The following designations were awarded during the six-month period:
"We applaud these dedicated individuals for their commitment to education and professional development," says CAI Chief Executive Officer Thomas M. Skiba, who holds a Certified Association Executive (CAE) credential from the Association Society of Association Executives. "CAI designations provide direct marketplace value in terms of increased salaries and job opportunities. They also elevate the professionalism of the industry at large, and that's essential given the demanding, multi-dimensional nature of community association management."
The AMS is the second tier in the hierarchy of professional designations for community association managers. The first tier is the Certified Manager of Community Associations (CMCA) credential, administered by CAI's affiliate organization, the National Board of Certification for Community Association Managers (NBC-CAM). The PCAM is the third and highest credential for professional managers. The LSM demonstrates specialized knowledge in the management and operations of large community associations.
The RS and CIRMS designations recognize education, expertise and experience in two increasingly important components of community association operations—reserve studies and insurance and risk-management, respectively.
"Because they must be earned, CAI designations are important personal achievements that carry intrinsic and practical value," says Ann-Marie Johnson, CAI's director of credentialing programs and deputy executive director of NBC-CAM. "For the AMS, LSM and PCAM designations, professionals must demonstrate via testing that they have mastered the course material, and not everyone makes the grade. Those who succeed and earn a designation deserve not only personal recognition, but also professional respect." CAI's designation programs were put in place in the 1990s and early 2000s to elevate the level of professionalism in the community association marketplace, a dynamic segment of the U.S. housing market that now encompasses more than 23.1 million housing units in an estimated 286,000 association-governed communities.
CAI's designation programs have elevated the professional stature of those who earn designations, and that has made CAI designations increasingly visible and valuable in the marketplace.
More than 3,280 managers have earned the AMS designation, while 1,506 managers have earned their PCAMs and 33 have received the LSM. About 115 professionals have received the RS designation, while 46 have earned the CIRMS.
The following professionals earned designations between January 1 and June 30, 2006:
Association Management Specialist (AMS)
Community Insurance and Risk Management Specialist (CIRMS)
Large-Scale Manager (LSM)
Professional Community Association Manager (PCAM)
Reserve Specialist (RS)
MEDIA CONTACT: Blaine TobinPhone: 703-970-9235 Email: btobin(at)caionline.org