The Community Associations Institute (CAI) Annual Volunteer Awards named Cyndi Koester of Las Vegas-based Complete Association Management Company (CAMCO) Educator of the Year.
Koester truly thrives as an educator, making all of the programs she is involved with participant- centered, interactive and dynamic.
Educator of the Year recognizes an individual who has excelled in elevating the quality of CAI’s education programs by developing, teaching or leading a significant national course.
She was commended by CAI for demonstrating “exceptional leadership to advance community association living.” She is part of the CAI Education Committee for Nevada and California as well as a longtime national faculty member.
A member of CAI’s Nevada Chapter, she has served on the board of directors at three CAI chapters: San Diego, Greater Inland Empire and Coachella Valley. Koester has been a CAI instructor since 2005, teaching many courses to managers, board members and business partners.
Currently a CAMCO division director, Koester joined the company in 2018 as a community manager after relocating to Las Vegas from California. With more than 40 years of experience in the homeowners association (HOA) industry, she was promoted to regional director within a short amount of time.
“She has accepted bigger and bigger roles and has always exceeded our expectations,” said Joel Just, CAMCO CEO. “She is mentoring others to be the next generation in the community association business. Our job in supporting boards is difficult; we are the people who have to correct behavior. It takes a certain level of person who can take that criticism and anger and turn it into a solution.”
“I love what I do,” Koester said. “There is nothing like that moment when a manager says, ‘I got it.’ I look at all of the managers I work with as my children. I get to know them personally, but I also keep it business.”
Koester has also taken on a leadership role during the pandemic, both in her daily work and with virtual training programs. “My career goals are about watching others succeed,” she said. “I cherish every person I have met through this industry.”
As a division director for CAMCO, Koester oversees portfolio managers’ and administrative assistants’ duties, ensuring all portfolio clients are being maintained and customer satisfaction is upheld within all communities.
She began her career in the HOA industry as a receptionist, going on to become an assistant controller and later a manager. Koester ran a management company in Orange County, Calif., has experience in a trade organization certifying managers, and worked in HOA banking for 12 years.
An active CAI member for 37 years, Koester holds multiple CAI certifications, including Professional Community Association Manager (PCAM), the highest manager certification.
ABOUT CAI
The Community Associations Institute (CAI) is the leading international authority on community association governance, management and education. The Annual Volunteer Awards are the highest honors given by CAI, with the annual ceremony traditionally held each spring in conjunction with the CAI Annual Conference & Exposition: Community NOW. This year’s conference was canceled due to COVID-19.
For more information on CAI, visit https://www.caionline.org/.
ABOUT CAMCO
The Complete Association Management Company (CAMCO) is a full-service management company providing management services to the Homeowners Association (HOA) industry in communities throughout Nevada.
For more information on CAMCO or its leadership team, visit https://camconevada.com/