Annual honor recognizes residents who volunteer to serve in homeowners associations (HOAs), condominiums, and cooperatives worldwide.
Each year, more than 2 million homeowners volunteer to serve their community associations, also known as planned communities (e.g., HOAs, condominiums, and housing cooperatives), as board or committee members, according to recent statistics in the 2016 National and State Statistical Review for Community Association Data.
Community Associations Institute (CAI) is proud to recognize and honor these exceptional homeowners for their leadership and commitment to their housing communities.
Nominated by their community association peers, colleagues, and managers as homeowners who go above and beyond to serve their communities, CAI's 2018 Outstanding Homeowner Leaders represent some of the nation's largest master-planned communities and condominium communities. This year, CAI's Homeowner Leaders Council selected 10 honorees, including one overall winner, from more than 200 nominations. Each of the following honorees has served on his or her association board for at least one term and shows an exemplary understanding of the significant role community associations have in the way we live, learn, work, and play.
Michael Kulich, from Turtle Creek Homeowners Association in Orlando, Fla., is recognized as the 2018 overall winner. Kulich has served as association board president for four years, and under his recent direction as board treasurer, the community developed and defined a new disaster plan with a five-year strategic approach. “When Hurricane Irma hit Florida, the community's disaster plan provided a clear roadmap needed to weather the storm," says homeowner Kathy Tapia. “Mike instituted a war room at his home for board members and vendors to call multiple times per day to provide updates and review action plans. Even after the storm, Mike took time off from his job to coordinate vendor activities and to clean up and bring Turtle Creek back to normal operations."
“Volunteer board members like Mike and our other 2018 honorees fill unique roles in their homeowners associations. Elected by their peers, these volunteers work tirelessly to build and maintain a true sense of community while protecting the best interests of all residents and homeowners," says Thomas M. Skiba, CAE, CAI's chief executive officer. “Congratulations to Mike and all of our outstanding homeowner leaders who have been instrumental in building and shaping the community association living experience for millions worldwide."
The complete list of 2018 Outstanding Homeowner Leaders:
Michael Kulich, Turtle Creek Homeowners Association, Orlando, Fla.
Katherine Edwards, The Park Homeowners Association, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Clayton Hadick, Hill Country Retreat Community Association, San Antonio, Texas
James Lichtenwalner, Village Grande at English Mill, Egg Harbor Twp., N.J.
Chuck Lovelace, Mountain Lakes Community Association, Seneca, S.C.
Lawrence Reiter, Magnolia Pointe POA, Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Renata Rennie, Mystic Point HOA, Ossining, N.Y.
Don Richter, Citrus Gardens Homeowners Association, Henderson, Nev.
T. Benjamin Romney, Breyer Woods Condominium Association, Elkins Park, Pa.
David Talbert, Ko'olani, Honolulu, Hawaii
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About Community Associations Institute
Since 1973, Community Associations Institute (CAI) has been the leading provider of resources and information for homeowners, volunteer board leaders, professional managers, and business professionals in 342,000 community associations, condominiums, and co-ops in the United States and millions of communities worldwide. With more than 37,000 members, CAI works in partnership with 36 legislative action committees and 63 affiliated chapters within the U.S., Canada, United Arab Emirates, and South Africa, as well as with housing leaders in several other countries including Australia, Spain, Saudi Arabia, and the United Kingdom.
A global nonprofit 501(c)(6) organization, CAI is the foremost authority in community association management, governance, education, and advocacy. Our mission is to inspire professionalism, effective leadership, and responsible citizenship—ideals reflected in community associations that are preferred places to call home. Visit us at www.caionline.org and follow us on Twitter and Facebook @CAISocial.