BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Aperion Management Group, a leading organization committed to making a positive impact in the community, is delighted to announce a generous donation of $7,000 to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Oregon as part of their annual holiday Pay It Forward campaign.
This philanthropic initiative is a testament to Aperion Management Group's dedication to supporting organizations that make a meaningful difference in the lives of individuals and communities. The $7,000 donation aims to contribute to the impactful work done by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Oregon in fostering mentorship and positive relationships for local youth.


The check presentation ceremony is scheduled to take place on Wednesday at 9 a.m. at the Big Brothers Big Sisters office located at 2125 NE Daggett Lane in Bend. The event will bring together representatives from Aperion Management Group and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Oregon to celebrate the spirit of giving and community collaboration.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Oregon expresses gratitude for Aperion Management Group's generous donation, emphasizing the significance of partnerships that enable them to expand their programs and reach more youth in the community.
Members of the media, community leaders, and the public are invited to attend the check presentation ceremony. This event provides an opportunity to showcase the collaborative efforts between Aperion Management Group and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Oregon in creating positive change.

Aperion Management Group, a leading provider of Homeowners Association (HOA) management services in Central Oregon, is proud to announce its 15-year anniversary and an exciting period of expansion. With a strong commitment to HOA management, company culture, and community involvement, Aperion Management Group has embarked on a journey to serve the entire state of Oregon and further strengthen their connection to the communities they work with.
Since its inception in 2008, Aperion Management Group has been dedicated to providing top-tier HOA management services in Central Oregon. Over the years, they have earned a stellar reputation for their expertise, professionalism, and unwavering commitment to the communities they serve. Now, as they celebrate their 15th year in the industry, they are excited to be actively expanding to cover the entire state of Oregon.
This expansion marks a significant milestone for Aperion Management Group, allowing them to extend their exceptional HOA management services to a broader community of board members and homeowners throughout the state. With their proven track record and dedication to building strong and harmonious communities, Aperion is well-poised to meet the unique needs of various neighborhoods across Oregon.
In addition to geographical expansion, Aperion Management Group is also expanding its dedicated team of professionals. They have made company culture a top priority, ensuring that their staff is not only highly skilled but also motivated and passionate about the work they do. This emphasis on fostering a supportive and positive work environment reflects Aperion’s commitment to delivering top-notch service to their clients.
To further celebrate their 15-year anniversary and express their gratitude to the communities they serve, Aperion Management Group is also actively involved in giving back to the community. The company has been engaging in various non-profit events, most notably the annual Farm to Fork fundraiser to benefit Heart of Oregon Corps, giving campaigns, including their Pay-it-Forward with Aperion holiday matching program, and charitable giving initiatives to support local causes and make a positive impact. This commitment to philanthropy is a testament to their dedication to making a difference in the lives of the people they work with.
“Aperion Management Group is thrilled to mark 15 years in HOA management and community building. We are excited about our expansion to serve homeowners across the entire state of Oregon and look forward to further enhancing our company culture so that our managers can better serve our clients. Our commitment to giving back to the community is stronger than ever, and we are dedicated to making a positive impact in the areas we work,” said Katie Anderson, CEO at Aperion Management Group.
Aperion Management Group’s 15th anniversary, along with their expansion, staff growth, and community involvement initiatives, reflects their unwavering commitment to providing exceptional HOA management services while being a responsible corporate citizen.
About Aperion Management Group:
Aperion Management Group is a leading provider of Homeowners Association (HOA) management services, dedicated to building strong and harmonious communities. With over 75 years of combined experience, Aperion Management Group is now serving the state of Oregon while nurturing its company culture and actively giving back to the community.
aperionmgmt.com • 541-389-3172

Read the article in Community Manager Newsletter here: 
​https://lsc-pagepro.mydigitalpublication.com/publication/?m=24480&i=790831&p=15&pp=1&ver=html5

There are things you can be doing to get much better results with your condo/HOA manager.
Click on the links below to hear two HOAleader.com community association management experts--Katie Anderson, PCAM, AMS, CMCA, the founding owner of Aperion Management in Bend, which manages nearly 70 condo, HOA, and townhome associations throughout Oregon, and Michael Crew, CEO of Alpharetta, Ga.-based Homeowner Management Services Inc., who has been in the community management profession for 30 years and whose firm represents more than 200 associations in metro Atlanta—give a rundown on what managers do and don't do in their daily work with condos and HOAs.

