HOA - It's A True Story Podcast

 Host Regan Brown sits down with Dawn M. Bauman from the Community Associations Institute (CAI) to dive into the Corporate Transparency Act and its impact on homeowners associations (HOAs). They discuss what the act entails, the obligations it places on community associations, and CAI's ongoing efforts to secure exemptions for HOAs. 

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to CAI and the Corporate Transparency Act

02:10 Understanding the Corporate Transparency Act

04:47 Exemptions and Responsibilities for HOAs

07:50 CAI's Efforts to Exempt HOAs

11:29 Current Status of Legislative Efforts

13:32 Consequences of Non-Compliance

15:38 Political Dynamics and Future Outlook

17:18 Recommendations for Community Associations

20:11 Concerns and Resignations Among Board Members

22:22 Call to Action and Resources for HOAs

Host Regan Brown and Bill Mann, President of GB Group Construction & Painting, sit down with Sandra Gottlieb, Attorney at Swedelson & Gottlieb, to discuss pressing issues facing homeowners associations (HOAs), focusing on liability, risk management, and cybersecurity. They explore the evolving landscape of cyber threats, including ransomware, and emphasize the importance of having robust insurance policies in place.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Community Challenges and Legal Perspectives
02:45 Understanding HOA Liability and Risk Management
05:54 Cybersecurity Threats Facing HOAs
09:02 Ransomware and Its Impact on HOAs
12:03 Insurance Solutions for Cyber Incidents
15:13 The Role of Government in Cybersecurity
18:05 Artificial Intelligence in Cyber Defense
21:02 Real-Life Experiences and Lessons Learned
23:57 Conclusion and Future Considerations

Host Regan Brown and Kelly Zibell, Senior Vice President of Communitas, sit down with Geoffrey Browne, Executive Director at Sun City Roseville Community Association, Inc. and an expert in managing active adult communities. Together, they explore the unique dynamics of these communities, the shift from management companies to on-site leadership, and the critical role of resident engagement and feedback.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Active Adult Communities
01:12 Jeff Brown's Journey into HOA Management
04:39 Understanding Active Adult Communities
07:37 Transitioning from Management Company to On-Site Leadership
11:22 Engagement and Feedback in Active Adult Communities
14:47 Amenities and Programs for Residents
17:39 Adapting to Technological Changes
20:34 Training Residents in Technology
22:43 Volunteerism and Community Involvement
25:51 Succession Planning and Leadership Academy
28:41 Essential Skills for Active Adult Community Managers
34:10 A Memorable Story from the Field

Regan Brown, host, and Bill Mann, President of GB Group Construction & Painting, sit down with Sajid Shabber, Executive President of Association Inspector. Together, they explore the complexities of HOA elections, focusing on the evolving election processes, the critical role of third-party inspectors, compliance with civil codes, and the latest voting methods.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to HOA Elections and Inspectors

01:01 Sajid Shabber's Journey in Property Management

02:06 The Role of Inspectors in HOA Elections

04:04 The Evolution of Election Processes Post-COVID

08:48 Current Election Process and Timeline

10:02 Handling Board Vacancies and Compliance

12:22 Voting Methods: Written vs. Electronic

16:08 Ensuring Vote Integrity and Challenges

18:03 Civil Codes and Their Impact on Elections

22:07 Post-Election Procedures and Challenges

24:48 Sajid's Memorable HOA Experience

27:10 Reagan's Voting Fraud Story

30:25 Community Solutions and Engagement

30:43 Conclusion and Contact Information

Host Regan Brown and Kelly Zibell, Senior Vice President of Communitas, interview Jennifer Wada, principal owner of Wada Government Relations and a lobbyist specializing in HOA legislation. They discuss key bills, including AB 2114 on balcony inspections, AB 2159 enabling electronic voting, and SB 900 addressing repair and maintenance. The conversation also highlights the challenges with construction defect laws and the complexities of California Fair Plan insurance coverage.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Legislative Changes

02:20 AB 2114: Balcony Inspection Bill

03:40 AB 2159: Electronic Voting in Associations

12:11 AB 2460: Quorum Cleanup Bill

14:02 SB 900: CID Repair and Maintenance

19:40 SB 1470: Construction Defect Case Changes

21:19 Insurance Challenges: California Fair Plan

Regan Brown, host, and Bill Mann, President of The GB Group Construction & Painting, sit down with consultant and former executive Kirk Watilo to explore the importance of strategic planning for homeowner associations. Kirk draws on his extensive career experience to highlight why a clear, collaborative plan is essential for guiding associations toward long-term success.

Regan Brown, host, and Bill Mann, President of The GB Group Construction & Painting, interview Francis Serrano, Director of Operations at CitiScape and Realtor at Vanguard Properties. Together, they discuss the emotional challenges of property management, exploring accountability, the importance of professional detachment, and strategies to help new managers navigate hostility and negativity.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Community Management Challenges
02:58 Navigating Hostility in Property Management
06:03 Emotional Dynamics in Community Management
08:59 Accountability vs. Condescension in Management
12:08 Professional Detachment and Personal Boundaries
15:12 Legal Counsel and Conflict Resolution
18:00 Advice for New Community Managers
21:04 Unique Experiences in Property Management
23:56 Conclusion and Key Takeaways

Host Regan Brown and Kelly Zibell, Senior Vice President of Communitas, sit down with Maegan Woytek, President of ACAM and Director of Community Engagement at Vantaca. They discuss the role of ACAM, a unique association group that unites management company owners, operators, and business partners to share best practices and promote industry collaboration. Maegan also sheds light on ACAM's impact within the industry and its ongoing initiatives.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

03:01 How Megan Got Involved in ACAM

09:12 What is ACAM?

14:01 ACAM Retreat and Tuesday Talks

18:53 Choosing Locations for the Retreat

22:25 Membership and Attendance

25:21 The Importance of Sharing and Collaboration

32:23 Board Structure and Term Limits

34:29 Closing Thoughts and Funny Stories

Regan Brown, host, is joined by Bill Mann, President of The GB Group Construction & Painting, and Kelly Zibell, Senior Vice President of Communitas, as they interview Alex Noland of Noland Law PC. Together, they discuss the Corporate Transparency Act and its impact on HOAs.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Overview

01:16 Understanding the Transparency Act

03:38 Exemptions and Requirements

07:54 Reporting Requirements for Board Members

13:28 Fees and Fines

18:19 Communicating the Impact to Board Members

23:59 Disclosure of Personal Information

26:30 Individual Registration for Board Members

29:50 Unincorporated Associations and Secretary of State Registration

34:06 Pushback and Concerns

Regan Brown, host, along with Bill Mann, President of The GB Group Construction & Painting, and Kelly Zibell, Senior Vice President of Communitas, interview Rich Adams, Senior Reserve Analyst at Barrera and Company. They discuss the accuracy of reserve studies for HOAs, exploring the process of setting up a reserve study and ensuring accurate numbers and a comprehensive list of items.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Guest Introductions

02:02 Ensuring Accuracy in Reserve Studies

05:34 Costs for Future Projects

07:48 Planning for Long-Term Projects

12:23 The Importance of Regular Updates

16:23 Accounting for Cost Changes

18:15 Challenges and Solutions for Older Associations

21:31 The Impact of Legislative Changes

25:46 Using the Reserve Study as a Tool

28:43 Planning for Future Projects

31:17 Collaboration and Communication

33:39 Funny Stories and Conclusion