Condo Media - November 2019 - 64

Ask a Busy Person
What led you to a career in
condominium association
management? I started out in retail
sales. I worked for a car dealership
in Rhode Island for
25 years and
enjoyed it for
a long time.
But as the
internet evolved, the job was no longer
selling; it was order-taking. So I decided
I wanted to do something else. I had
served for many years as president
of the condominium association in
which I lived and had gotten to know
David Levy, whose company managed
the community. After I left the auto
dealership, I did a variety of jobs, and
I called David from time to time to
ask if he'd give me a shot as a manager.
He'd listen, but that was about it. I was
working as the maintenance supervisor
for a large Boston building and was
about to go full-time when David called
and asked if I was still interested in
being a manager. That was eight years
ago. He started me on the ground
floor, as an administrator on the staff
of one of his properties. After about 18
months, he promoted me to manager.
What made you think you would
do well as an association manager?
I didn't know for sure I'd be good
at it, but I had gotten a good idea
of what was involved by serving on
my condo association board. I also
knew that I enjoy working with
people and I'm a decision maker.
I can diagnose a situation quickly
and when difficult decisions have to
be made, I can make them. I think
David liked that about me.
What do you like most about
association management? The
interaction with owners. I like being
able to solve their problems. They say
management is a thankless job, and
I guess it often is, but I've also found
that most of the people are really
glad you are there and appreciate
your hard work.

64

CONDOMEDIA November 2019

The lord gave you two ears and one
mouth for a reason-so you can
listen twice as much as you talk.
All opinions are valuable. As a manager,
it's important to give everyone a chance
to express their views. You shouldn't
blow anyone off. Even if you don't
accept their recommendation, you will
convey the message that their views
are important, and people will
appreciate that.

ROGER CUMMINGS
ASSOCIATION MANAGER
STERLING SERVICES, INC.
Is there anything you
don't like about the job?
It is very difficult
to take time off and
it's hard to unplug
when you do. That
probably has more
to do with who I am than
with the business.
What do you find most challenging?
Board meetings. You have five to
seven different personalities in the
room trying to make decisions for
the community and everyone wants
to express their view. I may know
because I've dealt with the issue before
what the answer is going to be, but
you have to go through the process.
And that can be frustrating, especially
when you know that if they take too
long to make a decision, they may miss
a window of opportunity. The vendor
may take another job or the price
may go up. Watching that happen,
sometimes you want to bang your
head against a wall.
What are the most important
things you've learned as a manager?
This is something I've learned from
life, not just from being a manager:

You won CAI-NE's Manager of the
Year award this year. Were you
surprised? I was shocked. I didn't
know my name had been submitted.
I was just chugging along, trying to do
the best job I could. The award wasn't
on my radar. It was humbling, and
very much appreciated.
What do you do in your
spare time? I play
golf and my wife
and I love to camp.
We both volunteer
at our church and
we occasionally go
on bike rides at the
end of the day. Between my work and
hers as a pre-school educator, we don't
have a lot of spare time.
What advice would you give
board members? Always have
your community first in mind.
Don't come on the board with
your own personal agenda.
What advice would you give
managers? Don't get into this
business for the glory. There isn't
much. You do it for the satisfaction
of seeing a job well done. I'd also tell
anyone doing any job: do something
you like. It's an old cliché, but it's true.
If you enjoy your work, you'll never
work a day in your life. That's the
way I feel; I enjoy going to work every
morning. My only regret is that I didn't
get into association management 35
years ago. I'd still be doing it, but I'd
be a whole lot better at it.
Condo Media - November 2019

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