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President's Column
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Farrah Esquer |
I am not the same person today, as I was 19 years ago when I joined Cardinal. As I was given the opportunity to grow with the company and hold multiple positions with increasing responsibility, I also raised a family. In early September my husband and I moved our daughter into her dorm room for her first year of college 2,500 miles away. On our way home and over the next couple of weeks up to this day, we have been gradually and painfully adjusting to our new life and at the same time thinking about how our lives will change once again when our son goes to college in 6 years. And while we endure the pain of physical separation from our daughter, we know that this change, along with the pain, is necessary for our daughter's growth into a well-rounded woman.
As a privately-owned mid-size company in our industry, Cardinal has also gone through change and growth during our 36-year history. As I look back over the years, I recall the times we experienced bumps in the road and sometimes a few setbacks. However, those bumps and setbacks helped guide us to where we are today. They helped us recognize where change was necessary, no matter how painful, to mature and evolve as a company. Today, we learn and grow together with our clients. However, our growth is not always in size, as we are evolving in how we serve our clients. We are continuously evaluating new technology and tools that help our staff learn new skills to increase efficiency and provide meaningful solutions and options to those we serve.
While we strive to provide the utmost service to our clients, in no way do we guarantee perfection. We do however, guarantee that we will always be a business partner who will change and grow, and consistently strive for perfection. Thank you to all our clients for being part of our evolution and growth.
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Congratulations Tina Zurrica!
Cardinal congratulates Account Manager Tina Zurrica on her 20th anniversary with Cardinal Property Management! The Cardinal family recently threw Tina a surprise party at Cardinal headquarters complete with lunch, cake, and gifts.
"Cardinal has a good and solid reputation in our industry, and we continue to grow," said Tina. "I've seen our company change with the times and we continue to educate our staff with the best ways to tackle day-to-day tasks in doing our best for our Board clients and homeowners. It has been a great, and sometimes challenging, 20 years, and I appreciate all that I have learned from my two decades with Cardinal Property Management."
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Operating in the Dark?
Even the eclipse of the century couldn't eclipse the fun at Cardinal Property Management as the staff took turns watching the solar shenanigans through ISO-certified glasses in September.
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Water-Gardens Splashed into Summer with Refurbished Pools and Spas
Nearly 100 residents of The Water-Gardens Owners Association in Fullerton gathered in August to christen the next phase of the Association's refurbishing projects. The pool and spa in area two were reopened during a neighborhood barbecue and party. The neighbors shared hot dogs, hamburgers, chips, and a variety of summer side dishes.
The event was sponsored by Alan Smith Pools, Accurate Termite & Pest Control, Commercial Landscape Services, and Jim Murray Roofing. Cardinal thanks the generous sponsors and all who attended!
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Robin Kostka (sitting), Alan Smith Pools; Michael Bodnar, The Water-Gardens Owners Association Board president; Teri Brown, Account Manager, Cardinal Property Management; Jim Murray, Jim Murray Roofing; Kevin Kostka, Alan Smith Pools.
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Stuck in the Mud
There's nothing like a good wallow in the mud to strengthen your team! Cardinal staff and families participated in the annual Mud Run at Irvine Lake, and helped each other run, slip, slide, climb, sploosh, and splash through the 5K course. We changed our name (just for the day) from Cardinal to The Dirty Birdies!
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Education: The Key to Successful Management
There are very few times in our lives when we can use the word "always" and have it be literally true. This is such a time. Cardinal Property Management has ALWAYS focused on education for our staff. We even pay for continuing education through our industry professional organization, Community Associations Institute (CAI). And that's why we're proud to announce that three more of our managers earned their Certified Manager of Community Associations (CMCA) accreditation recently.
Account Managers April Dana, Brittany Gammon, and Wes McKay successfully completed all course work and examinations required to earn their CMCA. CMCAs are recognized for their skills and knowledge in community association management.
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Taking a "Classy" Approach
In keeping with Cardinal's philosophy of continuing education for its staff members, Cardinal also believes an educated Board is an effective Board. The company hosted four classes for Board Members this year and has scheduled the final one of the year for October 18.
Kicking the year off, Cardinal began offering an innovative approach to help new Directors get up to speed on their new responsibilities and as a refresher for veteran Directors. The new course, "Board Member Boot Camp: Training for New Recruits," is tailored to the specific needs of your community. This class can be held at Cardinal's corporate office or at a location of your Board's choosing.
In March, Cardinal held a class about the necessity of reserve studies. In August, the course offered was about what every Board Member should know about finances.
Cardinal's final course of 2017 will be held Wednesday, October 18, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Steven Roseman, Roseman & Associates, will share his knowledge of  assessment collection and avoiding potential pitfalls during judicial and nonjudicial foreclosures.
Cardinal's classes are held in tandem with Community Associations Institute and are usually full. To ensure you get a seat, register early. To sign up for the assessment collection course, click here.
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The courses are taught by industry experts and often recorded so Boards can view the class at their leisure.
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Cardinal's Champions for a Cause
Cardinal's Champion for a Cause (CCC) is an internal Cardinal program that allows employees and the company to team up to donate money to the 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. That employee selects the charity to receive the donation.
Our first winner is
Administrative Assistant Manny Marquez. Manny selected the
 organization, "Setting Scoliosis Straight," based in San Diego, to receive the funds. "I picked this incredible organization because my sister, Brianna, has had multiple surgeries to help correct her scoliosis since she was an infant. She is 18 now, and has only a 14% curvature of her spine as opposed to her presurgical number of 40%."
Manny, his sister, and family have spent countless hours volunteering for the organization.
The mission of Setting Scoliosis Straight Foundation is to support discoveries and advance techniques in the treatment of spinal deformities in children and adolescents worldwide.
Our most recent winner is Accounting staffer Rochelle Hibbs. Rochelle has designated the Red Cross Disaster Relief fund to receive the contributions. "I chose Red Cross because so many people need help right now as a result of fires, hurricanes, and other natural disasters. I know the organization will get the money to the people who need help."
For more information, contact: settingscoliosisstraight.org
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March to Boot Camp Without Leaving Your Community
Cardinal is now offering "Board Member Boot Camp" tailored specifically for your association and taught to your Board at a meeting space of your choice.
This 1.5 to 2-hour training course is designed as a refresher for veteran Directors, an introduction to community associations for new Directors, and helpful training for Committee members and potential Directors.
Cardinal President Farrah Esquer and an industry expert will cover such topics as the nature of community associations and their corporate status, understanding your role as a Director and Committee Member, your fiduciary duties, how to enforce your governing documents, compliance with applicable statutes, and preparing for and attending Board meetings.
We look forward to seeing you in class!
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Cardinal on the Fly
You live your life on the fly. Cardinal-Online can flit with you wherever you go. We are proud to announce that Cardinal Property Management's
website
is available on smart phones and tablets.
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Help Cardinal Fly Farther in 2017 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 35 years. Our strategic plan for 2017 and beyond includes not only further spreading our wings in Orange County but also into the Inland Empire and Los Angeles County. Cardinal holds the prestigious Accredited Association Management Company (AAMC) designation from the Community Associations Institute (CAI).
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.
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Concrete Evidence
Mary Wortman, Cardinal's Director of Communications, recently had an article published in OC View, our industry's periodical for Orange County. The article is about two scientists in The Netherlands who have developed a self-healing concrete. This leap in concrete innovation is that the mix contains live cultures of microbes that excrete a concrete substance to fill cracks when they are exposed to water. For the complete story, please refer to our Blog here.
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