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RELY ON YOUR EXPERTS
By
Rafael Aquino
Published July 28, 2021
As the management entity, we continually come
across Board Members who are conflicted with raising fees. More and
more, Board Members are constantly thinking of how community members
will react instead of upholding their fiduciary obligations.
With the current landscape, the Board Members
need to understand that the responsibility to maintain and enforce
falls solely on them. Making decisions based on member feedback can
place Board Members on a slippery slope. Feedback should always be
noted and applied whenever possible with the understanding that the
Board is ultimately responsible.
Instituting certain obligations through
legislation could potentially take the burden off the Board ensuring
compliance with those items that can have a lasting impact on the
community. As Board Members, dealing with complex issues outside
their scope of expertise can be taunting. Adding the constant
backlash from members and the pressure associated with the
decision-making process can push Board Members to simply do nothing.
In conclusion, the Association is a business, the
Board Members are the directors, and the owners are the
shareholders. The complexity of the ecosystem comes as all involved
are neighbors sharing common space and interacting with one another
continuously. With that in mind, Board Members need to understand
that they are bound by their fiduciary responsibilities, which do
not transfer over to their fellow neighbors. That's why Board
Members must work with industry experts (management companies,
engineers, attorneys, etc.) that have a strong understanding of
these complex issues and could be a resource to the Association.
Further, decisions should address key points of the operation with
the understanding that you either pay now or you pay later, with
later always being more costly.
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As the Co-Founder and CEO
of Affinity Management Services, Rafael P. Aquino leads his team to
redefine excellence. They serve community associations
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and effectively with
dedication and passion. Rafael’s energy and positive
spirit is the foundation of Affinity Management
Services’ company culture, which instills enthusiasm and
excitement when providing expert advice to its board
members and relieving the day-to-day burdens of running
a community association.
Since 2007, Rafael has
developed a work culture that values responsive and
high-quality services. He has led his team by following
a proactive vs reactive philosophy. The same approach
Rafael instills in the day to day operations of each
association. Today, Affinity Management Services
maintains its success and benefits as a result of the
foundation Rafael has built and continues to foster by
providing educational seminars, continuing education
classes for association managers and board members
alike.
Rafael and his team help condominium and homeowners’
associations save money and improve their communities.
His calm, personable, and service-oriented nature helps
him to establish strong relationships with ease. Rafael
is known as a sincere and honest leader who looks out
for the best interests of his clients and communities,
and he strongly advocates for their needs. His role
requires coordination and communication, as such he
takes logical and intelligent steps to approach
challenges head-on.
As a graduate of Florida International University’s
electrical engineering program and a licensed community
association manager, Rafael’s education and skills equip
him with unique insights to tackle complex problems
through critical thinking. He understands how each
component within a system works together in order to
effectively arrive at solutions, techniques, and
conclusions. Therefore, as he manages the multiple
challenges of running a community association management
company, he understands how each property is its own
unique system and tailors’ specific services to assure
that all their needs are met.
For more information about Rafael P. Aquino and Affinity
Management Services please visit
www.ManagedByAffinity.com or call 1-800-977-6279
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Doral Office: 8200 NW 41st ST
Suite 200
Doral, FL 33166
Broward Office: 150 S Pine Island RD Suite 300
Plantation, FL 33324
O: 800-977-6279 ● F: 305-325-4053
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