Professional Community Association Management Since 1984
Newsletter
Every month, we issue an electronic newsletter, eNews Monthly, to keep clients informed about Association items, spotlight clients, answer frequently asked questions, and let you know what is happening with the company. Old issues of eNews Monthly are available on our Library page.
Byron Schirmbeck of Eastpoint Community Association
by Jessica Soto
This month, we recognize Byron Schirmbeck, a revered figure in the Eastpoint community of Baytown. With over 14 years of service on the board, Byron’s commitment to Eastpoint has been a cornerstone of its growth and prosperity.
Born in Fort Polk, Louisiana, Byron has called Baytown home for the past 40 years. Currently employed in fleet sales, Byron’s professional endeavors extend beyond his day job. He is a well-known political activist and serves as the state coordinator for Texas Campaign for Liberty, a 501(c)4 nonprofit established in 2008 to promote principles of individual liberty, constitutional government, and free markets through education, issue advocacy, and grassroots mobilization.
Beyond his role as a board member, Byron is a distinguished small businessman, embodying the entrepreneurial spirit that drives local economies. His astute business acumen and leadership have not only benefited his own ventures but have also inspired others within the community.
In every facet of his life, Byron Schirmbeck exemplifies the values of service, dedication, and leadership. Thank you for your hard work!
AMS Designation
We are proud to announce that Community Manager Todd Miksch has earned his AMS designation! The AMS (Association Management Specialist) designation is the second level in the career track for community association managers developed by the Community Associations Institute.
The AMS designation demonstrates a higher level of commitment to the community association industry and requires two years of experience in multiple aspects of association management. To qualify for an AMS, managers are required to earn the CMCA designation and take at least two approved continuing education classes on various association-related topics.
Join us in congratulating Todd Miksch on achieving his latest professional goals!
Please welcome Sherwood Trails Village C.A. which joined us on April 1st!
The Sherwood Trails Village C.A. was incorporated about forty years ago and has 934 homes. The Association is surrounded by beautiful mature trees with a park, pool, and a small meeting room.
The Association is part of the Sherwood Elm Grove Village Trails Association, which oversees the over five miles of greenbelt trails that are nestled throughout both the Sherwood Trails and Elm Grove associations in Kingwood.
We are proud of every one of our communities, so it is always hard to find just one to highlight. However, we are always eager to share!
Here are the most recent selections:
To see the full story on these communities and all past winners, visit the Community Spotlight page on our site.
Every month we appreciate the communities that are celebrating their anniversaries with us. Here are the clients that started with us in April.
Our goal has always been to create a positive, long-term relationship with all of our client communities. We are very proud to be managing all of these communities.
A Bittersweet Goodbye
by Deniece Reyes
March was a month full of bittersweet goodbyes. Not only did we close the doors to our West Houston office, but Ed Barnett and Margie DeLaCruz also closed a monumental chapter of their lives and retired from C.I.A. Services after working a combined 48 years at that office.
Ed began his journey with C.I.A. Services 24 years ago as a Maintenance Coordinator after having served 24 years in the United States Navy. His passion for being hands-on and knowledge of just about anything proved to make him a valuable addition to the team. He is known as the “go-to” guy in the office to give you insight on just about anything from which way the sun was facing to how a pool pump worked. With any employee who has worked as many years as Ed, we all got the opportunity to experience life’s greatest moments alongside Ed. Over the years we saw Ed beat cancer not once, but twice, become a grandfather multiple times, and celebrate multiple anniversaries with his wife, Vicki. When we asked Ed what he would do after retirement, he confidently said, “I don’t know what I’ll do but I’m sure Vicki has a list of things for me to fix” and while that may seem like work for some, it’s complete bliss for Ed. While we will miss Ed’s presence in the company, we wish him all the best on his well-deserved retirement and thank him for his service to our Country and C.I.A. Services.
Margie, affectionately known as “La Jefa” (chief/boss) to many, worked as a Clerical Assistant for 24 years. Like many of our long-time employees, Margie has been a constant presence in all of our lives, especially those employees at the West Houston office. She’s been there for her coworkers during their ups and downs and we all rallied and supported her when she needed us. Despite her small stature, Margie is a fierce woman, and everyone, from the president of the company to the brand-new hires, listens to what Margie has to say. Her favorite saying is “I don’t have time, I have work to do.” We could easily say that Margie was critical to the office being organized and efficient.
