CAI-NJ January 2017

J A N U A R Y , 2 0 1 7

PRESIDENT’S

CORNER

DENISE BECKER, CMCA, AMS, PCAM

CAI-NJ 2017 PRESIDENT | HOMESTEAD MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.

know this sounds cliché, but about eighteen months ago,

I wasn’t sure that I would be writing this column. You

see, around that time I was facing a serious health issue,

and I was not sure what my future, or the road immediately

ahead, was going to hold.

And while my prognosis was always optimistic, I will

always remember the uncertainty I felt during this time, but I

will also remember the love, support and guidance I received

from family, personal and professional friends, my co-workers,

my faith and of course my medical team. The path was mine,

as the quote says, for my steps alone, but through all of it, I

was never alone. In addition to love, support and guidance,

I also received many words of advice. One of my favorite

tid-bits was from a good friend who gave me three words of

advice: “Just don’t die.” Helpful, right? Well, I took that admit-

tedly suspect advice to heart, and I was good to my word – I

didn’t die. And now, eighteen months later, I am writing my

first column as chapter president.

So, by now you are probably wondering what all of this

has to do with CAI. Well, I’m glad you asked!

I am incredibly excited and grateful (pun intended) to

have been selected to serve as the chapter’s president for

2017. I have many, many things that I would like to get

done as president this year (that I will share with you in this

column over the year), but for now my primary goal is to

not mess anything up but more importantly to guide and

support all members of our chapter and never make them

feel that they are alone in their path to success or when it

comes to reaping the benefits of being a member of CAI.

Every member of CAI has the potential of being a

mentor or ambassador for CAI. We have an outstanding

and active chapter, and, with your help, we can make

2017 even better than the years before. What can you

“There is a road, no simple highway…that path is for your steps alone.”

Robert Hunter – “Ripple”

do to be a CAI mentor/ambassador? Bring a junior or

new colleague to an educational seminar or networking

event; recruit a new business owner to join our chapter,

share your knowledge/experience by joining a committee

or writing an article for

Community Trends

;

sponsor an

event; encourage community association volunteer leaders

to become members, contribute to CA-PAC…you get the

picture. Our business partners are a wealth of informa-

tion in their specific fields, and I am certain would all be

very willing to assist in any problem or question you may

have regarding their expertise. The same goes for those

who need guidance and support in their career paths.

Managers, there is a scholarship just waiting for those who

have their CMCA to help you along in your path to the

AMS and PCAM designations! If you are not sure how you

can help, please feel free to reach out to me or anyone at

the chapter office. You won’t regret it.

This year’s journey as president won’t be without its chal-

lenges, but with guidance and mentoring from our past

presidents, I plan to make it a successful and rewarding

year. Keep moving ever forward!

I’m looking forward to a great year, and I am also

looking forward to seeing everyone at the 2017 CAI-NJ

Awards Dinner on February 16, 2017 at The Palace at

Somerset Park!

Peace and Love,

Denise

"Every member of CAI has the

potential of being a mentor or

ambassador for CAI."