president’ s letter
West Florida Chapter Community Associations Institute
2025 Board of Directors
OFFICERS: President Janet Fernandez, CMCA, AMS, PCAM C & S Community Management Services, Inc., AAMC
Vice President Mathew Wilson, CMCA, AMS, PCAM AMI- Advanced Management, Inc., AAMC
President-Elect Cindi Bass-Bell Florida Southern Roofing & Sheet Metal, Inc.
Treasurer Craig Finck, CMCA Centennial Bank
Secretary Alex Rydel Homeowner Leader
Immediate Past President Jason Hamilton, CMCA Pinnacle Community Association Management
Frank Anastasi, CMCA, AMS Community Association Manager
Kevin Edwards, Esq. Becker
Susan guenther WrightWay Emergency Services
Hello Members!
Crab grass, bare bushes, broken swings, empty pools, junk sticking out of overgrown lawns, broken driveways, overgrown sidewalks and tin foil window coverings … these are just some of the things I do NOT see when I turn in my community. The joy of living in an HOA, Condo or Co-Op association is easily visible when driving through. There is always a Board of Directors and their designated Committee members watching out for the Common areas and upholding the language in the documents. Do I like getting a letter to remind me to trim my hedges … Heck NO! But … Do I like my increased property value and the neighboring homes that are clean and tidy? Absolutely! So, I grab my hedge clippers and smile as I trim.
I like a front door wreath and seasonal décor so we did pass on some homes that did not allow those items when we were house shopping. We looked for and found the HOA that fits our needs. What a joy it is to drive home, be home and walk the neighborhood. go HOA! This edition is full of articles on the joy of living in your chosen neighborhood. Keep reading and find your happy place!
As you may be aware, there is much conversation going on regarding HOAs and the possibility of abolishing them or seriously curtailing their scope. Please keep an eye out for information as we move forward and watch particularly for bills from legislators that help to enhance HOA living as well as implement sensible solutions to specific issues being presented. Many commonsense ideas will help with solutions to issues that have owners unhappy. Abolishing the HOAs will, in my humble opinion, create more damage that can be determined in advance. However, addressing the issues that have homeowners so angry that they wish to abolish them is a must! As a community manager, I have the opportunity to hear from owners who truly enjoy where they live and are content with the community lifestyle. Many of those owners have bits and pieces of the“ rules” that they do not agree with but most understand that even those pieces are part of the whole that they take pleasure from. A good manager, a good homeowner leader and a good business partner will hear the issue and look for a way to address it to the betterment of all. There is always room for change even if it is only change to the way the issue is handled. We must all work together to find the joy for everyone. No one should“ hate” their happy home.
On a personal note, it has been a great year serving as your President. I have found the joy in serving and also in representing our West Florida Chapter.
Thank you to my fellow Board members for the opportunity to do so. Thank you to all of you for your support this past year!
Sincerely,
Janet
Janet Fernandez, CMCA, AMS, PCAM
WWW. CAIWESTFLORIDA. ORg community • December 2025
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