Team Building for Administrative Assistants

Ghertner & Company’s commitment to property management excellence is a team effort.  A key part of that effort is the 15 administrative assistants who serve 2-3 community association managers each.  The administrative assistant team met in person recently to get to know each other better by answering “ice breaker” questions and enjoying a casual lunch.

The administrative assistant team fills an important role by providing another level of communication and customer service to homeowners and Boards by supporting their community association managers.  Administrative assistants’ tasks include answering general homeowner questions, managing amenity reservations, programming and distributing pool keys and gate devices, annual meeting preparation, sending homeowner communications, and providing day-to-day support for their managers.

Time Management Workshop Well Attended

Board members from Middle Tennessee homeowners associations managed by Ghertner & Company participated in person and via Zoom in the September Board Leadership Training workshop held at the corporate offices in Metrocenter.  Led by industry professional, Kathleen Sutherland, the topic of time management was shared with a focus on how busy volunteer Board members create balance with this additional commitment.  Topics included how effective communication, delegating responsibilities, and avoiding “time stealers” can help strike a balance in these busy times. 

The seminar was offered midday and in the evening (online only) to accommodate the participants’ schedules. 

CAI Meeting Focuses on HOA Budgets and Business Partners

Industry professionals from local HOA management companies served on a panel during the August CAI meeting to provide input to business partners regarding the busy budget season ahead. The six panelists shared practical advice and fielded questions to a capacity crowd dealing with all phases of the process from request for proposals, to deciding factors on choosing a vendor, to the importance of communication and how to provide the best customer service during a project.

The Tennessee chapter of the Community Associations Institute (CAI) provides quality education, leadership training and networking opportunities for the homeowner association managers and business partners with a monthly meeting. Ghertner & Company is a annual sponsor of the CAI and encourages its managers to be participate as part of their professional development.

Women’s Non-Profit Organization Impacted with Donations

The Next Door is a non-profit organization dedicated to serving women in crisis, equipping them for lives of wholeness and hope. The Next Door provides services to women who are impacted by addiction, mental illness, trauma and/or incarceration. In recognition of the common need among residents for mental health and addiction counseling, The Next Door provides an integrated model to address the co-occurring disorders. A professional team of counselors, case managers, nurse practitioners – both medical and psychiatric, medical doctors, masters level social work interns, mentors, and job coaches complete the staff to provide comprehensive coverage to residents’ needs

As the selected “Giving Back” recipient for this quarter, Ghertner & Company associates donated helpful items to assist the residents with basic needs.  In addition, the company made a $500 donation in support of the impact this organization is having in our Middle Tennessee community.  Read more success stories or learn more about their services at www.thenextdoor.org.

July CAI Meeting Features MDHA Program

Community Association Managers and other industry professionals were able to learn about the variety of resources available through MDHA at the July CAI lunch meeting.  MDHA representative, Marchelle Perry, shared about several programs that can assist with funding for window, roof, HVAC and rehab projects for homeowners.  Ghertner & Company encourages its managers, administrative team members and company leaders to participate in the Community Associations Institute as part of their professional development.

A “Day of Action” Proves Successful at Farmingham Woods HOA

Farmingham Woods board leaders and neighbors made a positive impact on their community by having a “Day of Action” focusing on cleaning up the community.  After selecting certain areas, volunteers filled 15 garbage bags and removed old tires and other large items out of the muck.  The cleanup effort not only made the grounds look better but had a practical impact as the trash that had accumulated and lodged in the storm drain caused water to pond. The receding water is able to dry out faster and is no longer a breeding area for mosquitoes.

Pam Swoner, Farmingham Woods HOA president, shares, “It is amazing how much can be accomplished in a short time with community members working together. I sincerely hope more members of HOAs will consider a Day of Action with their neighbors.”

Our Clients Say It Best

“I recently called in and Cheryl was the one who helped me. She was very, very kind and helpful and knew what she was doing, quickly assessed everything and gave me updates of what I needed to do as far as getting online and getting into the portal.  I was so glad and thankful that someone on the other end really acted like they cared about my situation personally!” MAM

“Ann was very helpful with my request to rent the clubhouse in my neighborhood. She made the process easy, worked with me on dates, and responded to emails quickly. I look forward to working with her again.”  KH

“I called this morning needing assistance how to submit paperwork. I was so blessed and lucky to have Ms. Monica assist me. She walked me through the whole process while staying on the phone. She even told me if I had any other questions I could call her back!!”  RC

Managers and Leaders Attend National CAI Conference

The annual Community Associations Institute (CAI) national conference is the most important event of the year for community managers, management company executives, community association homeowner leaders and service providers. Held in Orlando, Florida, May 4-7, 2022, the theme was “Community Now”, offering practical strategies to save time and money, unparalleled networking opportunities and the latest innovations from product and service providers.

