Property Manager Spotlight:
Gloria Burns, CCAM

I first got into this business when my neighbor, Sylvia, took classes with Jim Fraker, Vice President of PCM, and he asked her to think about managing homeowners associations. After discussing it further, we both thought because of the long hours, the possibility of weekend work, being on-call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, that we would be crazy to consider it.

A year later, Jim Fraker called Sylvia again and asked her to consider the job once more. She was still not interested in the job offer, but recommended me. It became opportune time to make the career change, since my current job at the savings and loan office was closing its San Diego branches. I was hired part-time in March 1989 to begin my on-the-job training. I am forever grateful to Jim Fraker for seeing something in me and for taking a chance on me.

I took on the challenge of this whole new concept in business to me, and began learning a new vocabulary, like: audit, reserve study, etc., and began reading everything I could get my hands on. I also attended every conference, lunch meeting, etc. that I could, studied nights and weekends in order to understand what would be required of me as a “community manager.” The need to obtain some legal advise arose, and Jim told me to contact Jon Epsten of Epsten, Grinnell and Howell. I quickly admitted to Jon in our telephone conversation that I was a new manager and didn’t have any idea what kind of questions I was to be asking him about the particular association legal issue. Jon took the time and patience with me, discussing every aspect of the situation, educating me more in the process. Over the next 8 or 9 months, I called Jon a number of times and was finally able to meet him in person. Jon introduced to another attorney, Jim Danow, who quickly became another one of my new friends, and helped me learn the ropes. If it weren’t for these three people in my early days, I probably would have quit.

The “changing of the guard” every year, of new board members, for 8 or 9 associations is my greatest challenge. The board is educated on their responsibilities as soon as the yearly organizational meeting is completed. It has paid off tremendously. I have earned the respect from my board members and vendors alike, through education and performing the needed tasks in a timely manner. No excuses, and tell the truth, is the motto I use.

Submit your “Funniest Thing that happened to me as a Property Manager” story to appear in an upcoming issue of The Walk Through News! Arthur Raybold, Editor • araybold@gencoat.com

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