Tinnelly Talks Podcast

In this episode, hosts Steve Tinnelly and Ramona Acosta are joined by Tim Mahar and Michael Kushner for a conversation about HOA disputes and the issues that can lead to conflict between homeowners and their associations. The discussion explores common disputes involving architectural changes, rule enforcement, maintenance responsibilities, financial disagreements, and the challenges that can arise when community rules intersect with individual property rights.

The conversation also covers how associations and homeowners can approach disputes, including consistent rule enforcement, proper documentation, common area maintenance, financial records, collections, and the use of IDR and ADR to resolve disagreements before litigation. The episode offers practical considerations for both associations and homeowners navigating HOA-related conflicts.

KEY POINTS

• Common causes of disputes between homeowners and HOAs • Architectural changes and approval requirements • Rule enforcement, selective enforcement, and discrimination claims • The importance of consistent enforcement and proper due process • Common area maintenance responsibilities and potential liability • Special assessments, deferred maintenance, and reserve funding • Financial disagreements, records requests, and assessment collections • Best practices for documenting HOA-related disputes • The role of IDR and ADR in resolving conflicts • Why litigation should generally be considered after other resolution efforts

ABOUT OUR GUESTS

Tim Mahar is a Senior Attorney at Tinnelly Law Group. Before joining the firm, Tim worked at civil litigation firms where he gained significant litigation and trial experience representing corporate and individual clients in a wide range of disputes, including contract, real estate, fraud, business tort, unfair business practices, and trade secrets matters. Tim has also represented dozens of homeowners in HOA disputes involving litigation and alternative dispute resolution.

Michael Kushner is the founder of MBK Chapman and has practiced homeowner-side HOA law in California for nearly 30 years. He has represented thousands of California homeowners in disputes with HOAs and has shared his experience through his firm, the HOA Hell podcast, articles and fact sheets, and his book, HOA HELL | California Homeowners' Definitive Guide to Beating Bad HOAs.

RESOURCES

• Read the Blog

• Read the Article

• FindHOALaw

• Assessment Collections

• Additional Resources

• Watch Full Video

In this episode, hosts Steve Tinnelly and Ramona Acosta sit down with Gabe Ponce and Ryan McManus to discuss AB 1572 and California's restrictions on the use of potable water to irrigate nonfunctional turf. The conversation explores what these requirements mean for homeowners associations, including common area landscaping, recycled water, compliance, enforcement, and how boards can begin preparing for future landscape and irrigation changes.

KEY POINTS

• Understanding AB 1572 and California's restrictions on nonfunctional turf • Why California is restricting the use of potable water for irrigation • What qualifies as nonfunctional turf under the law • What the restrictions mean for HOA common areas • Options for converting nonfunctional turf and irrigation systems • Exceptions for trees, perennial plantings, and health and safety needs • HOA compliance requirements and potential enforcement • The importance of planning and reserving funds for future landscape projects • Resources and potential rebates available to associations

ABOUT OUR GUESTS

Gabe Ponce is the Founder and President of Precision Landscape Solutions. Nearly ten years ago, the landscape company Gabe worked for was acquired by a private equity firm. While grateful for the opportunities he had been given, he realized the company's new direction no longer aligned with his own values. Gabe believed that landscaping should be personal, that clients deserve direct relationships, accountability, and a company that genuinely cares about the communities it serves. With that vision, he took a leap of faith and founded Precision Landscape Solutions. Today, Precision Landscape Solutions proudly employs nearly 50 team members and maintains more than 40 commercial properties throughout Southern California.

Ryan McManus has been with Riverside Public Utilities (RPU) for 15 years and has served on the Customer Engagement team for his entire tenure. Ryan currently serves as the Principal Programs and Services Representative on the Customer Engagement Team and oversees the water conservation efforts of RPU. Additionally, Ryan develops energy efficiency programs for RPU that reach both residential and commercial customers. Ryan has earned an MBA from the University of Redlands and the Certified Energy Manager designation through the Association of Energy Engineers.