Margie has always been full of life and we expect nothing less from her in her golden years. She is very outgoing and loves to dance, spend time with friends, and hit the casinos. She is a huge sports fan and you cannot compare her love of Elvis to any other. When we asked Margie what she would do after retirement she said, “Retire? I don’t have time to retire, I have things to do!” Another great presence that we will miss within the company but we are hopeful she will slow down, take it easy, and enjoy the relaxation of retirement.
A joint sendoff party was held on March 22nd in honor of our retirees. We had a full house that included current and past employees, friends, and family. Funny and touching stories were shared, demonstrating the difference that Ed and Margie have made in all of our lives.
We will surely miss seeing them every day but are so excited for them as they begin their next journey. Cheers to both Ed and Margie!
Employee Anniversaries
We love to celebrate special milestones with our employees. In the Employee Corner of each eNews issue, we will list all employees who have reached their first anniversary with our company. Additionally, once employees reach five years and become stockholders, we recognize them each year on their anniversary month.
Rhonda Duffield is celebrating her 34th work anniversary with the company! Rhonda is a Maintenance Assistant and also our go-to person for special projects and tasks. She enjoys cruises, going to the theater, and spending time with her husband. She is especially looking forward to her first cruise to Hawaii happening this month.
Congratulations to Angela Douglas for reaching 17 years with C.I.A. Services this month! Angela is a Vice President and our Director of Technology, so she is our go-to for all technology questions and issues. She has two sons: one is in the military, and the other is graduating high school this year. She enjoys traveling globally to Disney parks and spending time with her husband, sons, and pets.
This April will be the 11th anniversary for Robert Pampell. Robert is one of our Houston Maintenance Coordinators. Robert and his wife love to take small weekend road trips to interesting places. They recently became new homeowners and are enjoying making their house their home.
Christina Mann has reached 6 years this month! Christina is one of our HIR Coordinators and is also going to school to become a respiratory specialist. She purchased her first home last year with her fiance, Robert! Although she stays busy, she still makes time to enjoy watching her boys playing in Little League baseball.
Congratulations to Sidney Lejano for reaching her first anniversary! Sidney is an Administrative Assistant who is always willing to help out with extra projects. She is very reliable, kind, and a quick learner. She is expecting her first baby, a girl, next month with her husband, Caleb! They also have a dog together.
Congratulations to all of these amazing employees!
Stay Plugged in With Webcasts
We offer each of our seminars in the form of a recorded webcast on demand for you to watch at any time! If you are interested in one of our seminars, they are available on our YouTube channel. The following seminars are now available:
To watch any of the webcasts, simply click on the links above.
Associations in Practice
Our Associations in Practice Series is an offering of short videos with specific topics.
The 2023 session of the Texas legislature had some impact on property owners’ associations. The short 17-minute video, Texas 88th Legislative Session, provides a concise review of what passed and what didn’t, and what’s next for POAs based on the Session.
Although the 88th Legislative Session came to a close on May 29th, an extraordinary event unfolded when Governor Abbott opted to veto several bills, including one that had a direct impact on POAs. In light of this development, our Texas Legislative Session Update video, a follow-up to the above, provides crucial insights and an in-depth update regarding this situation.
Also available is Texas 87th Legislative Session. The 2021 session of the Texas legislature produced significant changes to the Texas Property Code affecting property owners’ associations. This video explores those changes and provides specific follow-up recommendations.
Super-Budget Concepts is a great introduction (or refresher) to our Super-Budget and a nice refresher or opening to the full webinar offered in our Seminar Series.
C.I.A. Services, Inc. has a long and proud history of providing up-to-date news on our company happenings, industry news, and association governance. Each month, we are pleased to share with you our eNews Monthly. Each issue is loaded with great information!
We also provide updates through LinkedIn and Facebook. With these additional layers of communication, you can always find the latest information about our company, employees, association management, and other related news.
If you are not already following us, please ”Like” us on Facebook and “Follow” us on LinkedIn to stay up-to-date on all things C.I.A. Services and beyond.
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Toll Free: 866-219-0563
Houston 713-981-9000
San Antonio 210-490-0000