Ghertner & Company team members in attendance were Stacy Adams, Vice President of Human Resources, Jessica Henry, Vice President of Operations, Jaye Kloss, Director of Compliance and Training, and Community Association Team Leaders, Deborah Wallace, Dorothy Ratliff, and Henry Puckett. 

Jaye Kloss shares, “It was encouraging to have our conference in-person and network with other HOA professionals. This was the best conference I’ve attended in years!”  Jessica Henry shares, “Attending the CAI National Conference is about connecting with experts in our industry and staying in touch with the latest tools and partners that can help set Ghertner & Company apart from our competition.  Spending time with our leadership team and reconnecting with colleagues across the country help us be the very best for our clients.”

Ongoing Professional Development Is Key

The June Community Associations Institute (CAI) Tennessee chapter meeting provided members with valuable information about HOA loans and lending with Pinnacle Financial providing a keynote speaker, Howard Henry.  An overview and specific HOA examples were shared followed by a helpful Q&A session.  Nearly twenty Ghertner & Company managers, assistants, and leaders were present to learn from the seminar and support CAI.

Ghertner & Company is committed to continuing education within the HOA industry and encourages participation with the Tennessee chapter of CAI. 

Our Associates Make a Difference!

On Wednesday, June 22, a lunch of pizza and homemade ice cream was provided to team members in appreciation for the commitment to providing outstanding customer service during the first half of 2022.  This event took the place of the annual July 4th celebration due to the heat wave being experienced in Middle Tennessee.  Building a diverse team of talented members that serve our clients and find value in their work is foundational to Ghertner & Company’s mission. 

Board Leadership Workshop Emphasizes Value of HOA Vision & Mission Statements

Volunteer Board members from Ghertner & Company managed homeowners associations were able to take advantage of a free workshop in person or virtually on Tuesday, June 7th.   Kathleen Sutherland, Director of Development and Training, emphasized the importance of vision and mission statements for an HOA. She shared the variety of reasons a clearly defined mission and value statement can benefit Board members in their roles of leading a successful community. The discussion allowed both in-person and virtual participants to share challenges and practical solutions around this topic. 

To view this recorded session or attend a future Board Leadership Training workshop, please contact your Community Association Manager. 

Associates Participate in Fitness Event!

Twenty-six company associates were excited to participate in the recent 5K on the MetroCenter Greenway on Friday, June 3, 2022, as part of the Humana Go365 wellness program.  The wellness program aims to promote a healthy lifestyle by offering events such as this 5K. These events encourage associates to participate and promote camaraderie while offering wellness incentives through the program.  Monthly events are planned throughout the year to provide opportunities for better physical and mental health.   

Congratulations Graduates!

Ghertner & Company congratulates Summerfield HOA Board president Dr. Joyce Neal and daughter, Michelle Scott, on their recent graduations. They both graduated on the same day, Saturday, May 7. Dr. Neal received a Doctor of Education in Leadership degree from Trevecca University and Michelle received a Master's degree in curriculum and instruction in leadership from Middle Tennessee State University. 

Cumberland River Compact Partners with Tulip Grove Pointe HOA

This spring, with the assistance of Ghertner & Company, Tulip Grove Pointe partnered with Cumberland River Compact (CRC) to plant twenty-one trees in homeowners' yards throughout the community. CRC donated the beautiful native trees, which are valued at about $200 each, for a total of $4,200. CRC also delivered the trees and provided volunteers to assist homeowners that requested help planting the trees. Congratulations to Tulip Grove Pointe for a very successful tree planting event.

The trees will benefit the neighborhood in many ways. The new trees are especially important to this neighborhood since it was hit by a devastating tornado in the spring of 2020. In the years to come, the trees will increase property values, filter air, reduce stormwater run-off and flooding, reduce noise pollution, and reduce energy costs. The trees will also provide many health benefits to the homeowners such as improving sleep, reducing stress, and lowering blood pressure. In addition to all these benefits, the native trees will also provide much-needed habitat in support of biodiversity.

All of the donated trees will count towards the Root Nashville campaign, which is a public/private partnership led by Metro Nashville and CRC to plant 500,000 trees in Davidson County by 2050. For all Davidson County homeowners, if you plant a tree on your own, you can log it and it will count towards the goal. Ghertner & Company is a proud partner of the Root Nashville campaign. To learn more about the Root Nashville, go to https://rootnashville.org/. 

