During the National CAI Community NOW Conference, held on May 9th, 2024, in Las Vegas, Mitch Frumkin, PE, RS, a long-time member of the Community Associations Institute (CAI) and past president of multiple CAI chapters, was presented with the prestigious CAI Distinguished Service Award. This award, given out only every few years, recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to the community association industry.
Mitch, who has been with CAI for over three decades and has served as CAI national president, as well as president of the Foundation for Community Association Research and the CAI Keystone and New Jersey chapters, expressed his gratitude for receiving the award. He shared, “At the CAI conference in Las Vegas I was honored to receive the Distinguished Service Award which is only given out every few years. The thing that really made it special was that my wife and 3 kids flew out for the day from NJ and Boston to surprise me with their attendance. I think I’m as proud of my family as I am of the award….maybe a little more.”
The conference brought together over 1,600 of the industry’s best and brightest to share best practices, highlight innovations, and celebrate outstanding achievements. Mitch Frumkin’s recognition is a testament to his dedication and impactful contributions to the community association industry through his work with Kipcon and his leadership within CAI.
Mitch Frumkin’s Impact on the Industry – Spanning 35 Years
Mitchell H. Frumkin is the founder and president of Kipcon Inc., a full service engineering firm which provides engineering consulting services specializing in community associations. Mr. Frumkin is a frequent speaker and writer on state and national levels for the Community Associations Institute (CAI). He is past national president of CAI as well as the Foundation for Community Association Research. On a local level, he has served as president of both the New Jersey and the Keystone (Pennsylvania) chapters of CAI.
Mitch’s Contributions to Reserve Studies
Mitch Frumkin literally wrote the book on Reserve Studies. As past chair of CAI’s National Reserve Professionals Committee, Mr. Frumkin is the editor and contributing author of the Guide for Association Practitioners (GAP) report, Reserve Funds: How and Why Community Associations Invest Assets. During his time as chair, this committee developed the National Reserve Study Standards of the Community Associations Institute and the “Reserve Specialist” designation.
His notable achievements in this area include:
- Awarded the National President’s Award in 1998 for his efforts in developing the National Reserve Study Standards.
- Co-chaired a national task force in 2019 to update these standards and the Best Practices paper on Reserves, receiving the 2019 Award of Excellence in Designations by CAI for his contributions.
- Currently co-chairing a CAI task force reviewing national standards to include maintenance and structural safety criteria.
- Member of a national task force developing a best practices paper on maintenance.
Mitch’s Contributions Continue to have a Lasting Impact
In June of 2021, following the tragic collapse of Champlain Towers South in Surfside, Florida, CAI created three task forces to develop public policies to help prevent such tragedies. Mr. Frumkin co-chaired the Building Maintenance and Structural Integrity Task Force and played a leadership role in the Reserve Study and Funding Plans Task Force, resulting in new legislation passed in NJ earlier this year.
Mr. Frumkin also chaired a joint task force between CAI and the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) addressing the transition of community associations from developer to homeowner control, which resulted in the publication of Best Practices: Transition. This paper was recently updated under his leadership.
Additionally, Mitch Frumkin teaches senior-level CAI classes, including M-370, “Managing Developing Communities,” and M-320, “High Rise Maintenance and Management,” on an ongoing basis, sharing his extensive knowledge and experience with the next generation of community association professionals.
For more information about Mitch and how Kipcon can help your community – click here!
Kipcon is Leading the Way in Reserve Studies
While a Reserve Study is crucial, it’s just the beginning of the journey toward a physically sound community. Kipcon offers a full spectrum of services to keep your community thriving. Benefit from reduced fees for additional engineering services, schedule a post-study inspection one year after completion, and enjoy a tailor-made Community Association Operating Manual.
To learn more about how Kipcon can assisit you with your Structural Integrity Reserve Study, be sure to contact Kipcon at (800) 828-4118.