president’ s letter
West Florida Chapter Community Associations Institute
2026 Board of Directors
OFFICERS: President Cindi Bass-Bell Florida Southern �oofing & SheetMetal
President-Elect Susan Guenther WrightWay �mergency Services
Vice President Nicole Price, �sq., Icard, Merrill, Cullis, Timm, Furen & Ginsburg, P. A.
Treasurer Jason Hamilton, CMCA, Pinnacle Community Association Management
Secretary Scott Smith, Tregate �ast Condo Association
Immediate Past President Janet Fernandez, CMCA, AMS, PCAM C & S Commmunity Association Management, Inc. AAMC
Board Members Kevin �dwards, �sq. Block & Scarpa
�ich Gardner Homeowner Leader
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, Before I became President, I had a little habit at our chapter breakfast meetings. I would walk through the doors, look around the room, and simply set my things down at whatever table caught my eye, there was no plan, no agenda, no idea who I would be sitting next to. Sometimes I knew every person at that table. Many times I did not. And every single time, I walked away with a new connection, a new conversation, or a new perspective I never would have found if I had played it safe and headed straight for a familiar face.
I still do it today. And as I walk around the room during our breakfasts, if I spot someone who looks a little uncertain or unsure of where to land, I walk straight over and introduce myself. That is what showing up really looks like.
If you were at our August Legislative Update breakfast meeting, you saw it happening in real time. Nearly 200 people filled that room, with new faces discovering the chapter for the first time, and veteran members who have been showing up faithfully for years. The energy was electric, the conversations were rich, and I found myself looking around thinking: this is what we have built together. This is what showing up does.
Think about what it actually means across our chapter community. It means the association manager who answers the call after hours because a homeowner needs help and it simply cannot wait. It means the board member who gives up their Saturday, their evenings, and their personal time-- not because they have to, but because they genuinely care about the place they call home. It means the business partner who drives across town not just to hand out a card, but to build a relationship, share their expertise, and invest in the success of the communities they serve.
�very single person in this chapter is showing up in some meaningful way. And because of that, our chapter is thriving.
As we head into fall, there is so much to look forward to. Trivia Night is coming in September, this is a fantastic opportunity to connect, laugh, and enjoy some friendly competition with fellow members. The Fall Festival and our Fall Golf Tournament are on the horizon in October and November, bringing even more chances to celebrate the relationships that make this chapter so special. And of course, our monthly breakfast meetings continue to be the heartbeat of everything we do.
My challenge to you this fall is simple: keep showing up. Come to an event. Volunteer for a committee. Set your things down at a table where you do not know a soul. Introduce yourself to the person who looks like they are still finding their footing. �very time you walk through those doors, you are adding to something bigger than yourself, a community that is stronger, more connected, and more impactful because you are part of it.
I am so honored to serve as your President this year, and I am energized by everything this chapter has already accomplished and everything still ahead. The best is not behind us. It is coming this fall.
Thank you for being here. Thank you for showing up. See you at the next breakfast!
Sincerely,
Cindi Bell
Cindi Bell President, 2026 CAI West Florida Chapter
WWW. CAIW�STFLO�IDA. O�G community • September 2026
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