RESOURCES

• Read the Blog

• Read the Articles

• FindHOALaw

• Assessment Collections

• Additional Resources

• Watch Full Video

In this episode, hosts Steve Tinnelly and Ramona Acosta sit down with Corey Todd to discuss the growing reality of HOA delinquencies, liens, and financial pressure on California homeowners and associations. The conversation examines what is driving rising assessments, the impact of increasing operating and insurance costs, and what boards and homeowners should know about collections.

KEY POINTS

• Understanding the rise in HOA delinquencies and liens • Factors driving higher assessments and special assessments • The impact of insurance, inflation, maintenance, and reserve funding • Why keeping assessments artificially low can create greater financial challenges • Understanding when and why an HOA may record a lien • The importance of consistent and effective collection practices • Steps boards and homeowners can take when assessments become delinquent

ABOUT OUR GUEST

Corey Todd, Esq. is an attorney with Tinnelly Law Group who focuses on community association law and brings extensive experience in civil litigation and financial services. He earned his J.D. from the University of San Diego School of Law and previously externed with the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California. Before joining Tinnelly Law Group, Corey represented financial institutions in matters involving commercial and residential property portfolios, giving him valuable experience in property related financial and legal issues.

RESOURCES

• Read the Blog

• Read the Articles

• FindHOALaw

• Assessment Collections

• Additional Resources

• Watch Full Video

EPISODE DESCRIPTION

In this episode, hosts Steve Tinnelly and Ramona Acosta sit down with Karen Kokowicz, owner of Coro Community Management & Consulting and founder of Happy Minds Network, to discuss mental health and wellness in community association management. The conversation focuses on recognizing burnout, managing workplace stress, establishing healthy boundaries, and creating a culture that supports employee well being.

KEY POINTS

• Recognizing signs and causes of burnout and compassion fatigue • Managing emotional and mental fatigue in a demanding industry • Creating healthy work life boundaries • Building a workplace culture that prioritizes wellness and support • Using wellness resources, technology, and peer support • Developing healthy coping strategies and maintaining connection • Supporting employee well being to improve focus, resilience, and performance

ABOUT OUR GUEST

Karen Kokowicz, CCAM, is the President and Owner of Coro Community Management & Consulting, bringing nearly three decades of experience in community association management and consulting. Beginning her career as a portfolio manager and later serving as an onsite manager, Karen has held a variety of leadership roles throughout the industry. She holds the CCAM, CMCA, and PCAM designations and is the founder of Happy Minds Network, a peer to peer support organization focused on connecting community association managers and promoting professional and personal wellness within the industry.

RESOURCES

• Watch the Video

• Read the Blog

• FindHOALaw

• Assessment Collections

• Additional Resources

In this episode, hosts Steve Tinnelly and Ramona Acosta sit down with Vicki MacHale of Community Association Standards and Advocacy (CASA) Alliance to discuss ethics and professionalism in the community association industry. Together, they explore the line between networking and undue influence, the role of gifts and incentives in vendor relationships, and why transparency and disclosure are essential to maintaining trust and professional integrity.

KEY POINTS

• Where networking ends and undue influence begins

• How gifts, incentives, and "pay-to-play" practices can impact professional judgment

• The "Follow the Candy" concept and how seemingly small benefits can influence behavior

• The growing expectations for vendors to sponsor events, dinners, and other activities

• Understanding the professional and financial implications of sponsored events

• CAMICB's Standards of Professional Conduct and disclosure requirements

• Recognizing and properly disclosing potential conflicts of interest

• The importance of avoiding commissions, kickbacks, and commission-sharing arrangements

• How managers can maintain ethical boundaries and build professional, transparent relationships with vendors, boards, and homeowners

ABOUT OUR GUEST

Vicki MacHale is a 30+ year veteran of the community association industry with extensive experience in onsite operations, executive leadership, education, consulting, and community association governance. She has held leadership roles including Division Manager, executive leader, and owner/partner, while educating community managers through California-specific certification and designation programs. Vicki has also served on her HOA board for more than 10 years, completed three elected terms on the CACM Board of Directors, and was honored with the 2015 CAI Award for Training of the Year. She has served as an expert panelist for numerous CACM and CAI educational programs and is currently the founder of the Community Association Standards and Advocacy Alliance (CASA Alliance), focused on education, transparency, advocacy, and open dialogue within the community association industry.