​https://www.hoaleader.com/public/How-Make-Friends-with-Influence-Your-CondoHOA-Manager-HOAleadercom-Video.cfm
https://www.hoaleader.com/public/Condo-HOA-Managers-Say-Do-This-Not-That-for-Better-Working-Relationships-HOAleadercom-Video.cfm

Heart of Oregon Corps has announced sponsorship opportunities for Central Oregon companies at their Sixth Annual Farm to Fork Dinner and Fundraiser. The event will be held on June 2 at the scenic Seventh Mountain Resort. Sponsorship opportunities range from $500-$3,000 and include a various number of seats and recognition packages at the renowned dinner. It’s an event not to be missed.
The evening begins with a cocktail hour and passed hors d’oeuvres, featuring an array of hands-on demonstrations from Heart of Oregon youth. Next, a gourmet locally-sourced dinner created in collaboration with local farms and curated by Bleu Bite Catering will be served along with complimentary wine and beer. Heart of Oregon youth will also describe their experiences at Heart of Oregon and the impact the programs have had on their lives.
“Heart of Oregon Corps provides disengaged youth and young adults ages 16-24 with tangible skill sets that they can then use to enter the workforce in Central Oregon,” said Katie Anderson, Aperion Management CEO. “These youth deserve our corporate support, and why not do that while also enjoying an incredible event?”
Aperion Management Group has hosted the dinner since its first year and continues to champion Heart of Oregon’s work in the community. Mike’s Fence Center is back as the title sponsor of this event for the second year. Limited number of corporate table sponsorships are still available, and details can be found at heartoforegon.org/news-events/fundraising-events.
Don’t let your company miss out on the many benefits of sponsorship. Secure your table today and benefit the next generation of youth at Heart of Oregon Corps.

