Pat Crosscombe
Founder and CEO of BoardSpace
Pat says that she is “on a mission to save the world; one board at a time.” She knows that the volunteer boards of directors of condos, Homeowners Associations (HOAs), Community Associations, Housing Cooperatives, non-profits and charities do tremendously important work.
Pat is passionate about improving governance and sharing her experience with others.
Pat is the past President of her condominium board of directors
She was responsible for governing an 87-unit townhouse condominium that had previously been a rental property.
This condo faced what seemed like every possible challenge known to condominiums: lawsuits, mediation, title insurance subrogated claims, declarant misbehavior, owner challenges, dog issues, special assessments, new bylaws, special engineering studies, reserve fund studies, fire code violations requiring a court appearance, overseeing a tender for very large roofing projects, water and sewage infiltration in basements, and much more.
Her experience as a director required that Pat take every opportunity to learn more about condo management and governance in order to keep with the challenges.
Pat even gets up on rooftops
Pat also brings a depth of experience gained in a variety of other positions. This includes a five-year stint overseas in Thailand working as a Dairy Extension Officer at the Kampangsaen Dairy Cooperative and Deputy Director of CUSO Thailand.
If it takes getting up on a roof to learn more about flat-top roofing, Pat is game to find out.
Military Coups
Living through a military coup, cooperant mishaps, defying stray dogs running in packs, navigating by motorcycle to remote villages, and rising to the challenge of learning a new language and culture well enough to interact in settings such as formal interactions with senior government officials and presenting impromptu speeches (in Thai) sounds similar to the varied demands placed on startup founders.
Interviews & Podcasts
Pat was interviewed by Mike StPierre for his Nonprofit Productive website.
Pat had a great time being interviewed by Tina Larsson for her podcast. Even BoardSpace Bill joined, unexpectedly.
Founder & CEO Pat Crosscombe was interviewed on the Ottawa Business Journal's TechopiaLive podcast.
Pat shares the highs and lows of the entrepreneurial journey. Be on the look out for an unexpected guest appearance by BoardSpace Bill, the company mascot.
Top 10 Entrepreneurs Over 60
See why startups aren’t just for young upstarts with this list of entrepreneurs over 60. Gain inspiration from Seniorly’s list of startup founders over 60.
Writing and Blogging
Pat has been active blogging and writing. She is very proud to have eight articles published by Condo Business Magazine and one more in progress.
A condo board’s guide to fixing people problems
If the police are called to break up a fight at a board meeting, most directors will recognize that a problem has been allowed to escalate overtime.
Fortunately, most condo boards will never find themselves in a situation such as this.
Seven tips for building trust in condo communities
It is unlikely that the condo’s declaration, bylaws, rules, or policies include any reference to trust; yet good governance cannot be achieved without it.
Directors might assume that meeting their fiduciary responsibilities is enough, but specific actions that provide the evidence on which trust is built are also required.
Is your condo manager stressed? 10 tips for reducing stress
Searching for condo board software
With technology moving into every aspect of our lives, it is no surprise that condominiums are following suit. As such, it can be daunting for a condo board to find software that fits their needs and their condominium community.
Keys to HOA board success
The best practices of successful directors
Serving as an HOA board director can be a daunting task. The job comes with lots of responsibilities. Managing a homeowner association’s affairs often includes making tough financial decisions. Why do some homeowner association boards excel and others struggle? Many lessons can be gleaned from the best practices of successful HOA directors.
A director’s toolkit for renovation success
Planning and oversight key to positive outcomes for condo projects
Given how much corporations are likely to invest in renovation projects, it’s important to set them up for success. Here’s advice to help directors do just that.
Five things new condo directors need to know
Congratulations on getting elected to the condo board! Now the fun begins. For first-time directors, there is an overwhelming amount of new information to digest.
Condo corporation facing a special assessment?
Five principles for directors staring down tough decisions about money
Making decisions as a condo director is part of the job. Financial decisions, especially those involving special assessments or fee increases, are tough.