Full Article - Association of Condominium Managers of Ontario

within the requirements of the law.
Of course, better education is the answer.
Some of that will come from the
manager and some will come when
all board members and prospective
board members open themselves up
to attend seminars and courses that
will teach them about the Condominium
Act and the procedures that
must be followed to ensure that we’re
taking appropriate action, whether
it be in the physical management of
the building or in enforcing rules or
ensuring that the corporation’s documents
are up-to-date and accurate.
Only when we all work together as
a cohesive team in all things, will
managers be seen as proficient and
professional as they should.
Best business advice you ever received:
From Ray Wilson – always
remember that your Manager’s Report
is your opportunity to “pat
yourself on the back”. Don’t leave
anything out. Let the board know
what you’ve done and what you
are continuing to do for them. I’ve
learned that board members appreciate
being kept up-to-date even about
the “little things” because those are
invariably the things that a unit owner
will notice if not taken care of.
Favourite part of the job and
How satisfying is your condo management
career: I feel like I’ve spent
all of my adult life looking for a job
that has a lot of variety. I am not
happy doing the same thing two
days in a row. When I began my
career as a property manager, I was
pleasantly surprised at the vast array
of duties and areas of involvement
that a manager must master. It is not
always easy, since no one can be an
expert in every area, but it is challenging
and ever-changing and that,
for me, is truly satisfying.
How has the condominium management
industry become more professional
– how has this helped you
focus on your own career objectives,
and how does it help your relationships
with your client-boards:
As more board members become
educated, and as we continue to educate
ourselves, the value of the RCM
designation will increase. Boards
are beginning to look for it, if not
demand it, and their expectations of
a professional manager are growing.
In some ways this makes managing
more difficult as there are still only
the same number of hours in a day
and the same resources available to
us, but as the boards’ expectations
grow so does my resolve to learn
more and to expand my abilities in
order to meet those expectations.
■ Name: Maria Bianca
Desforges, RCM, ACCI
President of J & W Condominium
Management Ltd., Hamilton, ON
Year entered the profession: 1995
after working 20 years in home
health care
Year RCM obtained: 2006
Other education: I graduated
from Mohawk College with a Business
Diploma and continued my
studies on a part-time basis and received
a diploma in Business Management
Studies.
At the time I became a property
manager I had purchased a condo
unit and was serving on the board of
directors when the opportunity came
For more information contact:
John Oakes, M.A., CPM, R.C.M., ACCI, FCCI
President & CEO
joakes@brookfieldresidential.com
Telephone: 416-510-8700
Brookfield Residential Services Ltd.
3190 Steeles Avenue East - Suite 200 - Markham, Ontario L3R 1G9 - Canada
www.brookfieldresidential.com
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