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CAI GreAter Los AnGeLes ChApter • www.cai-glac.orgreaDing is FUnDamenTaLby Dirk Foster, CCAM ® , CMCA ® , AMS ® , PCAM ® continued on page 25I joined the common interest development industry as a managerin 2004, after more than 15 years in a completely different field.I was lucky enough to be hired by a management company withamazing vision and an incredible training program for newportfolio managers. I tried to remember everything my trainingmanager said and totally focused on the way I was taught to dothings, not realizing just how large and comprehensive theindustry actually was. It was my first experience in the corporateworld, and I was eager to learn how to do things the “companyway.” I also wanted to be recognized for my potential since myabilities as a community manager were still developing. Havingcome from a very well-developed and information-rich environmentin my previous career (and still not completely graspingthe scope of the one I had ventured into), I found myself (duringmy training) striving a bit too far for recognition by commentingto the company’s very bright and innovative vice president thatI thought the industry really needed a publication for managersand homeowners. He smiled, recognizing my ambition washeart-felt, and responded to me that there were several publicationsavailable. He then suggested that I ask a few of my moreseasoned co-workers for their reading recommendations.Soon after, it wasn’t unusual for me to spend part of my lunchtimelooking over various trade magazines generously left in thebreak room. Sometime that year, I saw a publication I hadn’trecalled seeing there before — FOCUS Magazine. Since I wasn’ta CAI member at the time, I didn’t realize that FOCUS was theGreater Los Angeles Chapter’s publication and that working inOrange County I wouldn’t normally have seen it. The articlethat caught my eye was entitled, Smart Controllers – Wireless ETIrrigation Technology, and it really stuck with me. It was shortand to-the-point, perfect for a quick-read at break. It didn’t goin-depth, but outlined the benefits these controllers providedfor water management and conservation, the products availableat the time (including their manufacturers), and costs I couldexpect to incur if purchasing one—very helpful when biddingsomething out for the installer to purchase. I was inspired to doadditional research on my own at home and learned quite a bitmore about these products, but never had the opportunity toactually recommend one to a board of directors.I eventually moved on from my portfolio manager positionto become the operations director of a luxury high rise inImagine a bank that enhancesand protects the financial health of yourcommunity association.Our dedicated expertsunderstand the needs ofassociations. We canFinance your essentialprojects, including:• Building Repairs• Improvement ProjectsWe offer state-of-the-artLock Box servicesas well as a full arrayof other depositoryservices.ContactLarry Hooper714-864-5171lhooper@bpop.comassociationbankers.com©2010 A Division of Banco Popular North America. Member FDIC.24 •July/August 2011