As seen in Common Ground July/August Issue 

By Marlena Weisbrot, CMCA®, Aperion Management Group, LLC, AAMC®, Bend, OR for CMCA Corner
​
No one will ever forget the Summer of 2020…the orange sky that hung over us for days. The stench of what remained of a destroyed landscape…the ash falling like snow in the 100-degree heat. 
This was too close to home. This was real.
For the Board of Directors and Homeowners of Awbrey Butte Owners Association in Bend, Oregon, the achievement of obtaining a Firewise Designation had been a long-term goal which was sought in order to increase attraction to the Community, boost property values and decrease insurance dues. And of course, to increase fire safety. The Single-Family home Community performed the standard requirements of designation by encouraging all owners to clean up their properties by enticing them with free green waste disposal and providing them some education on how to increase defensible space by inviting local Firewise representatives to do presentations during Annual Meetings. Everything went splendidly- the needles from the thousands of pine trees covering “The Butte” were cleaned up, unsightly bitterbrush and other noxious weeds were pulled or trimmed, and people just felt better…
Until the Summer of 2020 when over 1 million acres burned in Oregon, pulling at least 500,000 of our fellow Oregonians out of their homes to seek safety. One day we were gazing out the window admiring the natural beauty of our Central Oregon forests…the next day we gazed out the same window and recognized the intense power of our Central Oregon ecosystem. 
It was time to step up our efforts.
The Board of Directors, Firewise Committee and the Architectural Committee banded together for brainstorming sessions: the goal- keep our community and our homes safe and still beautiful at the same time. Deschutes County Forestry, representatives of local Firewise agency and Bend Fire Department were enlisted in the meetings to help sculpt a plan for long-term fire prevention efforts.
The Plan:
In the Spring of 2022, we had a group of 25 passionate members of the community come together to help the cause. The goal was to ultimately perform individual assessments of each of the 778 homes/lots within the community, render recommendations to the owners for modifications to their landscape and homes, while protecting the CC&R’s requirement for thorough review and approval by the Architectural Committee and keeping the high aesthetic standards of the Community. The Volunteers dedicated their time to training under the Forestry Dept and Fire Department, on what to look for when performing assessments. The trainings are designed to be continual and offered by vetted professionals in the fields of fire safety, and civic agents on a rolling basis. The Team also banded with fellow Firewise Designated HOA’s on their experiences for Home Assessment programs (albeit on a smaller scale.) The Association hired a Wildfire Consultant to join the Architectural Committee who began reviewing all plans with an eye on defensible space and ladder fuel reduction. Ultimately the Association’s Architectural Guidelines and Rules & Regulations were revised to ensure that homes were being built and maintained in a way that would aid in the safety of their structures and their neighbors’ properties. The assessments include checklists and custom notes sections per the Immediate Zone (0-5 feet from home) which covers the fire resistance of the home materials including roofing, siding, windows as well as seemingly insignificant items such as the size of mesh vent screening to ensure that embers are unable to pass through. The Intermediate Zone 2 (5-30 feet from home) checklist includes trees/tree limbs adjacent to the home, flammable plant material and debris and firewood storage. Next is the Extended Zone 3 (30-100 feet from home) which focuses on trees and other potential flammable materials in this native landscape zone. And finally, Zone 4, which covers curbside and Fire Department access.
The Assessors are put into pairs and are assigned to a group of addresses. They schedule their own inspections at theirs and the homeowner’s convenience and perform the assessment right alongside the owner to ensure they can answer any questions that may arise. At the end of the Assessment, a copy of the form is sent to the owner and to Management, who keeps a detailed database of all assessments, photos, owner, and assessor contact details, etc. When an owner submits an Architectural Modification application, Management pulls any assessment reports on file to send to the Arc Committee along with their plans. The plans are reviewed by the Arc Committee’s Wildfire Consultant who then drafts and presents a review to the Committee. Upon approval, the owner is notified. Upon completion of work, Management is notified, and their Fire Assessment files are updated reflecting the action taken. What may seem like a very tedious procedure, we have developed quite a groove where the process is streamlined and semi-automated using task management software.
The Progress:
In the Spring of 2022, during the span of just 3 months the Team had already received over 200 requests for Fire Assessments and have completed over 150 of them. No one had imagined how popular this program would be, but the Team has been at the top of their game in ensuring their assignments are completed as promptly as possible. 
The members of the Association have grown more inquisitive about Fire Prevention and, in response- “The Firewise Bugle”, was created. This monthly newsletter shares news and tips for Firewise efforts, as well as links to helpful articles and impactful videos to “Remember our Why”.  
The amount of flammable debris and hazardous trees that were removed in May 2022, during the Free Disposal event was double the amount of the year prior- all while maintaining the healthy, natural Central Oregon aesthetic beautifully. 
And, of course, the people…the sense of community has strengthened as the neighbors working together have fostered friendships. The Association’s Annual Meeting this year has been moved up to the Summer to allow for greater attendance and to be able to host an in-person dinner for all, rather than a Zoom link in a lost email. We look forward to breaking bread in celebration of our progress while still ensuring adequate preparation for what we are working so hard to avoid. 
Over my 8 years in this industry, I have never been prouder of a team as I am of Awbrey Butte Owners Association, their Board, Arc, Firewise Committee and Assessment Team. Additionally, I am in awe of the assistance received by the County, City, Fire Department and local experts by means of grants and training opportunities. By all means, we have a long road to go- but the great strides we have taken have proved the strength in our owners. Surely, I will never forget the ashy Summer of 2020, but it will also serve as a reminder of strength and hard work shown by this group of outstanding homeowners in Spring, 2022. 

