efforts volunteering at CAI and other industry organizations. It's part of our duty to serve our industry and give back to the communities we serve.