CLI Team + Facilitators
Adam Balkcom
CEO
Adam started in the community management space in 2008 when he joined the board of his community in West Midtown Atlanta. His involvement in the industry grew with the founding of his first company Anofit. Anofit helped staff personal trainers in community gyms and developed wellness programs for community residents. He later founded Broadband Planning which negotiates cable access agreements for communities and coordinates low voltage and fiber upgrades. After he sold Broadband Planning, he had a short stint in Silicon Valley founding a tech startup. In 2018 he accepted the position of National Consulting Manager for Association Prime powered by SouthState Bank. His primary role with Association Prime was working with owners of community management companies to grow their portfolios and profits while also creating more personal free time. The first CEO peer group was started in 2019 and quickly grew into three groups. The success of the CEO groups, as well as Adam’s passion for working with business owners, motivated him in August 2022 to step out from the bank and focus full-time on the groups.
Frank Cupersmith
Vice President of Strategic Partnerships
With more than two decades of experience in the real estate and property management industry, Frank has established himself as a seasoned professional. Throughout his career, he successfully oversaw homeowner associations across Minnesota and Colorado. He began as a community manager, and eventually became a Vice President of Community Management for one of the largest Management companies in the world.
Motivated by his extensive background, Frank became determined to “find a better way to HOA”. Frank and his business partner co-founded Rowcal in 2018. With their innovative approach, Rowcal quickly became one of the fastest growing management companies in the country. Driven by a desire to enhance and enrich the lives he interacts with, Frank uses his vast experience to in the industry to help others achieve their goals and attain financial freedom.
Bethany Jacobs
Director of Community Engagement
Bethany comes to us from the real estate investing world. She has a deep-seated passion for cultivating and nurturing communities to help individuals grow through connection to their network. She resides in North Carolina with her husband and two children. Her journey has taken her from education to entrepreneurship and she brings a unique perspective to CLI as we continue to grow and strengthen our own community within our industry.
Bethany is an accomplished and results-driven professional with a proven track record in implementing organizational systems and processes, building online and in-person communities, leveraging technology to optimize business operations, and fostering personal and professional relationships to support growth strategies and profitability for your business.
Nicole Grandelli
Facilitator
With 18 years of experience in the HOA industry, Nicole Grandelli has built a career on leadership, expertise, and dedication to community management. She started as a Community Manager and worked her way up, ultimately purchasing the company she had dedicated years to when it was up for sale in 2020. Leading through the challenges of the pandemic, she cultivated a team of seasoned professionals who earned their Certified Manager of Community Associations (CMCA) certification within their first year and are encouraged to pursue ongoing professional education. Nicole has a deep understanding of the greater Charlotte market, maintaining strong relationships with association boards and local developers. Her strategic approach and commitment to excellence have made her a trusted leader in the field.
Beyond her professional accomplishments, Nicole is a proud mother of three and has been married to her college sweetheart for 16 years. She balances her career with her passion for family, community involvement, and supporting the growth of youth sports in her area.
Cat Carmichael, PCAM
Facilitator
Cat Carmichael, PCAM has been serving community associations for three decades, in community management, HOA financial services, management and business partner consulting, and as an elected homeowner leader. She has published numerous trade articles including her poem “Ode to the PCAM” and been a featured speaker and instructor at industry events. Cat’s election to CAI’s Business Partners Council in 2013 led to her selection for the Board of Trustees, where she served as 2019’s President. Cat is a graduate of the University of California, Irvine, and an honors graduate of Pacific Coast Banking School, where she was recognized for her thesis “Addressing the Agency Dilemma When Banking for Property Management Companies”. Her consulting company, Strategy 1 2 3, helps businesses with profitability, strategic partnerships and pre-sale due diligence to help owners enhance their business’s value and increase their success in mergers and acquisitions.
Mike Egleston
Facilitator
Formerly the CEO of Cities Management and SenEarthCo in Minneapolis, MN, Mike sold Cities in 2015 and SenEarthCo in 2018. Cities Management was one of the largest association management companies in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area, with satellite offices in Milwaukee, WI. SenEarthCo, an online association management system sold to management companies nationwide, was created out of the 40 years of experience gained by Cities Management in this industry.