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- On a beautiful Central Oregon Friday evening, 200 business leaders and community stakeholders gathered to raise funds for local youth.
Aperion Management Group, along with title sponsor Mike’s Fence Center, hosted the fifth annual Farm to Fork Dinner and Fundraiser on Friday, June 3rd at the beautiful Seventh Mountain Resort to benefit local non-profit, Heart of Oregon Corps. The event featured entertainment by the Maxwell Freidman Group, a farm to fork dinner by a local chef, wine tasting by local winery Lava Terrace, and meaningful testimonials by youth participants.
Local chef Gene Soto of Bowtie Catering arranged a menu to delight with items such as grilled, marinated local tri-tip with creamy horseradish, polenta cakes and smoked tomato fondue, and pesto crusted roasted salmon filet. Ingredients were sourced from Central Oregon farms.

​The Farm to Fork event is also about the community raising money to support youth in Heart of Oregon’s “work-earn-learn” programs. Businesses and individuals alike gave in different ways throughout the evening including table sponsorship, bidding on beautiful centerpieces provided by local plant store Somewhere That’s Green, a raffle for a round of golf at the Del Monte Golf Course in Pebble Beach, California, and a donation paddle raise. The goal to raise $100,000 was achieved!
“This level of individual and business community support of local youth who are working so hard to improve their lives is incredibly heartening,” said Laura Handy, Heart of Oregon Corps’ Executive Director. “I love that our youth are empowered to share their stories, and that the Central Oregon community is so engaged in our collective growth socially and economically.”
Both corporate sponsorships and public tickets are available for Farm to Fork each year. Stay tuned for 2023 sponsorship and ticket information at www.heartoforegon.org/news-events/farm-to-fork 
About Aperion Management Group, LLC
Aperion Management Group, LLC is Central Oregon's first and only Accredited Association Management Company (AAMC) that specializes in Homeowners Association (HOA) management in Central Oregon. With over fifty years combined experience in management, building and development, Aperion strives to create a more responsive and efficient management process for communities in and around Bend. To learn more visit www.aperionmgmt.com, or call us at 541.389.3172.
About Heart of Oregon Corps
Heart of Oregon Corps is a nonprofit organization invested in inspiring and empowering positive change in the lives of Central Oregon youth through jobs, education, and stewardship. Their programming creates pathways out of poverty while stimulating regional economic growth. The “work-learn-earn” model invests in local young people, many of whom face many barriers, to prepare them for the workforce and to encourage their self-sufficiency. Every year since 2000, they provide job skills training, education, and leadership development to over 300 local young people ages 16-24. Heart of Oregon Corps trains tomorrow’s workforce today.  Now hiring youth! www.heartoforegon.org

​Align Your Company with One of the Top Fundraising Events in Central Oregon, While Supporting a Deserving Nonprofit

Heart of Oregon Corps announces sponsorship opportunities for local Central Oregon companies at their Fifth Annual Farm to Fork Dinner and Fundraiser. Farm to Fork will be held on June 3, 2022 at Seventh Mountain Resort at 5pm. Sponsorship opportunities range from $500-$3,000, and include a various number of seats and recognition packages at the renowned dinner. It’s an event not to be missed.
The evening begins with a cocktail hour and passed hors d’oeuvres, and this year featuring a new array of hands-on demonstrations from Heart of Oregon youth. Next, a five-course gourmet dinner created in collaboration with many local farms, and curated by Sanda Costello of Bowtie Catering, will be served along with complimentary wine and beer. Heart of Oregon youth will also describe their experiences at Heart of Oregon and the impact the programs have had on their lives.
“Heart of Oregon Corps provides at-risk youth ages 16-24 with tangible skill sets that they can then use to enter the workforce in Central Oregon,” said Katie Anderson, Aperion Management CEO. “These youth deserve our corporate support, and why not do that while also enjoying an incredible event?”
Aperion Management Group has hosted the event since its first year and continues to champion Heart of Oregon’s work in the community, and this year a new title sponsor, Mike’s Fence, has claimed top billing. A limited number of corporate table sponsorships are still available, and details can be found at heartoforegon.org/events.
Don’t let your company miss out on the many benefits of sponsorship. Secure your table today and benefit the next generation of youth at Heart of Oregon Corps.
heartoforegon.org • aperionmgmt.com

