It’s time to turn our attention to The Chicagoland Cooperator’s first annual Condo, HOA & Co-op Expo, a must-attend event for the Chicagoland area’s property managers, board members, real estate professionals, shareholders and unit owners.

Making its debut in the Chicago area metro market, the Expo will be held at the Navy Pier Convention Center in Chicago on November 16, 2011 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. over a hundred exhibitors from throughout the region will be on hand, along with free advice booths and a full slate of educational seminars.

Good information and clear communication are crucial for anyone involved with the administration of a building or homeowners association—crucial not just to thriving, but even surviving in today's challenging economic times. Finding that information and developing communication strategies isn't always easy, however. The Chicagoland Cooperator's Condo, HOA & Co-op Expo offers attendees the opportunity to do both, in one day and under one roof, with a full slate of unique educational programming.

A Full Day of Seminars

The debut Chicagoland Expo will also present a full schedule of seminars, starting at 10:30 a.m. and running throughout the day. Seminars will cover topics such as board operations, legal issues and conflict resolution, telecommunications, and financing. Seminar sponsors this year include BuildingLink.com, National Condo Advisors LLC, Associa/Legum & Norman, Mid-West, The Chicagoland Cooperator, and more.

CAI Seminar

And for the early-birds, as an added bonus this year, the Community Associations Institute’s Illinois chapter (CAI-IL) will be at Navy Pier before the official Expo kickoff to present “Top Financial & Legislative Updates for Managers” from 8:30 to 9:50 a.m. The seminar will discuss issues such as when to provide financial record requests to owners, how to properly fill out a 22.1 Disclosure Form and mortgage questionnaire, and how to recover months of back assessments. Attendees will also learn about recent updates pertaining to assessment collections; how to obtain a manager’s license, and what’s new in the Illinois Legislature for community associations. The presentation is geared primarily toward community association managers, but all are welcome to attend. The Cooperator's East Coast seminars regularly attract standing-room-only audiences, so make sure to arrive early and claim a spot in the audience!

Free Advice & More

Booths and a full schedule of seminars may be the big draws to the Expo, but that's hardly the whole picture. In addition to networking and education opportunities, the show will also feature free advice booths, staffed by a rotating roster of industry professionals throughout the day. If you have questions about your association’s finances, policies, or day-to-day management, you can stop by one of the booths for answers from leading legal, management, maintenance and financial experts.

And of course, no trade show would be complete without giveaways and raffles.

$2,500 Reserve Fund Giveaway

This year will also mark the Chicagoland debut of The Cooperator's Reserve Fund prize giveaway, courtesy of The Chicagoland Cooperator and Yale Robbins, Inc. One attendee at the Expo will win a $2,500 contribution to their building or association's reserve fund. The winner will be drawn at random after registration has closed, and a check for the winnings will be made payable to the winner’s building, 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.

For Chicagoland area condo owners and managers, the Expo serves as a one-stop shop for all the goods and services needed to manage and maintain buildings. The express purpose of the show is to bring the right people in the industry together and serve as a prime destination for real estate professionals and board members seeking resources and valuable networks.