Industry Education
National
Cadden Community Management is a member of the Community Associations Institute (CAI), a national organization that disseminates information and provides professional training for boards of directors and industry managers. The firm is very active in the local Southern Arizona Chapter of CAI. In fact, many of our managers have served as board president. Currently we have four managers who have been awarded the designation of Professional Community Association Manager (PCAM). This designation is the highest national achievement within the field of association management.
State
Cadden Community Management is a founding member of the Arizona Association of Community Managers (AACM) and we abide by its Code of Professional Ethics and Standards of Practice. Our participation in AACM enables our managers to stay abreast of legislation that is proposed, adopted, or defeated. We consider this to be integral to the ongoing training of our staff and the proper representation of our clientele. Several members of the Cadden staff were among the first to receive Certified Arizona Association Manager (CAAM) certification, the highest designation awarded by AACM at a state level. This certification process is mandatory for all our managers.
In-House
We recognize that scheduling the time to become familiar with company improvements, trends and procedures is key to staff success. Our managers participate in ongoing internal training programs that provide critical information for new employees and important updates for more senior managers.
Professional Memberships
Southern Arizona Home Builders Association
Cadden Community Management has been a member of SAHBA since 1987. Our current involvement with the SAHBA Political Action Committee allows interface with federal, state and local elected officials regarding industry issues. Participation on the SAHBA Technical Committee offers review of city, county and state ordinances, regulations and policies relative to land-use planning, zoning and development and active involvement in governmental communications with appointed staff and elected officials.
Metropolitan Pima Alliance
The Metropolitan Pima Alliance is dedicated to improving the quality of life and the economic viability of metropolitan Pima County. MPA strives to create dialogue among diverse groups to promote sound community planning solutions. Our active membership with MPA serves as a continuing connection with the economic pulse of the region.
Manager Credentials
As with other professional organizations, the industry of community association management has its own professional credentials and standards. As noted under the “Industry Education” section, Cadden Community Management is a member of the Arizona Association of Community Managers (AACM) and the Community Associations Institute (CAI). Their website links are shown at the bottom of this page.
AACM is an Arizona state-wide body that focuses on association management, from which a community manager may obtain the designation of Certified Arizona Association Manager (CAAM). This certification requires successful completion of exam courses in ethics, finance, legal issues and association basics. Our company has established a policy that all its managers shall obtain this credential, usually within one year of employment. Nearly all our managers already have this designation, or are in process of completing all courses.
CAI is a national body, which provides opportunities to obtain designations such as Certified Manager of Community Associations (CMCA), Association Manager Specialist (AMS) and Large-Scale Manager (LSM), and also the highest recognized national professional designation of Professional Community Association Manager (PCAM). We support managers pursuing national qualifications, and you will see that some of our managers already hold these CAI credentials.
Legal Document Preparation
Cadden Community Management is a certified Legal Document Preparer (LDP), complying with Rule 31 of the Arizona Supreme Court. Approved in July 2003, the rule requires that persons and entities who are non-lawyers and who are engaged in the preparation of legal documents, shall obtain the certification of Legal Document Preparer (LDP). This is not a certification to practice law or render legal advice, but it permits an LDP to perform or provide limited and specific services related to legal document preparation and provision.
Why is this certification important? An association’s governing documents are legal documents, and are the basis of all community associations in Arizona. Managers deal with these documents on a daily basis, such as assisting in drafting wording, analyzing language, assisting with interpretation and making non-legal recommendations. The filing of a lien is also permissible by a certified LDP, and many of our associations avail themselves of this option.
A certified LDP must comply with the requirements of Arizona Judicial Code, Section 7-208, as adopted by the Arizona Supreme Court, which provides for the statewide certification of legal document preparers. It was adopted due to the Court’s recognition for the need to protect the public from possible harm caused by non-lawyers providing certain legal services, such as document preparation and/or provision. Cadden Community Management maintains this certification in full compliance with the Code. We adhere to its code of conduct, which establishes minimum performance standards, and we uphold the responsibilities of this certification as described in the Arizona Code of Judicial Administration 7-208(F).
Read more about this important certification.