Pros
I was recruited to work at Associa after a successful career as a leader in the community management industry. Accepting the position with the company was one of the single best career decisions I have ever made. This is a tough industry, but the employees from the front line to the home office are committed to supporting each other, serving our clients and building a business that will succeed in a changing marketplace. The industry is relatively young and changing at a rapid pace. Associa is leading the effort to adapt to a changing market and tackle challenges like training, technology and customer service. It’s not an easy task and the environment is fast paced, collaborative and solution oriented. If you do not like change or tackling unique and new challenges frequently, then this is probably not the employer for you. Also, if you are a prima donna and don’t like to work as part of a collaborative team, then keep looking. However, if you are looking for a job where your coworkers are mutually supportive, where the leadership works to be true servant leaders and want to be part of building the future of the industry, then this IS the place for you. Hard work is appreciated, recognized and rewarded.
Cons
Working for any company has its cons, otherwise they wouldn’t have to pay us to show up. Like any company the need for important investments must be balanced against market realities. Adapting to change, even for the most seasoned leader, does and should create some dissonance. As an industry leader, many of the changes and investments in programs are first of their kind in the industry, so we are trailer blazers and sometimes face the “unknown-unknowns” that accompany the role as an industry leader. But despite these challenges that face all businesses, the staff and leaders at Associa work to create a learning organization that applies lessons learned to future endeavors and it shows. Even on my most frustrating day, I find support from my superiors and coworkers and I know I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.