Pandemic or no pandemic, we know that running a co-op, condo, or HOA isn’t easy. Even in simpler times, without the added pressure of a global public health crisis, there are still vendors to hire, budgets to balance, and conflicts to manage. After almost two years of cancelled plans, social distancing, and virtual everything, the job of finding the right professionals to supply, maintain, and run your community can seem more challenging than ever.  

But here’s some good news! The CooperatorEvents Expo New Jersey, which has been providing information and networking opportunities to board members, property managers, and real estate professionals for nearly 15 years, will return—in person!—to the Meadowlands Expo Center in Secaucus on Tuesday, October 26, 2021, from 10 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. 

Back & Better Than Ever

Since 2008, the CooperatorEvents Expo New Jersey has been the premier trade event for everyone involved in the Garden State’s condo, HOA, and co-op industry. Whether you’re a veteran association leader, or have just taken a seat on your board for the first time, the CooperatorEvents Expo New Jersey is a one-stop shop for everything you need to keep your community running efficiently, from attorneys to plumbing professionals to interior designers. It’s the largest trade show and educational event of its kind in the state—and it’s FREE to attend! Registration—which you can do in seconds at nj-expo.com—gets you onto the exhibit floor and into all the educational seminars and panel discussions throughout the day. 

Advice, Information, & Networking

After a year-plus of projects, repairs, and service calls being put on hold thanks to the pandemic—and with colder weather on the way—a lot of communities are playing catch-up. Fortunately, the purpose of the CooperatorEvents Expo New Jersey is to provide a place for condo, HOA, and co-op decision-makers to interact directly with exhibitors about the products and services essential to every community’s success, from paving to painting, and parking to pest control. If your board or association has been forced to put things on hold over the last 19 months, or has questions about where to go from here, the Expo can help you get answers!

And speaking of which—in addition to hundreds of exhibitor booths on the main floor, the educational seminars running throughout the day are another reason we’re thrilled to be back in-person this year. Expert presenters and panelists from every corner of the multifamily residential sector will give attendees relevant, of-the-moment insight on management, legal, financial, and other hot-button issues. This year’s roster includes: 

10:15am–11:15am: Protect & Prolong—Maintaining Your Association’s Mechanical & Related Equipment

An expert panel moderated by Jeffrey Logan, vice president of facilities management company Guardian Service Industries, Inc., will discuss basic preventive maintenance, inspection criteria and testing schedules, and best practices for keeping the air and water in your building safe and healthy through regular inspection and upkeep of mechanical equipment, cooling towers, domestic water systems, pumps, and more. Location: Room 1

11:15am–12:15pm: Straight Outta Trenton—Legal & Legislative Changes Impacting Boards & Residents

Boards and managers can learn about new legislation directly impacting New Jersey’s common interest communities from a panel of management and industry pros. They will discuss what bills have been proposed, what’s been passed, and how both may affect how your board does business. Location: Room 2

12:15pm–1:15pm: The Way Forward—Managing Amenities & Staff through COVID & Beyond

Management experts from FirstService Residential will discuss the enormous challenges boards and managers have faced during the 18 months of COVID-19. From amenity management to common area maintenance to staffing to handling the day-to-day business of running a multifamily community during a major public health crisis, this panel will offer boards and managers the insight they need to navigate this difficult landscape successfully. Location: Room 1

1:15pm–2:15pm: Balance of Power—Protecting Owners’ Rights & Meeting the Needs of Disabled Residents

Sometimes the rights of owners and shareholders spelled out in their building’s or association’s governing documents, in connection with New Jersey’s antidiscrimination laws and the United States Fair Housing Act, can clash with the needs of disabled residents. This panel of legal experts will address those laws in depth, as well as what disabled residents can demand, what a board can lawfully allow or reject, and how to make your building or HOA work for everyone.                                      Location: Room 2

2:15pm–3:15pm: Lessons from Surfside—High-Rise Structural Safety & Building Assessments

The tragic collapse of the Champlain Towers South condo in Surfside, Florida, this past spring raised concerns about structural safety like never before. This presentation will explore and explain the importance of conducting a Structural Building Assessment (SBA), discuss the latest innovations in structural monitoring tech, and answer your questions about what your building should be doing to stay safe and structurally sound.Location: Room 1

3:15pm–4:00pm: Hot Legal and Insurance Topics of 2021: What Managers and Board Members Need to Know to Protect Their Communities

This panel will address pressing issues including the fiduciary duty of boards to maintain the structural safety of their communities, associations’ maintenance and repair obligations under the Condominium Act, and state-mandated inspections under the Multi-Dwelling Act. They will also speak on liability considerations, changes to the insurance market (and prices) for 2022, and how to make your community more resilient in the face of flooding, storms, and other natural disasters. Location: Room 1

Visit nj-expo.com for more in-depth information and the seminar schedule, and we’ll see you—in person!—at the show!