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Dear Members,
I’m excited to share an update on the significant progress the CAI Austin Chapter has made in recent months. It’s been an exciting time of growth, change, and strategic planning, and I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished so far. Here’s a look at some of the key initiatives and updates:
New Executive Director
This past March, we were thrilled to hire Jesus Azanza as our new Executive Director. Jesus brings a wealth of experience in trade association management and marketing, currently serving as Executive Director for the CAI Greater Houston Chapter since 2019 and CAI San Antonio Chapter since 2021. With over 15 years of sales, marketing, and management experience, he’s developed programs that involved price positioning, the rethinking of branding strategies, and the creation of engaging marketing programs. Jesus has helped optimize the operational and strategic strategies and was recognized as a Rising Star by CAI in 2023. His leadership is already having a positive impact on our chapter, and we’re excited to have him on board. Jesus can be reached at jesus@caiaustin.org.
Bylaws Amendment
In May, the Board of Directors made a strategic decision to amend our bylaws, offering clearer guidelines for our board composition. This amendment ensures a more structured approach, outlining the number of board members, ranging from 5 to 11, based on our chapter’s needs. While it may seem like a small change, it provides critical flexibility for decision-making, especially when board members resign, retire, make career changes, or are term-limited. It’s a positive step towards more effective governance.
Committee Review and Charter
The Board of Directors is currently reviewing the committees available to our members to ensure they are serving their intended purpose and align strategically with the chapter’s mission. In line with this, we’ve developed a new Committee Charter that provides clear direction and expectations for each committee. This charter will not only improve efficiency but will also serve as a framework for developing future leaders within the chapter.
CMCA Review
We are thrilled to announce that on October 7, 2025, we will host our first-ever in-person CMCA® Review course — completely free of charge for community association managers! This half-day course will be led by a highly experienced instructor whose students boast a 90%+ exam pass rate. It's an exceptional opportunity to prepare for the CMCA exam with expert guidance and connect with fellow managers. Location details are still being finalized, and we are currently in the process of identifying a host community. We will share updates with our membership as soon as the location is confirmed. Stay tuned — and mark your calendars for October 7!
Strategic Planning with Statewide Coordination
Later this year, all four CAI Texas Chapters will meet to discuss and refine our statewide strategic plan. Following that, the CAI Austin Board of Directors will conduct our own strategic planning session to ensure that our local initiatives are aligned with broader state goals. We will focus on areas like staffing needs, reinvestment in the chapter technology and operations, sponsorship enhancements, membership growth, and even mapping out where our members are physically located to better tailor our social and educational programming.
Expo Planning for 2026
As we plan for 2026, we’ve already submitted multiple RFPs to new venues for next year’s expo. Given this year’s tremendous growth and record-breaking net profits, we’re aiming to take our largest event to new heights in 2026. We appreciate your ongoing support as we work to make next year’s expo even bigger and better!
Magazine Collaboration with CAI San Antonio Chapter
We’re also excited to announce that the CAI Austin and San Antonio Chapters will join forces to combine our magazine beginning in 2026. With nearly a third of our members overlapping in both markets, this collaboration will allow us to offer a broader audience to advertisers, contributors, and readers in Central Texas. The new magazine will be a semi-annual printed and digital publication, professionally managed by a third-party publishing company. We can’t wait to share more details soon!
The CAI Austin Board of Directors and staff remain committed to ensuring that your membership experience is always at the forefront of our efforts. We look forward to continuing to serve you and to implementing even more changes and opportunities in the coming months. Together, we’ll continue building meaningful connections and enhancing the value of your membership.
Thank you for your continued support!
Your Community Association Partner,
Andrew Stoutenburg, RS
2025 President, CAI Austin Chapter
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