In 2019 Mike took on the task of turning around a large Associa Branch in San Diego, CA, completing that engagement in 2021.
Mike continues to consult with HOA management companies across the country in operations and tech integration.
Mike began his business career in transportation with Murphy Motor Freight Lines in 1973. He transitioned from the motor freight industry into high-quality printing. Managing Print Craft in New Brighton, then founding Heartland Graphics in Roseville in 1986. Heartland grew to be one of the top printing firms in the Twin Cities and was sold in 2000.
Mike has a proven track record in growing, managing, and turning around medium-sized businesses. He is also a founding sponsor of the Environmental Initiative, one of the largest and most successful nonprofits in Minnesota and was Chairman of that organization from 1996-2001. Active at the community level, Mike has served on various boards and served two terms as the Mayor of North Oaks, MN.
Paul Grucza, CMCA©, AMS™, PCAM®
Facilitator
Mr. Paul D. Grucza has been actively involved in the Multi-family, Association Management and Training field for well over 47 years. He recently retired as Director of Educational Services and Client Engagement at The CWD Group, Inc. AAMC® in Seattle, Washington capping an active, engaging career. He has been retained on a contract basis to continue to provide education and orientation initiatives to the clients of the company. He also is Principal for PDG & Associates, a community association consulting firm specializing in all aspects of association management consultation.
His professional experience includes conventional and subsidized apartment management, association management including luxury high rise condominiums, large scale HOA and cooperative units, commercial financial management, mortgage banking, asset management, training and adult education.
Mr. Grucza is an active member of the National Faculty for CAl, training and educating new managers, board members and homeowners in association management techniques and skills at classes held throughout the United States and around the globe. He was the recipient of the 1999-2000 “Educator of the Year” award, given by CAI each year to an individual who has exemplified the professionalism and qualifications required of the National Faculty in educating managers, homeowners and boards affiliated with community association management. Mr. Grucza is a Past National President of the Institute, with a membership of over 56,000 managers, executives, homeowners and professional service providers, having been elected to that office in 2004. Mr. Grucza has served on numerous CAI Committees over the years including CEO-MC, Government and Public Affairs, &Education and Trade Show. Mr. Grucza was the inaugural Chair of the Association of Professional Community Managers (APCM) Board at its founding in 2005 establishing an educational and training agenda that continues to this day. He is also a lecturer at the National Conferences sponsored annually by CAl, keynote speaker for numerous chapters around the country and is a Director for the Foundation for Community Association Research and a current member of the Governmental and Marketing Committees for the Foundation.
Additionally, Mr. Gruza is a member of CAMICB’s (Community Association Manager International Certification Board) Item Writing Committee, establishing baseline question criteria for the CMCA Exam and is an 11-year Member of the CMCA Ethics Commission, tasked with evaluating complaints brought forth impacting the CMCA designation.
Mr. Grucza has been a contributing writer to the “Contact Magazine” and the “Journal”, CAI chapter communication pieces, providing insightful articles concerning real estate financing, association management and general interest association management articles. He additionally has been published by the Institute of RealEstate Management’s “Journal of Property Management, Community Association Institute’s “Common Ground”, Brownstone Publishers “Community Associations Management Advisor”, Nolo Publications, WSCAl’s chapter magazine, as well as other association publications nationwide. M.r Gruza also contributed to two Florida-based association management magazines on a bi-monthly basis while residing in Florida.
He was instrumental in establishing a television program dealing with association matters in the Dallas viewing market. Viewed weekly by 1.2 million viewers, the program has educated Metroplex and viewers on all topics association-related and the show has won three national excellence in media awards. Mr. Grucza has also participated as a keynote speaker and instructor at the annual CAMFire Conferences sponsored by TOPS Software each year to outstanding reviews.
While residing in Seattle, Mr. Gruza was very active with the Chapter in a variety of ways including Chair for the annual “Made for Managers Day”, an education specific event for community managers, contributor to the Chapter’s annual CA Day event for Board members and homeowners and contributes and provides insight to the Education Committee for the Chapter as well. He recently was awarded the Chapter’s “Volunteer of the Year” award for his participation and leadership of chapter initiatives.
