The Chicagoland Cooperator and Yale Robbins, Inc. welcome you to The Chicagoland Cooperator’s third annual Chicagoland Condo, HOA, & Co-op Expo.

The Chicagoland Expo is the largest expo in the state entirely dedicated to connecting condo, HOA, and co-op managers, board members, and residents with the professionals and service providers their communities need on a regular basis. Between nearly 300 exhibitors, countless product demos, free advice booths, and full roster of educational seminars, it’s literally a one-stop, custom-built marketplace for vendors, products and ideas.

“The express purpose of the Chicago Expo is to help attendees make useful, productive connections, gain valuable information, and network with their peers,” says company president Yale Robbins. So if you’re a decision-maker for a condo, homeowners association, or co-op community—or even if you just call one home—and you have a pressing legal issue or an important project waiting in the wings, you're definitely in the right place.

A Learning Experience

One of the biggest reasons for board members, managers, and owners to visit the show is the Chicago Expo’s full slate of free educational seminars. Custom-built to help anyone involved—or even just interested—in the administration of a residential building or homeowners association, the 2013 seminar panels will provide in-depth discussion of the legal, administrative, management, and financial concerns pertinent to the region's HOA managers, board members, and residents.

This year’s informative sessions begin at 10:30 a.m. with the management, legal and accounting pros from Caruso Management Group, who will present “Who Knew? Practical Truths from HOA Pros,” where experts will discuss frequently-asked legal, financial, and administrative questions and outline the roles and responsibilities of boards and their hired professionals.

Next up are the experts from DRF Trusted Property Solutions who will present “Go Green, Save Green” at 11:45 a.m. This session with management and energy efficiency specialists will teach you about government subsidies and incentives that can help your building community save money and the environment. Associa-Vanguard Community Management will provide some sound advice in “Solving Your Association’s Challenges” at 1:00 p.m. Two members of Associa’s property management team will help board members safeguard their financial well-being by discussing proper budgeting, transparency, oversight, and establishing checks and balances. And following at 2:15 p.m. will be The Building Group’s panel of experts who will talk on “Staying in the Black—Avoiding Special Assessments.” Here attendees can receive tips and strategies to keep your community well-funded and look at financial planning, savings, forecasting and reserve studies.

All presentations are free for attendees, and conclude with a Q&A segment to allow audience members to get direct feedback from panelists. Expo seminars always attract standing-room-only crowds, so make sure to arrive early to claim a spot in the audience.

In addition to networking and education opportunities, the Chicagoland Condo, HOA & Co-op Expo will feature free advice booths staffed by professionals from a broad array of industries, waiting to answer any and all HOA- and building-related questions face-to-face. 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. How’s that for instant gratification?

It Doesn't Stop There

And if all that isn’t enough, the Expo will also feature dozens of raffles and giveaways throughout the day—including the Grand Prize Reserve Fund giveaway, courtesy of The Chicagoland Cooperator and Yale Robbins Publications LLC. One attendee at the show will be drawn at random to win a $2,500 contribution to their building or association's reserve fund. The winner will be drawn after registration has closed, and a check for the winnings will be made payable to the winner’s association, 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.chicagocondo expo.com, or stop by the Chicagoland Cooperator’s booth 318 on the show floor.