Sara Grant
Oakbrook Terrace,IL
Summary
Experienced Community Association Manager bringing proven skills in negotiating, preparing and finalizing client-vendor agreements. Meticulous, well-organized and decisive field professional skilled at cultivating and deepening productive relationships with owners, companies and agency representatives. Ready to bring knowledge and abilities to a challenging role with potential for long-term career advancement and success.
Community management professional with track record of improving community relations and operational efficiency. Known for strong team collaboration and adaptability to changing needs, consistently delivering results. Key skills include conflict resolution, budget management, and effective communication.
Experienced with community management, ensuring smooth operations and resident satisfaction. Utilizes conflict resolution and budget management to streamline processes and enhance community relations. Strong understanding of effective communication and team collaboration to achieve consistent results.
Overview
25
25
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Licensed Community Association Manager
RedBrick Community Management
07.2023 - Current
- Managed daily operations of community associations, ensuring compliance with governing documents and regulations.
- Developed and implemented strategic plans to enhance community engagement and satisfaction among residents.
- Oversaw financial management processes, including budgeting, forecasting, and expense tracking for multiple associations.
- Coordinated maintenance and repair services, optimizing vendor relationships for quality service delivery.
- Led conflict resolution initiatives, mediating disputes to foster positive community relations and harmony.
- Conducted regular inspections of properties to identify maintenance needs and ensure compliance with safety standards.
- Facilitated board meetings, preparing agendas and providing guidance on governance best practices to enhance decision-making.
- Enhanced communication between homeowners and board members through regular meetings and detailed reports.
- Managed budgets for multiple communities, ensuring financial stability and proper allocation of funds.
- Developed and maintained strong relationships with vendors, resulting in cost-effective services for the associations.
- Enforced compliance with community regulations and guidelines.
- Assisted boards in updating governing documents to reflect current industry standards and legal requirements.
- Coached association board members on their roles and responsibilities, empowering them to make informed decisions for the betterment of their communities.
- Reduced delinquency rates by implementing effective collection procedures while maintaining open lines of communication with homeowners facing financial difficulties.
- Oversaw successful community improvement projects, such as landscaping upgrades and facility renovations.
- Prepared comprehensive financial reports for board review, ensuring transparency in budgeting decisions and fiscal health of each association managed.
- Improved community satisfaction by efficiently addressing and resolving homeowner concerns and inquiries.
- Implemented preventive maintenance programs to prolong the lifespan of community assets and reduce repair costs.
- Negotiated contracts with service providers, securing high-quality services at competitive prices for the associations managed.
Licensed Community Association Manager
Hillcrest Property Management
05.2022 - 07.2023
- Promoted from Assistant Community Manager to Illinois Licensed Community Association Manager in under 10 months.
- Enforced compliance with community regulations and guidelines.
- Addressed and resolved resident complaints with knowledgeable support.
- Developed and adhered to community budgetary restrictions in collaboration with the Board of Directors.
- Coordinated, maintained, and negotiated vendor contracts.
- Oversaw office operations including documentation processing, insurance verification and service authorizations.
Service & Sales Trainer
Capital Grille
06.2012 - 03.2020
- Monitored workflow and team performance throughout training processes.
- Mentored new hires, increasing staff development and productivity.
- Enforced quality assurance protocols to ensure exceptional customer experience.
- Monitored cash intake and deposit records, increasing accuracy and reducing discrepancies.
Assistant Manager
Grotto Italian Steakhouse
06.2009 - 09.2012
- Planned schedules and delegated assignments to meet coverage and service demands.
- Completed regular inventory counts and forecasted future needs.
- Led team members to consistently meet customer service and sales targets.
Management Executive
Morton's Steakhouse
10.2001 - 11.2008
Server/ Floor Manager
Rosebud Restaurant, Inc.
06.2001 - 11.2008
- Handled guest complaints positively and built customer loyalty.
Education
Associate's degree - Liberal Arts
College of DuPage
Glen Ellyn, ILBachelor of Arts - Interior Architecture
Harrington Institute of Interior Design
Chicago, ILSkills
- Customer Relationship Management
- Complex Problem-Solving
- Community Guidelines & Restrictions Enforcement
- Vendor Relationship Development
- Inventory Monitoring
- Financial Asset Management
- Community operations
- Service contract negotiation
- Vendor relationship development
- Board of directors support
Certification
- Licensed Community Association Manager of Illinois, CAM
- Certified Food & Alcohol, Illinois BASSET
Timeline
Licensed Community Association Manager
RedBrick Community Management
07.2023 - Current
Licensed Community Association Manager
Hillcrest Property Management
05.2022 - 07.2023
Service & Sales Trainer
Capital Grille
06.2012 - 03.2020
Assistant Manager
Grotto Italian Steakhouse
06.2009 - 09.2012
Management Executive
Morton's Steakhouse
10.2001 - 11.2008
Server/ Floor Manager
Rosebud Restaurant, Inc.
06.2001 - 11.2008
Bachelor of Arts - Interior Architecture
Harrington Institute of Interior Design
Associate's degree - Liberal Arts
College of DuPage
Software Proficiencies
- CRM: Vantaca, Pilera, HOAi
- POS: TOPS, Aloha, Toast, Squirrel, SERVPRO, Open Table
- Microsoft 365 (Outlook, Teams, OneDrive, Cute PDF, Adobe)
- 8x8, Zoom