He is a frequent lecturer, consultant and strategist on multi-family and association management techniques, business transformation, human resource management and personnel motivation to Associations and community association groups and Chapters throughout the United States and in Canada routinely delivering 14 presentations and sessions on average each year. Mr. Grucza also serves as professional expert for two law firms, one in Colorado and one in Georgia, relating to Association litigation matters. He additionally is sought by newspapers nationally to provide insight and information regarding HOA and condo issues of importance to their reader base and has a recurring column with the Chicago Sun-Times.
Mr. Grucza is a past Commissioner/ Vice Chair of the Amherst (New York) Historic Preservation Commission, a past Vice President and President of the
WNY Chapter of the Community Associations Institute, and past Treasurer and Vice Chair of the NYS Legislative Action Committee. He is a past Chair of the Government and Public Affairs Committee of the Dallas County Chapter of CAl, Expo Chair, Past Chapter President, a past member of the Florida Legislative Alliance, and an active “Amicus” working with CAI on legislative matters affecting associations on a national basis and author of the upcoming book, “From This Side of the Desk – Reflections on a Career of Service.”
Mr. Grucza currently resides in Snyder, New York.
Gavin Cobb
Facilitator
Gavin Cobb is the President and CEO of Heritage Property Management, which employs 170 people and manages over 80,000 units within 500 plus community associations throughout Georgia. Prior to Heritage, Cobb worked as a tax accountant with a big four CPA firm specializing in real estate. Cobb has served as a board member of the Community Association Institute, Georgia Chapter including serving as its President in 2006. He was instrumental in instituting the Managers Education Committee, which offers continuing education opportunities to community association managers. After running an independent company since 1996, in November of 2021, Heritage joined forces with Associa, the nation’s largest community association management firm.
Henrik Hansen
Facilitator
Henrik Hansen is the CEO of OrangeBox Enterprises, a group of HOA service companies including Spectrum Association Management with over 200,000 units, Blue Lime Insurance Group, and the HOA education company Boardline Academy.
In his role, he has doubled the company organically while also launching several new service brands in the HOA industry. In addition to his role as Group CEO, he also serves as CEO of a private equity firm investing in a range of industries.
His great passion is developing trusting organizations with absolute emphasis on the employee experience and journey. His organization has won best places to work in the state of Texas and scored 99% trust during the COVID challenge.
Henrik is born in Copenhagen City, Denmark, lived in Ghana in Africa, and now in the United States for the past 25 years. He is married and has three kids. His interests include inclusion for special needs children and ESG.
Tony Neuman
Facilitator
Tony’s 25-year career has spanned sales, marketing and communications roles as an individual contributor, team leader and functional leader in companies from 12 to 150,000 employees. His diverse experience allows him to quickly learn a business and develop practical plans that teams can implement to drive top- and bottom-line growth. His leadership skills include talent development, strategic planning and co-active coaching. Outside of work, Tony enjoys reading, biking, bowling, golf and spending time with his wife, three children and six pets. Tony has an undergraduate degree in communications from the University of Minnesota-Duluth and an MBA from St. Thomas University (St. Paul, MN)
Bruce Ratliff, CCAM- Emeritus, HR.CI
Facilitator
Bruce has been in the Common Interest Management industry for over 35 years, transitioning to Commercial Management in a Mixed-Use Environment, and providing Consulting Services for various communities throughout his career. He enjoys a reputation as a successful, results oriented manager focused on experience, raising awareness of industry knowledge, technology, California legislation, building relationships and best practices in the workplace.
Bruce possesses a wide array of experience as a manager of portfolio Associations, as a Homeowners Association Analyst, as a Board Member for his own homeowner’s association, Large Scale manager, Full-Service Luxury High-Rise Manager, Director and Vice President of High-Rise Operations. He worked and built a book of business with over 50 vertical Buildings in Southern California, subsequently another 17 vertical buildings in San Francisco Bay area, before transitioning to the commercial side of Association management at a large mixed-use facility in San Francisco.
Bruce stepped away from the day-to-day workplace in September 2022 and now consults with Homeowners Associations, management companies. Independent managers, and Boards of Directors around policy governance, interim general manager roles, general manager sourcing review and placement recommendations, and best practices. He prides himself on doing the right thing, reconciling difficult decisions with strategic financial and fundamental development, and is actively involved in the industry, speaking at various industry specific programs throughout Southern and Northern California.