Condo Living

July 3, 2024 Published by Grand River Chapter - By Michelle Dyer

Networking in the Condominium Community

Managers, boards/owners, and vendors all play a part to ensure a condominium community runs smoothly. It can be serious business, but you can have some fun too and Canadian Condominium Institute – Grand River Chapter (“CCI-GRC”) leads the charge in networking.

Condo Folks Wanna Have Fun

Sing it with me – (Cyndi Lauper’s – Girls Just Wanna Have Fun)

I go to work as the morning blooms
A leaky faucet in the community room.
Oh, condo managers, up with the dawn,
Facing each day with the challenges on.
Budgets tight, but repairs are due,
Working hard to push every issue through.

Oh, condo folks just wanna have fun
Oh, condos folks just wanna have fun

I come home, in the evening light,
My day’s been long, but my unit’s just right.
Oh, condo board, we’re on the scene,
Gotta make sure our living’s clean.
Our lobby shines, the pool’s divine,
Living here feels just like a prime time!

Oh, condo folks just wanna have fun
Oh, condos folks just wanna have fun

Then come the vendors, with their tools and smiles,
Fixing issues, going the extra miles.
Gardens to groom and repairs on the way,
They keep our condos perfect, come what may.
It’s their hard work that builds the scene,
Making living here feel like a dream.

Oh, condo folks just wanna have fun
Oh, condos folks just wanna have fun

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Ok… I know the song is a stretch (thanks Chat GPT) but it outlines how managers, boards/owners, and vendors all play a part to ensure a condominium community runs smoothly. It can be serious business, but you can have some fun too and Canadian Condominium Institute – Grand River Chapter (“CCI-GRC”) leads the charge in networking.

Bowling/game nights, golf tournaments, the annual general meeting, and monthly lunch and learns are opportunities to connect with others involved in the industry. The yearly Condo Conference is where mingling, education, and building relationships is at its finest.

Why is it important to Network?

The business partners (aka vendors) and condominium managers know and understand the importance of socializing and CCI-GRC thanks you all for your support. But do you, the condo board member/owner, know networking is important for you too

Building Partnerships

Networking enables condominium managers, boards of directors, and vendors to develop a relationship that can lead to mutually beneficial partnerships. For example, a roof leak? Call the roofer you met at the conference.

Knowledge and Skills

Networking keeps you up to date on the latest industry information. Whether you attend the conference or a lunch and learn, you get insights and ideas that can be utilized in your condo community. for example, is your condominium an aging community? Refer to the CCI-GRC education session on that.

Improving Service Quality/Problem Solving

Networking allows you, the board member/owner to discuss with various professionals and other board members best practices and even solutions to common problems. For example, security? You can reference what you learned at security expert’s webinar, the conversation you had with another board member, or the chat you had with the service provider at the conference – you get it.

Lastly, connections extend beyond the Grand River Chapter. The CCI-GRC board members and administrators continue to build partnerships, expand our knowledge, and improve our services and problem-solving abilities so we can share what we learn with you. In May, we attended the CCI National Leaders Forum where condo folks (professionals) from across Canada exchanged ideas, learned from one another and yes, we had a little fun doing it.

Join the fun, become a member of CCI Grand River Chapter here.

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Michelle Dyer,
Chief Operations Officer,
Theresa Place Media Inc