president’ s letter
West Florida Chapter Community Associations Institute
2026 Board of Directors
OFFICERS: President Cindi Bass-Bell Florida Southern Roofing & SheetMetal
President-Elect Susan guenther WrightWay Emergency Services
Vice President Nicole Price, Esq., Icard, Merrill, Cullis, Timm, Furen & ginsburg, P. A.
Treasurer Jason Hamilton, CMCA, Pinnacle Community Association Management
Secretary Scott Smith, Tregate East Condo Association
Immediate Past President Janet Fernandez, CMCA, AMS, PCAM C & S Commmunity Association Management, Inc. AAMC
Board Members Kevin Edwards, Esq. Block & Scarpa
Jeannette graham, Castle Management
Mathew Wilson, CMCA, AMS, PCAM, AMI-Advanced Management, Inc. AAMC
Tammy Zuknick American Momentum Bank
Dear CAI West Florida Chapter Members,
As we move into the heart of summer, I find myself pausing to reflect on just how much has already happened in 2026, and how grateful I am to be walking through it alongside this incredible chapter.
As I stepped into this role, one theme kept rising to the surface for me personally: mental health and the very real experience of burnout. It is a topic that touches every corner of our industry. Association managers who are on call around the clock. Board members who volunteer their time on top of already full lives. Business partners who show up every day to serve communities they genuinely care about. We give a lot. And sometimes, in the giving, we forget to tend to ourselves.
I will share something personal. This year has brought me some of the greatest joys and some of the deepest losses of my life. Through it all, I have been reminded of something simple and true: taking care of yourself is not a luxury. It is what allows you to keep showing up for the people and communities who count on you. That is why I am so proud of what our chapter is building.
On August 26, 2026, we will host a Women ' s Empowerment Program that I believe will be one of the highlights of our year. We are bringing together four extraordinary women: Dawn Bauman, CEO of CAI National; Mitch Savoie Hill, CEO of SavHill Consulting; leslie Alvarez, CMCA, AMS, PCAM, lSM; and Melania Swiger-Murphy, a Bradenton author whose book explores married name choices for women and men and what they reveal about leadership. These are women who lead with purpose, speak with wisdom, and have a great deal to share with all of us. I hope you will save the date and plan to join us.
Our chapter has always been more than a professional association to me. It is a community built on relationships, mutual support, and a shared commitment to doing this work well. As we move through the summer months, I encourage you to lean into that community. Reach out to a fellow member. Attend an event. Volunteer for a committee. Connection is one of the most powerful antidotes to burnout there is.
Thank you for your continued dedication to our chapter and to the communities you serve. I am honored to lead alongside you this year and I look forward to everything still ahead.
Sincerely,
Cindi Bell
Cindi Bell President, 2026 CAI West Florida Chapter
WWW. CAIWESTFlORIDA. ORg community • June 2026
7