RESOURCES

• Read the blog
• Related Articles
• FindHOALaw
• Assessment Collections
• Additional Resources
• Watch the Video

In this episode, host Steve Tinnelly sits down with Ramona Acosta to discuss CAM University, a professional training and development program that guides community managers from obtaining their CMCA certification to maintaining it. CAM University leverages Tinnelly Law Group's legal and industry expertise in HOA Law to provide this one-of-a-kind program was designed with the MANAGER in mind.

• First California edition of a prerequisite course that complies with state certification requirements
• Approved by CAMICB as a prerequisite course for the CMCA designation
• California education + national certification = personalized learning on topics like:
  • Budgets and reserves
  • Governance and legal issues
  • HR management
  • Meetings and operations
  • Property maintenance
  • Ethics and more
• Approved alternative to CAI's M100 California Edition
• Earn your CMCA with California based instruction in less time and at a lower cost
• Pass your exam with CMCA Study Group
• Maintain your CMCA with over 27 hours of on-demand CEUs

Explore the CAM University virtual campus here: camuniversity.org

Steven J. Tinnelly, Esq. is the Managing Partner of Tinnelly Law Group. He is known for his exceptional writing, analytical and negotiation skills, and providing general counsel representation to many of the firm's larger HOA clients throughout the state. Mr. Tinnelly is very active within the community association industry and devotes a substantial amount of time to educating homeowners and industry professionals about the legal issues affecting California community associations. Read more

Ramona Acosta, PCAM is the Director of Operations & Business Development for Tinnelly Law Group. Ms. Acosta directs and manages the firm's business development, marketing, public relations, and client relationship management efforts. Her success as a community manager and management company executive, coupled with her extensive knowledge of the California laws pertaining to HOAs, provides significant value to our clients and the professionals who manage them. Read more

In this episode, Host Steve Tinnelly interviews Ramona Acosta on their newest adventure, CAM University, established to create supportive relationships with management company partners by leveraging Tinnelly Law Groups legal and community management expertise to provide a professional training and development program that takes the individual manager from the CMCA certification to the PCAM designation.

• First California edition of a prerequisite course that complies with state certification requirements
• Approved by CAMICB as a prerequisite course for your CMCA designation
• California-specific community management education program covering:
  • Budgets, reserves, governance, legal issues, HR management, meetings, property maintenance, ethics and much more
• Course is approved alternative to CAI's M-100 California Edition
• Receive California-based instruction for your CMCA in LESS time and money

Steven J. Tinnelly, Esq. is the Managing Partner of Tinnelly Law Group. He is known for his exceptional writing, analytical and negotiation skills, and providing general counsel representation to many of the firm's larger HOA clients throughout the state. Mr. Tinnelly is very active within the community association industry and devotes a substantial amount of time to educating homeowners and industry professionals about the legal issues affecting California community associations. Read more

Ramona Acosta, PCAM is the Director of Operations & Business Development for Tinnelly Law Group. Ms. Acosta directs and manages the firm's business development, marketing, public relations, and client relationship management efforts. Her success as a community manager and management company executive, coupled with her extensive knowledge of the California laws pertaining to HOAs, provides significant value to our clients and the professionals who manage them. Read more

In this episode Co-Hosts Steve Tinnelly and Ramona Acosta speak to Isaac Camacho and Sean Andersen on the Rising Costs of Construction

• Construction and labor costs
• Mandatory minimum wage
• Systemic inflation
• Building code changes
• SB 326 due by the end of the year
• Why HOAs need to raise assessments
• Properly maintaining assets, deferred maintenance and underfunded reserves
• Rising insurance costs in relation to liability claims

Isaac Camacho has over 10 years' experience in business development and has taken clients from positions of none-to-low brand recognition to exceeding sales goals and expectations and solid brand reputation in target markets. Isaac has strong interpersonal skills and is not only able to produce record-breaking sales himself but is also able to build and train successful sales teams that can sustain a level of desired sales revenues. Isaac is currently a sales/marketing expert with the state's fastest growing termite and pest control company, Accurate Termite & Pest Control. Read more

