Exciting New Addition!

C.I.A. Services, Inc. is very excited to announce the launch of our new Owner App!

MyRedDog is a comprehensive Web App for homeowners and board members to utilize on any device, anytime, anywhere, and will be our homeowners’ best friend!

Homeowners will have access to their confidential account information, including deed restriction violation status and financial account information. They can request a payment plan and review their home improvement application status, all in real-time! Residents can also order access devices, review meeting notifications, see community documents and newsletters, report maintenance items, and much more.

It gets even better! MyRedDog will give active Board members access to real-time financial information. They will have access to community documents such as budgets, contracts, tax returns, and more.

MyRedDog will launch in January and will be available to all homeowners within C.I.A. Services’ communities. Click here for a sneak peek.  Stay tuned for more information!

We are proud to announce that Sabrina Padgett and Adam Bruce of our North Houston office have earned their AMS designations! 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. In order 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 Sabrina and Adam on achieving their latest professional goals!

Angela Ingalls of The Mesas and Ridge at Canyon Springs
by Lee Sexton-Mendoza

In this month’s edition of our Volunteer Spotlight, we are delighted to recognize Angela Ingalls, the fantastic Board Member of The Mesas and Ridge at Canyon Springs Homeowners Association.

Angela is originally from Houston, Texas. She pursued higher education at Sam Houston State University. She is a full-time working mom with two boys; one is at Texas A&M and the other attends Reagan High School. She is an avid runner and enjoys snow skiing and spending time at the lake with her husband and two boys.

Angela wanted to be on the Board to be a voice for homeowners, keep home values up, provide a safe community for the children, and encourage neighborhood camaraderie. Prior to her Board position, Angela served on the community’s ACC committee for many years and spearheaded the annual exterior holiday decorating contest and the community newsletter.

Angela fully embraces her role within the HOA. She is the Board’s point of contact for the Association’s landscape committee. Angela is a familiar face within the neighborhood, as her family has lived in the community for 16 years. Residents feel comfortable approaching her or reaching out for assistance, as Angela consistently goes above and beyond to assist those in need.

Working alongside Angela is an absolute pleasure. We extend our sincerest gratitude to Angela Ingalls for her invaluable contributions and unwavering commitment to enhancing the Mesas and Ridge at Canyon Springs community.

It’s spooky season! However you like to celebrate Halloween, we hope you have a fun and safe night.

Need some costume inspiration? Check out this article, with 99 unique ideas for your outfit.

In search of a big scare? Here are the best haunted houses in the Houston and San Antonio areas.

Hosting a party? Peruse these cute Halloween-themed hors d’oeuvres that will be sure to impress your guests.

Regardless of your plans, here is a great playlist to get you in that spooky season mood:

From our family to yours, Happy Halloween!

We are very excited to announce our newest community joining us this October! Please join us in welcoming Big Country Homes Association!

Big Country Homes Association is comprised of 1254 homes on the western outskirts of San Antonio, close to SeaWorld. Within this community, residents enjoy amenities such as a pool, clubhouse, and playground, all overseen by a dynamic and engaged Board of Directors. Our original involvement with Big Country began in 2014. Although there was a temporary separation, we are pleased to hear, "We need you back!"

Welcome to the C.I.A. Services family!

Every month we appreciate the communities that are celebrating their anniversaries with us. Here are the clients that started with us in October.

• Indian Shores Property Owners Association — 36 years
• Ashcreek Homeowners Association — 33 years
• Kirkmont Section 2 Association — 30 years
• Traces II Community Improvement Association — 27 years
• Belleau Wood Civic Club — 22 years
• Fairway Pointe Community Association — 17 years
• RVTC Property Owners Association — 10 years
• Willow Park Office Condominiums Homeowners Association — 8 years
• Heartstone Subdivision Homeowners Association — 8 years
• Willow Lake Village Community Association — 6 years
• Twin Oaks Village Community Association — 2 years
• Hidden Springs Homeowners Association — 1 year

 Thank you to all of these amazing communities!

Stockholder Anniversaries (10+ Years)

Melinda Diaz, Community Specialist from our Humble office, is celebrating 18 years with the company! She is one of the friendly voices that homeowners hear when they call in for assistance.  Melinda loves to travel and spend time with her family.  She has two daughters, one at home attending school and another adult daughter who is currently living in San Antonio.

Please join us in celebrating the 18th anniversary of Brittany Tate! Brittany is the Compliance Manager from our Humble Office and is critical to operations relative to new home sales and resales and coordinates incoming communities for both Houston offices.  During her personal time, Brittany enjoys working on her home and taking care of her three rescue pets.  Grimley is her loveable tripod dog, Finn is her very friendly cat, and Ozzie is her older, shyer cat.

Deniece Reyes is celebrating her 12th anniversary! Deniece is a Vice President, Director of Field Operations, and General Manager. She is a great, organized leader. Deniece loves to spend time with her husband and two sons and has a second job as a basketball mom. She is committed to a healthy lifestyle and maintains an impressive workout routine.

Congratulations to Brandi Brack for reaching her 10th anniversary with C.I.A. Services! She is a Vice President, Director of Support Services, Branch Manager, and Community Manager out of the San Antonio Office. Brandi is a great team leader and very loyal to her employees. Brandi is big into family and friends. Everyone knows when you stop by her house you always get fed, receive TLC, and might even get to ride in her ATV!  

Stockholder Anniversaries (5-9 Years)

Hector Mercado is celebrating 9 years with the company this October! Hector is a part of the Financial Team in the Accounting Department. He is the calm in our group – and also quite funny! Aside from his assigned duties, he is always willing to pitch in and help out where needed. In his spare time, Hector enjoys the outdoors, including primitive camping with his son.

Congratulations to Tracy Henson for reaching her 7th anniversary! She is a team of one that processes maintenance fee quotes and ownership changes for most of our clients. Recently when our office was down a few folks, she really pitched in and helped out with other tasks. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family and decorating for the different holidays with Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas being her favorites.

Valerie Flinn, Community Manager, is celebrating her 6-year anniversary with C.I.A. Services! Valerie is very knowledgeable and always willing to give a helping hand to anyone in need. She lives with her wonderfully supportive husband, Elby, and their fur babies Night Train, Juneau & Sitka! Close to Valerie’s heart is her dedication to the Texas Sled Dog Rescue. Valerie is a foster dog mom, giving Siberian Huskies and Alaskan Malamutes a second chance at a pawsome fur-ever home.

Congratulations to our newest stockholder, Patty Cobarrubia! Patty is our Customer Service Manager, ensuring our clients receive the help they need. For the last five years, she has ensured that email communications sent to our Customer Care team are handled promptly and efficiently.  Patty recently moved into a new home with her husband, Tony. Together they are raising their beloved fur babies, Monster and Goose.  The entire crew has greatly enjoyed settling into their new space.    

One Year Anniversary

Congratulations to Robin Hurt, Onsite Community Manager in ARTAVIA, for reaching her 1-year anniversary with C.I.A. Services! Robin’s main focus is on compliance and builder relations in her community. She is very personable and never forgets a name nor meets meets a stranger.  She’s already a  very popular face in the community. Outside of work, Robin spends time with her 3 sons and enjoys riding motorcycles.  She is also quite crafty and it’s not unusual for her to bring coworkers a handmade gift!

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:

• Board Member Orientation
• Practical Deed Restriction Management
• Understanding Collections and Financial Reports
• Meetings and Records - The Legal Requirements
• The Essentials of Architectural Control
• The Super-Budgeting Process
• Advanced Topics for Board Members

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 has 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 have broadened our social media presence to include 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.

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.