In Rhodes Management

Additionally, the market for placing an insurance policy has become smaller with the decision of Frankenmuth Insurance to stop insuring community associations.

What can a community association do? First, do not use the insurance policy for your community to cover routine maintenance issues and repairs. Second, evaluate a "claim" before submitting it.

New Roads at In Rhodes

There are several certainties in life. One of the most certain is that there is change.

At In Rhodes Management there have been several changes over the past several months.

First, Mike Koch is no longer affiliated with In Rhodes Management. Mike is pursuing a career as a real estate broker with Max Broock, Inc. We wish him the greatest success in his new endeavor.

Mike had sold his interest in In Rhodes Management to three individuals; Greg Kelly, Tony Orzechowski and Dennis Blitz. Recently, Dennis and Tony have taken the steps to purchase Greg Kelly's interest in the company and become the sole owners of In Rhodes Management. Greg ceased to have an active role in the company as of August 1, 2002.

David Cowan, CPM, PCAM has been charged with the responsibility of managing In Rhodes Management on a daily basis. David's title is Senior Community Manager.

Who is Whom at In Rhodes

Accounting

There are two accountants working full time at In Rhodes Management.

Pat Gargaro has been with our company for three years. Over that time Pat has developed a strong sense of personal commitment to each of the communities that she is responsible for producing the monthly financial statements.

Angela Warner has been working as an accountant for community associations for nine years since first working at a community association management company.

Both Pat and Angela have developed a rapport with the Boards of Directors of the community associations they are responsible for producing the monthly financial statements.

They have also been very helpful in overcoming the issues inherent in making a conversion to a new financial software system.

Accounts Receivable

In Rhodes Management recently established a new position - Accounts Receivable Manager.
Stacy Russell recently joined our team to assume this position. Over the past three years she has acquired a solid foundation in the handling of accounts receivable for community associations. She has extensive experience in dealing with delinquent accounts, attorneys, the production of the "Statement of Unpaid Assessments" and Condominium Certification letters.

We look forward to Stacy's work in dealing with what can be a very contentious task.

Receptionist

Jennifer Nickerson is our "front line". Although she is new to the community association industry Jennifer has demonstrated a great degree of

management team comprised of community managers, administrative assistants and accounting personnel.
2. Developing a strong sense of the importance of customer service and the benefits it can provide to the company as a whole.
3. Developing an operating budget representing realistic expenses and attainable income goals
4. Providing education and training to the employees that would allow our company to set the new standard for the industry.
5. Providing a level of service to our clients that would create a strong word of mouth marketing program.
6. Participating in professional organizations and programs locally and nationally.
7. Offering educational opportunities to members of Boards of Directors and co-owners which will enhance their knowledge of the lifestyle they are living, create a better understanding of the roles of the community manager and the other providers of services to community associations.
8. Maintaining our existing portfolio and properly managing growth.

Musings

"COMMON GROUND" the trade publication of the Community Associations Institute reviewed a book entitled Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of the American Community (Author: Robert D. Putman, Touchstone Press, paperback $16.00).

Although not directly connected to the lifestyle presented by living in a community association it deals with the trend toward apathy and "minimal participation" (i.e., the inability to find volunteers to work for a community association or have owners participate at any level above the payment of the community association's assessment) in today's society.

On a positive note Mr. Putnam does note that attitudes do fluctuate with prevailing societal conditions.

"THE WALL STREET JOURNAL SUNDAY", of Sunday September 15, 2002

Please feel free to contact David Cowan should you have any questions, comments or concerns regarding the management of your community.

How to Contact Us

Our office is located at 1130 Teinken Ct., Suite 102 in Rochester Hills.

Ph: 248.652.8221
Fax: 248.652.0662

David Cowan has been involved in the community association industry since 1979. He is a Certified Property Manager (CPMâ) of the Institute of Real Estate Management and has received the Professional Community Association Manager (PCAMâ) designation from the Community Associations Institute.

Office Manager

Tracey Orzechowski has been employed at In Rhodes Management since June 2001. Tracey has been working directly with David to establish sound operating policies and procedures in order to ensure the better delivery of community association management services to the clients in our management portfolio.

Tracey also oversees the processing of work orders with Deanna Van Sant.

Community Association Managers

In Rhodes Management presently has four community association managers on its staff. They are David Cowan, Jim Theunick, and Phil Nickerson.

Jim has been managing community associations since 1997. Jim holds two professional designations granted by the Community Associations Institute. He is Certified Manager of Community Associations (CMCA®) and Association Management Specialist (AMS®). Jim may be contacted via email at jim@inrhodes.com.

Phil Nickerson has been managing community associations for two years. He is in the process of working on the CCMA® designation. Phil has an extensive background in the insurance industry and brings valuable insight to answering the tough insurance issues confronting condominium associations in today's turbulent environment
Phil's email address is pjn@inrhodes.com.

COMPANY PHILOSOPHY
David A. Cowan, CPM, PCAM

Over the past several months as In Rhodes Management has been emerging from several management changes I have been asked what direction will the company be taking or more pointedly, "Does In Rhodes Management have a mission statement?"

After much consideration, I have made an initial attempt at creating one. However, like many management companies In Rhodes Management has a life cycle. Any "Mission Statement" will change over time as the company evolves, pursues new directions or makes a decision to "trim the sails".

The Mission Statement of In Rhodes Management

In Rhodes Management has been providing professional community association management services to condominium and site condominium associations in the Detroit metropolitan area for fourteen years. The professional experience of the principals and employees of In Rhodes allows us to work with the developers, Boards of Directors, owners and residents of the communities in our portfolio and guide them through the many issues confronting a community association.

In Rhodes was founded on the premise that we could deliver quality services which are customized to meet the particular needs of each client. It is our desire to remain attentive and flexible enough to address these needs and priorities in a timely and cost effective manner.

At In Rhodes our primary mission is to:

To make the company the premier provider of community association management services in the southeast Michigan region by:
1. Fostering the growth of the company through the development of a professional community

reported a rise in foreclosures by the Mortgage Bankers Association. During the economic doldrums of the mid to late 1980's in the south west there was a tremendous rise in home foreclosures. The effect on many community associations was devastating. Owners walked away from their condominiums giving rise to foreclosures and the loss of assessment income to many communities. To add to the pain that many communities were experiencing at the time developers often walked away from new communities they were developing.

How did states deal with this? In several states amendments were made to the state condominium act placing the community association in a primary position over the first mortgagee for a period of six months.

While we have not noticed an increase in foreclosures in our management portfolio, perhaps the above noted legislative action would be a good exercise of "preventive medicine".

We are seeing increases in insurance premiums, even for communities with good loss histories if 25% to 30% and in some cases even more. Additionally, the market for placing an insurance policy has become smaller with the decision of Frankenmuth Insurance to stop insuring community associations.

What can a community association do? First, do not use the insurance policy for your community to cover routine maintenance issues and repairs. Second, evaluate a "claim" before submitting it.

In Closing…

"Providing Solutions to Common Association Concerns with Uncommon Service" is not just a marketing slogan, it is a goal which we will work hard to attain.

Our ultimate goal is to improve the property values of the communities we manage and to improve the quality of life for the co-owners and residents of those communities.