Education Sessions

Friday, February 24, 2023

12:30 pm – 2:00 pm

Everything You Probably Never Knew About Building Façade Maintenance

Lead Speaker: Chris Carlson, P.E., Carlson Structural Engineering, Inc.

A review of the typical and not-so-typical maintenance of building facades utilizing brick masonry, siding- cement board and vinyl, Exterior Insulation Finishing Systems (EIFS), and glass curtain wall systems. Topics will include cleaning, tuckpointing, painting, what to do if a cement board panel breaks, caulking, flashing, and more.

This will be an interactive presentation where the audience can help guide the discussion in real time by use of polling software downloaded onto smart phones.

Solar Panels Electric Vehicles – Environmentally Friendly Technologies…How to Navigate!

Lead Speakers: Sami Satouri, Quest Insurance, Wil Washington, Esq., Chadwick, Washington, Moriarty, Elmore & Bunn, Jimmy Suissa, CMCA, AMS, EJF Real Estate

As an association considers the deployment of an environmentally friendly technology program, questions may arise. The panelists will walk you through the challenges and rewards to be considered should your association make the move to become a more energy efficient and environmentally friendly property. Topics will include facilitating the installation, guidelines and use of environmentally friendly technologies, establishing a framework for the installation of the new technologies, legal ramifications and intersection of local and federal guidelines, logistical challenges, impact on association’s financials, and more. As new technologies are developed, being prepared is vital. With the guidance of this panel of experts, you will have a leg up on the other associations!

2:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Business Partners Essentials

Lead Speakers: Sarah E. Gerstein, CMCA, AMS, LSM, PCAM; Bruce Easmunt, Esq., Chadwick, Washington, Moriarty, Elmore & Bunn, PC.

The Business Partner Essentials is an online course designed to help CAI-member product and service providers better understand CAI, community associations and the industry at large. Individuals who pass the course and maintain CAI membership earn the CAI Educated Business Partner member distinction. By taking this course, you will distinguish yourself as an Educated Business Partner and can share your accomplishment with your current and potential clients.

2:30 pm – 4:00 pm

Building Enclosures and Mechanical Systems: Working Together to Keep the Outside Out and the Inside In

Lead Speaker: Steven Turner, P.E., BECS

This session reviews the evaluation process to determine how the source of water infiltration and moisture drive and the development and execution of the repair solutions. Discuss factors of the building enclosure and mechanical systems and how they both play a crucial role in keeping moisture out. Case studies will be presented to review how the Building Envelope Wall System theory is implemented into practice.

Trends in the Law

Lead Speaker: Ursula Burgess, Esq., Rees Broome, P.C.

Hearing about cases in other jurisdictions gives us not only indicators of trends in community association law, but also gives us insight on how judges are deciding cases on issues we face every day. Learn about some of the most notable cases presented which we believe may be impactful to community associations in the DMV.

Saturday, February 25, 2023

9:00 am – 10:00 am

DC Legislative Update

Lead Speakers: Julian Belilty, Honeydew Energy Advisors, Scott Burka, CMCA, AMS, PCAM, EJF Real Estate Services, Molly Peacock, ESQ., Rees Broome, PC

This session will provide an overview of the current legislative issues at the forefront in the District of Columbia and a discussion of the associated trends.

Elements of Disaster Planning – Including Preparation for Everyday Disasters

Lead Speakers: Beth Bencivenni, SecureCore, & Matthew Hunter, CMCA, AMS, EJF Real Estate Services

An interactive session where the audience will contribute experiences, advice and conversation on Disaster Planning. Discuss the common pitfalls surrounding most disaster plans, the categories that most disaster plans fall into such as “experienced staff member who knows where everything is” or “binder kept on a bookshelf in the management office”, the 8 essential elements that each disaster plan should have, how to get started with creating your disaster plan and how to conduct a risk assessment so you can plan for each common disaster type. Disaster discussed will be focused on issue such as mold growth, fire damage, property damage, and similar.

The Sky is NOT Falling

Lead Speakers: Mira Brown, CMCA, AMS, PCAM, EJF; Todd El-Taher, EBP, Hann & Hann; Joey Rice, AIM; Tina Rose, Clean Advantage; Leslie Brown, Esq., Rees Broome, Don Plank, PCAM, National Cooperative Bank

We all know that the Federal Reserve Board has recently raised interest rates in an effort to curb out of control inflation. In addition, minimum wage is increasing in most jurisdictions and supply chain issues have caused materials costs to skyrocket. Everyone is seeing this reflected in their budgets. What are the best practices for Associations to plan for the future in light of these rising costs? We will explore the following strategies: proactive repairs to save money in the long run, proactive maintenance can save an Association on emergency repairs and/or insurance claims, reserve studies/capital planning, governance changes and more.