Book’em Program Contributes to Child Development

Ghertner & Company associates recently collected new and slightly used books and donated them to the Nashville Book’em program.  This organization’s mission is the create a more literate Nashville and ignite children’s passion for reading through book ownership and enthusiastic volunteers.  Book’em partners with over 160 schools, nonprofits, children’s programs and government agencies with reading resources for children.  In 2021, over 190,000 books were distributed across all their programs.  Learn more about volunteering, donating resources or getting involved at bookem-kids.org.

As part of its Giving Back to the Community program, Ghertner & Company also made a $500 donation in support of the meaningful work and impact of Book’em in the Middle Tennessee community.

Parmley Cove HOA Tree Planting Event is a Success

Congratulations to Parmley Cove HOA for an extremely successful tree planting event in March. Thirty native trees were planted, twenty in homeowners’ yards and ten in the common area along White's Creek Pike. The project was funded by Cumberland River Compact, which also provided volunteers to plant the trees in the common area and to help any homeowners that requested assistance. The estimated cost of these trees is over $6,500.

The trees will benefit the neighborhood in many ways. Over the years to come, the trees will filter air and reduce noise pollution, which is especially beneficial for the homes along White's Creek Pike. As the trees grow, they will increase property values. Studies have shown a 5-15% increase in the value of homes with mature trees. The trees will absorb stormwater and reduce the risk of flooding. The trees will provide many health benefits to the homeowners, such as reducing stress, lowering blood pressure, and improving sleep. The neighborhood will also be supporting biodiversity by planting native trees, especially the willow oak trees. As the willow oaks grow into large canopy trees, they will absorb thousands of gallons of stormwater, serve as host plants for over 400 species of native moths and butterflies and feed the birds who depend on caterpillars to survive and to raise nestlings. These are just a few of the many benefits the trees will bring to the community.

Ghertner & Company is donating $500 to Cumberland River Compact to water and maintain the willow oak trees planted in the common area during the summer of 2022. All of the trees planted in Parmley Cove count towards the Root Nashville campaign goal. Root Nashville is a public/private partnership, led by Metro Nashville and the Cumberland River Compact, to plant 500,000 trees in Davidson County by 2050 (rootnashville.org.) If you are interested in applying to be a “Planting Captain” for your neighborhood, go to https://rootnashville.org/organize/. For all Davidson County homeowners, if you plant a tree on your own, you can log it and it will count towards the goal.

Sugartree Easter Egg Hunt

On Saturday, April 9, 2022, Sugartree Homeowners Association held its annual Easter Egg Hunt.  It was a little chilly, but with the little ones bundled up the celebration went on as planned.  The adults celebrated the holiday and Masters golf tournament with mimosas on the porch while the little ones enjoyed a visit from the Easter bunny and hunted Easter eggs.  It was a fun filled event and the first community gathering since the beginning of the pandemic.  Stephanie Gray, the Ghertner & Company Community Association Manager for Sugartree, made a special visit as the Easter bunny!

Spring Board Workshops Address Important Topics

Spring 2022 provided many opportunities for HOA board members to increase their knowledge about their important roles through the Board training workshops provided by Ghertner & Company.  Highlights from the spring trainings included:

The March 8 training featured “Parliamentary Procedure Made Simple”.  Making motions, how to keep order and ways to deal with multiple topics were reviewed. Practical illustrations and ideas on how to implement these items were discussed.

The second March workshop was held on the 22nd and addressed the topic, “Get the Most Out of Your Board Portal: Tools and Tricks to Make You an Expert”. Discussion included navigating ARC requests via the portal and how Boards can review up-to-date financial information and useful association reports. 

On April 5, the focus was “Community Standards: Rules and Regulations”.  Topics included what to consider when making a community rule, voluntary compliance, enforcement and ARC requests.  This training featured a return to an in-person lunch as well as continuing the option to attend via Zoom.

Wrapping up the spring workshops is the topic, “Ten Habits of Highly Effective Boards”, to be presented on May 10.  Kathleen Sutherland, Director of Development and Training, will discuss the many ways Board members can work together to be successful. 

Board members can contact their Community Association Manager to learn more about these complimentary workshops being presented at the corporate office and online. 

Root Nashville Speaker Relays the Value of Trees to Communities

The March Community Associations Institute (CAI) luncheon featured Meg Morgan, the campaign director for the Root Nashville Campaign, a public private partnership led by Metro Nashville and Cumberland River Compact.  She shared a wonderfully prepared presentation showing the need for and value of trees in the Middle Tennessee region.  Meg Morgan reminded attendees of the vision of Root Nashville in building a tree canopy for Nashville that creates more equitable, healthy and climate-resilient neighborhoods.  She challenged all Community Association Managers, Management Companies, Board members and suppliers to contribute to the goal of planting 500,000 trees by 2050 and showed how to register newly planted trees towards that goal.

As industry leaders, Ghertner & Company encourages attendance and involvement in CAI as part of their professional development.