As published in Cascade Business News: ​https://cascadebusnews.com/support-heart-of-oregon-corps-with-a-farm-to-fork-dinner-fundraiser-sponsorship/?fbclid=IwAR3b_MWgzE5AwJ2XM0fzRmbxcUTTr92D9OgdK0ke2tyzIMD8bMArZt_dNFQ

[Community Association Insider]

In the wake of pandemic delays and a new focus on deferred maintenance since the Surfside tragedy, many associations have significant projects to bid out to contractors. But the process has changed in the past couple of years. Read on for advice on navigating it effectively.

A Shifted Landscape
Gone are the days of the board considering a project, the manager putting out a request for proposals (RFPs) to a handful of preferred contractors, and multiple bids coming in. Instead, boards and managers are scrambling to find contractors who even have the bandwidth to bid on new jobs — even larger scale projects such as roofing, siding, balconies, and windows.

“For the most part, communities don’t have the luxury of having a whole host of contractors to choose from,” says Katie Anderson, CEO of Aperion Management Group, LLC, which manages around 65 associations in Central Oregon. “In some cases, we’re lucky if we have two contractors bidding.

“It’s a tough situation because in most markets contractors aren’t paid for their time to go out and look at a project and bid, so their willingness to do so just isn’t there. I’ve never really seen it like this in the past 20 years.”

Communities may struggle even more to get bids on smaller projects. “I have a community trying to replace about 10 feet of sidewalk from a burst pipe, but the contractor said the project was too small,” says Brad van Rooyen, president of HomeRiver Group-Florida, the management company for about 160 associations in the state.

“Contractors will say they’re only taking on projects over X amount of dollars.”

Much of the problem stems from the tight labor market and supply chain issues affecting the cost of materials. “They don’t have the staff and they can’t hire the staff,” Anderson says. “And the ups and downs of the materials market have really been challenging.

“Contractors have a hard time providing numbers they’re able to stand by because of the fluctuations in labor and materials costs,” Anderson says.

How to Adjust
Hurdles aside, many associations have a real sense of urgency when it comes to their projects. So what can you do to expedite an effective bidding process?

1) Start ASAP. Anderson advises associations to start the planning process earlier. “You can’t just decide to do a project, bid it out, and start it that season. If you have stuff that needs to be done this year, you should be working on that now.”

Van Rooyen agrees. “We’re telling our boards that, if they’re looking to do large project, they need to start bidding on those projects six to 10 months out because material or labor issues are likely.”

2) Revise the standard RFPs. It’s time to update the RFP templates. “The bidding process basically has stayed the same in terms of looking for quality vendors and getting the bid package together; it’s what’s inside the package that has changed,” says Paul Grucza, director of education and client development at the Seattle-based management company CWD Group, Inc.

“In Washington, for example, we have to include COVID qualifiers, asking what they do to protect their staff and residents. The pandemic has dictated extra steps of caution that vendors have to demonstrate.” Such provisions should be standardized.

Surfside has affected RFPs, too, with the circle of voices weighing in on the RFP expanded for savvy associations. “You’re seeing more communities grasp the need for construction engineers to write scopes for RFPs,” Anderson says.

“It used to be more unusual to engage those folks, but it’s become more and more common. You need an engineer, a project manager, and other professionals who can provide advice the manager usually isn’t qualify to provide.”

Unfortunately, those people also are in high demand — and they’re adjusting their rates accordingly. Your clients will need to budget for this and reach out to them, like other vendors, ASAP.

3) Cultivate positive vendor relationships. Van Rooyen stresses the importance of relationships with vendors — they’re more likely to be interested in working with managers and associations that consistently treat them well. “We try to pay our vendors timely and develop a draw schedule, and it’s inured them to us.”