11:00 am – 12:00 pm

Maryland Legislative Update

Lead Speakers: Steven F. Dunn, Esq., Lerch, Early & Brewer, Chtd., Aimee Winegar, CMCA, AMS, LSM, PCAM, Scott J. Silverman, Esq. Thomas Schild Law Group, LLC

A lively discussion of pressing matters in the Maryland legislature that will impact common interest communities in the coming year lead by two experienced Maryland attorneys and a seasoned Maryland PCAM manager.

Who Wants to be a Community Association Lawyer?

Lead Speakers: Tiago Bezerra, Esq., Chadwick, Washington, Moriarty, Elmore & Bunn; Ruhi Mirza, Esq., Rees Broome, P.C.

Who Wants to Be A Community Association Lawyer will be the gameshow everyone is talking about! Relying on real life volunteers to play, the game will feature contestants answering questions relating to hot topics, including electric vehicle charging stations, solar panels, reserves, virtual meetings, and electronic voting in community association law impacting Virginia, D.C., and Maryland. Contestants will have various tools at their disposal to help them get the right answer, with engaging community association attorneys serving as the hosts of the game show. Brush up on your principles of community association law and get ready to play!

Managing Large Scale Projects – ROLES and GOALS for Managers, Board Members, Consultants and Contractors

Lead Speakers: D. Kipp Gaynor, P.E., Structural Rehabilitation Group, LLC; Trey Wiesenburg, The Carlton Condominium; Jan Moshinsky CMCA, AMS, PCAM, FirstService Residential

How to manage a Major project takes a TEAM. Developing a strategy early in the process to get everyone to “play nice” in the sandbox is the best way to set the community up for success. The session will tour the process from Board and Management decisions through Consultant selection. The design process includes critical selections and decisions that also require Board and Management participation and the earlier they engage in the process the better. Once the bid solicitation is completed, the Board needs to roll up their sleeves and make a prudent selection to complete the Team and the session will walk through that process. Now the project and the hard work begins…..effective communication has to flow efficiently, decisions need to be made efficiently and the project flow maintained to keep the successful project outcome in the collective sights of all involved. These topics will be covered to provide valuable insight as to how to successfully manage Large Scale Projects.

1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Virginia Legislative Update

Lead Speakers: Aimee T.H. Kessler, Esq.,, Co- Chair, WMCCAI Virginia Legislative Committee, Lucia Anna “Pia” Trigiani, Esq., MercerTrigiani and Donald Boswell, CMCA, PhD, Chair, Virginia Legislative Action Committee.

Get a preview of what the Virginia legislative landscape will look like in 2023! Presented by the Co-Chairs of the WMCCAI Virginia Legislative Committee along with seasoned Virginia attorneys.

Community Association of the Year: Best Practices

Lead Speakers: Winners of the 2022 Community Association of the Year Awards. Session moderated by Crishana Loritsch, CMCA, AMS, PCAM and Crystal Coats, CMCA, AMS, PCAM, Exterior Medics

What does it take for a community to rise to the top, stand out, and be recognized as the best? Find out from members of the winning communities in WMCCAI’s annual Community Association of the Year contest! They will share their knowledge, wisdom and experience and tell you how they did it!

Tales from the D&O Dugout: A Look at What is Covered under the Directors & Officers Policy

Lead Speakers: Christa Brady, PCAM, USI Insurance Services and Edward J. O’Connell, III, Esq., Whiteford, Taylor & Preston, LLP

Directors and Officers (D&O) coverage is considered to be the most important insurance coverage a community association can purchase; yet, it is one of the most misunderstood policies. During this session, the presenters will first provide an in-depth review of the common coverages and typical exclusions of a D&O policy. Using case studies, we will discuss the upward trend of D&O claims and explain how this trend is not only impacting D&O renewal terms, but is contributing to the challenges within the Umbrella market place as well. The presentation will conclude with “Best Practices” for procuring robust and adequate D&O coverages and strategies for staying out of the D&O dugout.