A terrific opportunity for managers and board members to meet with more than 300 professionals from every corner of the co-op, condo and HOA industry is just around the corner.

The Chicagoland Condo, HOA & Co-op Expo (www.chicagocondoexpo.com) on October 28, 2014 at the Navy Pier Convention Center offers valuable networking and educational opportunities for condo, HOA & co-op board members, community association managers and service professionals. Admission is FREE for the trade show, now in its fourth year, which runs from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

More than just another trade show, the Chicagoland Expo is the perfect venue for board members, property managers and other key decision makers to connect with the professionals and service providers they need to make their communities run more smoothly. It’s a one-stop custom-built marketplace for vendors, products and ideas that you can’t afford to miss. And unlike the impersonal touch of social media, you can meet face-to-face with the professionals you need.

Attendee Roger Girard of Evanston found the 2013 Expo invaluable for getting the help his community needs. “There were several vendors whom I could ask questions of face-to-face. I also liked the ability to pre-plan the booths to visit—complete with a map. The seminars are the biggest reward for attending,” Girard added.

First-timer Tracey Banks-Giles had a great experience as well. “This was my first time attending the Expo” said Banks-Giles, a board president from Oak Park. “I loved it. I loved the number and variety of vendors. All were pertinent to the invited audience. The seminars were topics relevant to attendees. Vendors were friendly, inviting, informative, and did not "force" their products/services on me,” she said.

A Learning Experience

And like Girard, board members, managers, and owners come to the show for the free educational seminars. Designed to help anyone involved in the administration of a residential building or homeowners association, the 2014 seminar panels will provide in-depth discussion of the legal, administrative, management, and financial concerns relevant to the region's community association managers, board members, and residents.

Seminar presenters include Associa, The Building Group, Advantage Management, DRF Trusted Property Solutions and Association Evaluation. The Chicagoland Cooperator will also host several seminars. All presentations are free for all attendees, and conclude with a Q&A session at the end to allow audience members to get direct feedback from panelists. Expo seminars always attract standing-room-only crowds, so make sure to arrive early. More information will be provided as the Expo comes closer.

Ever try getting free advice from a lawyer? Well, you actually can at the Expo. In addition to networking and education opportunities, the Expo will feature free advice booths staffed by professionals from a wide array of industries, waiting to answer any and all community association and building-related questions you might have. If you have legal questions about your association, financial questions, or questions about day-to-day management of your building community, you can stop by one of the booths for answers from leading legal, management, maintenance and financial professionals.

And speaking of lawyers, more than a dozen will be in attendance at the 2014 Expo. “The seminars are always the major reason I attend,” noted board member Rebecca Hegarty. The Downers Grove resident said she found the exhibitors helpful and came to the 2013 show with the intention of hiring a legal expert for her community. She used the information she received at the Expo to make recommendations to her board.

Free Admission and Free Giveaways

And if that’s not enough, one of the more popular attractions of the Expo are dozens of raffles and giveaways throughout the day—including the Grand Prize Reserve Fund giveaway, courtesy of The Chicagoland Cooperator and Yale Robbins Publications LLC. One winner’s name will be drawn at random to win a $2,500 contribution to their building or association's reserve fund. A check for the winnings will be made payable to the winner’s association, care of their management company. Only board members qualify to enter the reserve fund drawing, and attendance at the Expo is required for eligibility. For complete details on how to enter the reserve fund drawing, visit the Expo website, www.chicagocondoexpo.com.

So follow The Chicagoland Cooperator for updates and new additions to the Expo’s exhibitor and seminar roster and remember to visit us at the Navy Pier Convention Center on October 28th. For more information on who is exhibiting, to sign up as an exhibitor or to register for this exciting event, go to www.chicagocondoexpo.com.