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In this special 100th episode of Take It To The Board, we’re excited to welcome back our very first guest, James Donnelly. When host Donna DiMaggio Berger first sat down with James in 2021, he was leading Castle Group, one of Florida’s largest community association management firms. Now, they reunite to reflect on the extraordinary journey James has taken since selling the company. Together, they explore the motivations behind his decision, the carefully crafted four-year succession plan that ensured Castle’s continued success, and the passion projects that are now shaping his next chapter.

Throughout the episode, James and Donna dive deep into the realities of the acquisition process, offering insights that business owners and industry leaders alike will find invaluable. They discuss the advantages of planning a sale from a position of strength and the importance of developing a leadership team that can thrive independently. Their conversation also examines how the association management industry has evolved—especially in response to the challenges posed by COVID-19 and the Surfside tragedy.

Despite growing consolidation in the industry, James and Donna share an optimistic outlook on opportunities for entrepreneurs. They note that no single company has captured more than a small share of the market, leaving ample room for innovation and growth. They also discuss James’s investment in the future of the field through the James Donnelly Property Management program at Nova Southeastern University, a “farm system” designed to cultivate new talent.

The episode concludes with a meaningful discussion about the personal values that guide James’s life—stretch, smile, live, and give—a daily mantra that he uses to balance his ongoing industry involvement, philanthropy, and upcoming book on life principles. With warmth, insight, and mutual admiration, James and Donna deliver a compelling conversation that celebrates past accomplishments while looking forward to the future, making this milestone episode both thought-provoking and deeply inspiring.

Conversation Highlights:

• The increasing complexity of the community association industry in the wake of COVID-19, the Surfside tragedy, and new legislation
• Key challenges and growth opportunities facing the industry today
• The most unexpected part of Castle Group’s sale process
• James’s practical advice for business owners thinking about selling
• Insights for leaders weighing whether to remain active or begin stepping back
• The passion projects and new ventures James is currently pursuing

Related Links:

• Podcast: Royal Service with James Donnelly, Founder & CEO, Castle Group

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Have you ever stopped to think about what’s really coming out of your faucets? This week on Take It To The Board, host Donna DiMaggio Berger sits down with Ed Padula of Quality Water Consultants to uncover the hidden truths about the water we drink, cook with, and bathe in every day. You might be surprised by what’s flowing through your community's pipes and what is contributing to the inevitable water leaks in multifamily buildings.

Donna and Ed’s conversation reveals how municipal water treatment has changed dramatically over the years, with many cities switching from chlorine to chloramines—a combination that addresses one health concern but creates new problems with corrosion, water color, and infrastructure damage. As they explain, what municipalities consider "safe" water often still contains chemicals that affect both human health and building systems.

The distinction between water softening and purification emerges as a critical misunderstanding for many associations. While softening removes calcium and magnesium to prevent spotting and extend appliance life, it doesn't address chemical contaminants or color issues.

Perhaps most alarming is how water quality accelerates the deterioration of aging pipes in multifamily buildings. The corrosiveness of chloramines causes pipes to deteriorate faster, leading to more frequent leaks and eventually requiring expensive re-piping projects. Simultaneously, deteriorating pipes leach contaminants back into water, creating a vicious cycle.

Ready to take a deep dive into what's flowing through your community's pipes? Listen now and, hopefully, start a much needed conversation for your board.

Conversation Highlights Include:

• Why community associations should prioritize water quality—even if no issues have been reported
• Water purification considerations for multifamily buildings
• Common—and often overlooked—water quality issues in condos, HOAs, and co-ops
• The impact of aging pipes, boilers, and water systems on water quality in older buildings
• How water quality affects the lifespan of plumbing and piping systems
• The link between water quality and leaks
• Understanding the difference between filtration systems and softener systems
• Routine testing and inspections community associations should conduct
• The connection between poor water quality and health risks
• Early warning signs of deteriorating water quality
• What a community’s emergency plan should include in the event of water contamination

Related Links:

• Online Class: Anatomy of a Water Leak

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Documenting the condition of your association property has become crucial to comply with new legal requirements as well as to maximize your insurance claims post casualty. Transparency, accessibility, and digital organization also play the critical role of helping to protect resident safety.

Digital documentation pioneer Trish Mackie-Smith joins host Donna DiMaggio-Berger for this episode of Take It To The Board to discuss how technological solutions are revolutionizing the way associations store and access their most important maintenance and repair records. After witnessing buyers making uninformed decisions due to lack of transparency, Trish co-founded Inndox to create a comprehensive digital repository that tracks building maintenance, warranties, and safety inspections throughout a building's lifecycle.

Donna and Trish explore why independent document storage creates essential continuity for associations and assists management companies when they onboard new clients. This independent storage portal helps associations maintain compliance with increasingly strict legislative requirements while ensuring critical information isn't lost during transitions.

Beyond simple document storage, Donna and Trish explore how modern systems can alert boards to upcoming inspection deadlines, insurance renewals, and warranty expirations—transforming static paperwork into dynamic tools for proactive management. Perhaps most fascinating is the emergence of structural monitoring technologies that use accelerometers to detect building movement, potentially preventing tragedies like Champlain Towers by identifying structural issues before they become catastrophic.

Whether you're a board member struggling with disorganized records, an association manager seeking better technology, or an owner concerned about building safety, this episode offers practical guidance for bringing your association's documentation into the digital age. The message is clear: well-maintained digital records aren't just good governance—they're essential to protecting lives and property values.

Conversation Highlights Include:

• The many benefits of converting paper records to digital formats

• How digital document repositories can help prove maintenance history to local Code Enforcement and support insurance claims post casualty

• The importance of maintaining organized records to comply with increasingly strict legislative requirements

• New technologies including structural monitoring systems that can detect building movement before failures occur

• Practical implementation strategies including forming "scanning committees" to digitize historical documents

• How proper documentation can strengthen a building's value and potentially reduce insurance premiums

• Key documents that every condo or HOA should maintain digitally

• How to address concerns from board members or managers who may not be tech-savvy

Related Links:

• Article: New Requirements for Condominium Association on Inspections of Official Records
• Online Class: Record Keeping for Associations