Jim Dodson, CMCA, LSM, PCAM, CPM
COMMUNITY CONSULTANT
Jim is the executive director at Ewa by Gentry Community Association, an 8600+ home Large-Scale community in Ewa Beach, Hawaii and the 2nd largest community in Hawaii. Its Hospitality Team includes an Assistant General Manager, a 24/7 Community Watch Team, Community Center Activities/Life-Style team, Covenant Enforcement Department, Maintenance Department, and an Administration Department.
He began his management career in 1976 and formed his own property management company in 1981. In 1997 Jim moved to Kailua-Kona and continued managing as the project manager and president of the board at Kohala Ranch, a 4,000-acre association and working ranch with owners from over 31 countries. He also ran its Public Utilities Commission regulated private water company providing water to ranch owners from four 1,500’ deep wells.
Jim understands Community Association issues as well as the perspectives and needs brought by business partners/owners, management company executives, portfolio managers, and on-site managers having worn all those hats during his career. He implemented policy governance in his community and has administrated association budgets exceeding $60,000,000, managed portfolios totaling $1.5B and his financial background includes accounting, the SEC, community funding issues, and risks associations face associated with a variety of investment strategies.
His entrepreneurial leadership has enabled him to help his communities excel at governance, short and long term strategic planning, implementing and using technology to improve customer service at less cost, maintaining property values, and assuring their financial futures.
Jim actively volunteers for various CAI committees and task forces and he currently sits on CAI’s Board of Trustees, the CAI Hawaii Chapter Board, the CAI Hawaii Education and Designation Committees, and is an active member of the Large-Scale Managers Education Committee. He formerly was president of CAI, vice-president of the Foundation of Community Association Research, chair of its fund-raising committee, and chaired the Community Association Manager Council. As a frequent presenter at CAI’s Annual Convention, he has participated in presentations on a broad range of topics, including surveys, advanced communication for managers, increasing manager professionalism, responding to cultural diversity, teamwork and leadership development and raising the positive perception of communities.
Prior to beginning his management career, he taught high school and college and was inducted into Beta Gamma Sigma as a lifetime member of the national honors society for collegiate colleges of business. He continues to actively mentor students at UH-Manoa and the Shidler College of Business.
He loves dogs and relaxes by reading, riding his Harley, philanthropy, and being with his family.