Preparations are underway for the New Jersey Cooperator’s annual Condo, HOA & Co-op Expo, one of the largest shows of its kind in the Garden State, which will return to the Meadowlands Exposition Center in Secaucus on Wednesday, May 7, 2014 from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Whether you’ve just taken a seat on your condominium of HOA board, or are an old hand at association leadership, the task can be a daunting one. There are vendors to hire, budgets to balance and complaints to field. How do you find the right professional for each job that needs to be done? How do you keep the property looking sharp when finances are tight? Where do you turn for answers—without breaking the bank on legal fees?

Fortunately for Garden State board members, managers and homeowners, the answers to many of your condominium or HOA questions can be found in one place, in one day, under one roof. Mark your calendars now for this not-to-missed event: The 7th annual Condo, HOA & Co-op Expo, a free event that will showcase hundreds of exhibitors from throughout the region, free professional advice booths, dozens of prizes and giveaways, and a full slate of educational seminars.

The More You Know...

Good communication, organization, and information have always been crucial to maintaining a thriving, successful community, and smart boards and building managers know that in order to stay prosperous—or even just solvent—in today's market, one needs a strong set of skills.

Every year, the Expo offers a seminar schedule designed to educate and inform. Seminar presenters for 2014 include the Lawrenceville-based law firm of Stark & Stark and managers from Freehold-based Association Advisors. Other speakers will be announced shortly.

Professional Help

Exhibitor booths and a full schedule of seminars may be the big draws to the Expo, but there's so much more going on. In addition to networking and education opportunities, the show's popular free advice booths will be returning as well. 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 professionals.

Free Money

No trade show would be complete without giveaways and raffles. Throughout the day, random drawings will be held for a host of valuable door prizes donated by Expo exhibitors and The New Jersey Cooperator.

And in addition to bringing home useful information and advice, you could be a big winner in helping your association beef up its bottom line. The 2014 event once again will feature the very popular New Jersey Cooperator’sExpo Reserve Fund drawing! One lucky board member will win a cool $2,500 for their building or association’s reserve fund, courtesy of The New Jersey Cooperator and Yale Robbins Publications LLC, the sponsors of the Expo itself. 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.nj-expo.com.

Log on to The New Jersey Cooperator’s expo website for updates and new additions to the Expo’s exhibitor and seminar roster, and be sure to visit us at the Meadowlands Expo Center on May 7th! For more information on who is exhibiting at the show, to sign up as an exhibitor, or to register for this one-of-a-kind event, go to www.nj-expo.com.