A top notch leadership team sets a good example for the rest of the organization to follow. We truly believe we have the best employees at Cardinal both in terms of their experience and expertise. We understand the credit goes to our talented team but we also recognize the leadership and dedication from our executive team stands out above the competition.
Today, get to know our Senior Vice President, Stewart Carter, CAM. CMCA, AMS.
I am the Senior Vice President. In my role I oversee the entire Florida operations and organizations. I also handle the human resources and information technology functions as well.
20 years ago my father was a local Collier County Commissioner and knew a developer that had just hired on the “brand new” management firm in town….Cardinal Management Group of Florida. They were looking for a second employee (they had brought one down from VA to start the business). The developer introduced me to the owner, Thomas Mazzei, and the rest is history.
It is difficult sometimes when property emergencies come up, but the company is very cognizant of these situations and goes out of its way to ensure a balance for the employee with flexible hours, teleworking, etc. The job gets done but the family is always a big consideration.
In my position I must always consider every aspect of every situation. How will this decision affect that other thing? How will employee A react to the change to employee B’s role? How will my actions on issue A affect issue K several layers down the road? I must always look at the “big picture” of each relationship with each client, each board member, each homeowner, each employee, each vendor, etc. and how actions today will ripple to next week or next year. I am not complaining by any means. I love the challenges of my job and the satisfaction I get when it all works. However, I cannot, and do not, do it alone. Each person I work with is a huge piece of the puzzle and I could not ever make the picture/puzzle complete and clear and great without each one of them.
Cardinal IS my career! I started with no community management knowledge or experience and the company trained me, encouraged me, paid for the classes needed to become a licensed Community Association Manager in Florida (CAM), and allowed me to grow as the company did.
Lessons learned include:
Robin Williams. Because he can be a very serious actor when needed but is, for the most part, a goof that likes to make people laugh and relax and feel more comfortable during stressful situations. That is me.
No one here ever says “not my job”. We all are very close to each other and care about each other and the company. We all offer each other assistance on a regular basis and will step in to help whenever a need is identified and go out of our way to solve the problem, whatever it may be.
No two days are identical. Do not be afraid to say, “I don’t know, but I’ll find out.” When customers are angry, they are angry with/at the SITUATION, not necessarily you. Do not take it too personally.
