Condo Media - October 2022 - 32

Volunteer Spotlight
CAI-NE's Manager
Rising Star 2022
Sometimes, what you accomplish
early in life is a harbinger
of how you'll conduct yourself
throughout your lifetime. The
designation of Eagle Scout is
the highest ranking in the Boy
Scout organization - a level
only about 5 percent of scouts
achieve. Those who attain it
reveal integrity and character
that serve themselves and their
communities well.
Similar qualities of integrity,
reliability, and commitment are
required to be nominated for
CAI-NE's Community Association
Manager Rising Star Award,
created to recognize an outstanding
property manager with
less than three years of association
management experience.
Bob Keegan CMCA, AMS, PCAM, president and
CEO of Dirigo Management Company of Portland, Maine,
recognized these qualities in James Jasper back in 2019
when he was looking to hire a property manager. Jasper,
a former Eagle Scout, is the 2022 recipient of the CAI-NE's
Manager Rising Star Award. " This award was created for
people like James, " says Keegan. " He represents what
every employer in this field is looking for in an employee. "
Award Caps
James Jasper's Lifetime
of Exemplary Achievement
[By Pamela Schweppe]
JAMES JASPER
Property Manager, Dirigo Management Company
From the start, Jasper made a
point of learning as much as he
could about his new industry.
He's gleaned important insights
from his coworkers. CAI-NE's
webinars, seminars, workshops,
and classes have been another
important source of education.
" Property managers from the
other New England states have
similar concerns and similar
issues, so it's good to hear the
things they're dealing with and
how they're handling them, " he
says. " I can take it from there as
to how to integrate their ideas
into how I do my job. "
One thing he didn't need to
learn from others was how to
take a personal approach to
working with boards and unit
owners. Since becoming a property manager, he's always been
mindful that his ultimate charge is taking care of people's
homes. " My approach is to understand where they're coming
from, " he says of the unit owners in the 12 properties in
his portfolio. " It's their home, so sometimes they might get
anxious. You need the compassion to say you understand and
then get it taken care of right away. "
It's an attitude that Keegan applauds. " If he tells you he's
" This award was created for people like
James. He represents what every employer
in this field is looking for in an employee. "
Keegan took a chance hiring Jasper as a property
manager, as he had no prior experience in the field.
Jasper had previously spent many years in marketing
and project management, and he found property management
to be a good fit. " I like the diversity, " he says.
" There's something different every day and all kinds
of new challenges all the time. You face a new problem
and have to try to solve it in a way that's good for everybody. "
32 CONDOMEDIA October 2022
going to do something, he does it, " he says.
And when a project takes longer than anticipated, Jasper
understands the importance of keeping the lines of communication
wide open. " Even if I know what's going on, if they
haven't heard anything for a couple of weeks, people might
think nothing's happening, " he explains. " Keeping them
updated eases their anxiety. "
" That communication lets people know that they were heard,
and that's really important, " adds Brenda Broder, president of
Brydon Farm Condominium Association of Westbrook, Maine.
" The qualities and value systems of the person who handles
your property are really more important than the skills that
they bring to the table. For James, being an Eagle Scout, it all
became clear: Those qualities are the qualities that you look for
in a property manager. I could not be prouder to be the person to
nominate him for this award. It's just so well deserved. "
Condo Media - October 2022

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