Sean started working at Association Reserves in 1999. He opened the regional office in Orange County in 2003. Sean has completed over 3,000 Reserve Studies for properties ranging from small community associations to large master planned communities. He earned the Community Association Institute's (CAI) Reserve Specialist (RS) designation and has the distinction of being RS #68. Sean is an active member of the CAI Orange County chapter. Sean has also been an instructor on the subject of Reserves for training courses offered by CAI. Read more

In this episode Host Cang Le speaks to a guest panel live from our 2024 Legal Symposium featuring Tinnelly Law Group Attorneys Corey Todd and Carrie Heieck; Mark Dodge, Regional Vice President at Associa; and Michelle Lopez, Director of Community Management at Powerstone Property Management, regarding the rights of entry for deceased homeowners.

• Exercising the right of entry provisions in the CC&Rs
• What constitutes an emergency in order to gain entry without notice
• Gaining entry when the owner is deceased
• How to seek judicial assistance
• Recouping delinquent assessments, attorney's fees and costs

Mark Dodge is the Regional Vice President of Associa and the President and CEO of Associa - Desert Resort Management, the largest HOA management company in the Coachella Valley. His experience is wide and includes both senior management and financial positions in the publishing, sports marketing, automotive, technology, and event management industries. Read more about Mark here.

Michelle Lopez is the Director of Community Management at Powerstone Property Management and oversees the Coachella Valley office. As a lifelong resident of Coachella Valley, Michelle understands the needs and way of life in the desert. She is an experienced supervisor and senior community association manager. Read more about Michelle here.

Corey is a Senior Attorneys with Tinnelly Law Group and Alterra Assessment Recovery. Prior to Tinnelly, Corey completed an externship with the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California, where he clerked for the Honorable Erithe Smith. Corey also spent several years working for a civil litigation firm that built its core business on the representation of financial institutions in the servicing of both commercial and residential property portfolios.

Carrie is a Senior Attorney with Tinnelly Law Group practicing for over 15 years primarily representing corporate and institutional clients in areas including corporate formation, contracts, and real estate issues. It was by chance that she began representing several HOAs through word of mouth and discovered a niche of the law that she loves.

In this episode Host Cang Le speaks to a guest panel live from our 2024 Legal Symposium featuring Tinnelly Law Group Attorneys Corey Todd and Carrie Heieck; Mark Dodge, Regional Vice President at Associa; and Michelle Lopez, Director of Community Management at Powerstone Property Management, regarding the rights of entry for deceased homeowners.

• Exercising the right of entry provisions in the CC&Rs
• What constitutes an emergency in order to gain entry without notice
• Gaining entry when the owner is deceased
• How to seek judicial assistance
• Recouping delinquent assessments, attorney’s fees and costs

Mark Dodge is the Regional Vice President of Associa and the President and CEO of Associa - Desert Resort Management, the largest HOA management company in the Coachella Valley. His experience is wide and includes both senior management and financial positions in the publishing, sports marketing, automotive, technology, and event management industries. Read more about Mark here.

Michelle Lopez is the Director of Community Management at Powerstone Property Management and oversees the Coachella Valley office. As a lifelong resident of Coachella Valley, Michelle understands the needs and way of life in the desert. She is an experienced supervisor and senior community association manager. Read more about Michelle here.

Corey is a Senior Attorneys with Tinnelly Law Group and Alterra Assessment Recovery. Prior to Tinnelly, Corey completed an externship with the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California, where he clerked for the Honorable Erithe Smith. Corey also spent several years working for a civil litigation firm that built its core business on the representation of financial institutions in the servicing of both commercial and residential property portfolios.

Carrie is a Senior Attorney with Tinnelly Law Group practicing for over 15 years primarily representing corporate and institutional clients in areas including corporate formation, contracts, and real estate issues. It was by chance that she began representing several HOAs through word of mouth and discovered a niche of the law that she loves.