Transparency also can go a long way. “We’ve had some contractors ask upfront how serious the association is about pursuing the project, whether it’s going to pull the trigger,” van Rooyen says. “When boards ask us to go out and get bids, we make sure they have the money and relay that the funding is there because we don’t want to burn out our vendors.”

4) Manage board expectations. Board members, especially those who have served on the board during previous projects, may harbor unrealistic expectations about the amount of time required to complete current projects or the costs. You’ll need to temper those.

For example, board members must understand how much costs have skyrocketed. “We have one community with a lot of exposed wood that has to be maintained and stained every year. They saw a 40 percent increase over what they’d budgeted.”

Boards also need to know that the topline price in a contract isn’t necessarily the final price.

“Many of the contracts for bigger, longer-term projects have caveats put in that, although the vendor is willing to do the job for X dollars, the associations should be mindful of the vendor’s ability to pass along supply cost changes to the end user,” Grucza says. “The vendors are trying to protect themselves from price increases.”

If board members remain skeptical, you might want to integrate them more closely in the process. “We’re seeing more board involvement because, when we tell them some of the challenges they can experience on a project, I don’t think they believe us,” van Rooyen says. “They want to hear it themselves that the roofer can’t start the project for six months.”

5) Take deep breaths. “Managers need to have more patience than they’ve ever had before,” Grucza says. “They have to recognize that so much is out of their control because of outside elements that affect what used to be a normal process.”

BEND, ORE. (PRWEB) SEPTEMBER 30, 2021
Katie Anderson, CEO of Bend-based Aperion Management Group, was recognized internationally as a rising star in the Homeowners’ Association (HOA) management industry. Community Association Institute (CAI) presented the award to Anderson at the 2021 Annual Conference & Exposition: Community NOW in August for her efforts in volunteer work with the CAI Central Oregon Chapter and CAI Oregon Legislative Action Committee.
CAI is an international membership organization dedicated to building better communities. With over 42,000 members and 63 chapters worldwide, CAI provides information, education and resources to the homeowner volunteers who govern communities and the professionals who support them. Their presence is recognized internationally throughout the industry, and they choose only two recipients each year to receive the rising star award.
“The Rising Star Award honors a volunteer whose leadership abilities and professional contributions forecast even greater accomplishments in the future,” says Thomas M. Skiba, CAE, CAI CEO. “Katie Anderson exemplifies just those qualities.”
Anderson is a founding member of the CAI Central Oregon Regional Chapter and a member of the CAI Oregon Legislative Action Committee. She conveys her ideas and experiences freely, and those ideas, when shared with the participants at the ACAM CEO-MC Retreat, brought the birth of the civility code, which lead to a broader conversation within CAI that resulted in the Civility Pledge. Anderson speaks regularly at any event or webinar she is asked to, and she encourages her managers to be involved locally in the chapter. Importantly, she has pushed the CAI Oregon Legislative Action Committee to comply with best practices, communicate with membership, and be a more inclusive and effective entity. Anderson is a leader who has already had an impact on shaping the community association management profession and owner expectations in a way that is aligned with the next generation.
“I feel truly honored to be recognized for the work I feel so passionately about as a volunteer, which is to further the betterment of the HOA industry as a whole,” said Katie Anderson, CEO, Aperion Management Group.
About Aperion Management Group
Aperion Management Group, LLC is Central Oregon's first and only Accredited Association Management Company (AAMC) that specializes in Homeowners Association (HOA) management. With over fifty years combined experience in management, building and development, Aperion strives to create a more responsive and efficient management process for communities in Oregon. To learn more visit http://www.aperionmgmt.com, or call us at 541.389.3172.

Do I, As a Board Member Reporting a Violation, Need to Then Recuse Myself?

​HOAleader.com
Contributed to by: Katie Anderson, CEO, ​PCAM, AMS, CMCA