Get to Know Our Employees

At Cardinal we believe we have the most well-trained, experienced professionals that care about the communities they serve. Each month we’ll feature one of our awesome team members in our Employee Spotlight.

Today, get to know Steve Rugen, Community Manager CMCA®, AMS®, PCAM®.

Tell us about your role and your primary responsibilities.

I am a Portfolio Manager for Cardinal Management Group, Inc. The primary focus of my position is to assist Boards in implementing policies, plans and programs to achieve the goals of their Association.

What about your position do you find most rewarding?

I enjoy meeting with the Boards. Putting faces with names is what makes it fun.

Cardinal has a reputation of delivering outstanding service and caring about the communities they serve. Would you agree with that reputation and if so, can you give us an example of when you felt you went above and beyond in your role?

I absolutely agree! I was going to an appointment at a condominium I manage. As I drove up to the building, a fire started. As a manager you never actually see the fire you just come afterwards. It was cold and people were forced from their homes. The fire was in the building with the site office so we had nowhere to put displaced residents. The site manager, a Cardinal employee, and I used our cars to warm the displaced residents. Later we got food and water while things were being sorted out. It was an intense day to say the least.

What about Cardinal made you decide to join the team?

I had the pleasure of managing an HOA where one of the principals lived. He met me at an annual meeting. I did my homework and found that Cardinal was big enough to bring the right assets to the table but small enough to still feel like a family business.

Name one fun or unlikely thing people may not know about Cardinal but should.

Working for Cardinal is like working with family. We have “Mandatory Fun Days”. One of the best events was bowling at Uptown Alley in Manassas, VA. We bowled, played laser tag, pool and arcade games. It was a great way to unwind.

Do you have any tips for someone that may be looking to get into the community management industry?

If you like people and helping folks work through issues, it is a great place to be.