News & Events

A member of the Associa staff since 1988, Helen Eden Carona brings a broad historical perspective of the company to its Executive Board. Having served the firm in management, accounting, and administrative roles, she has a comprehensive understanding of operations, human resources, and financial matters, both on the corporate and client levels. In her role as Executive Vice President, Helen is responsible for the administrative affairs of the company as well as the firm’s corporate governance. In addition, she serves on the board of Associa Cares, a nonprofit organization dedicated to assisting families and communities in crisis as a result of natural and man-made disasters.

Based in Dallas, Texas, Helen is also the President of Associa’s subsidiary insurance agency, which specializes in the provision of commercial property and casualty insurance coverages for community associations across the U.S.

Helen is married and a devoted mother and grandmother. She is an avid reader, a passionate chef and enjoys entertaining with her husband.

Favorite Quote:

A great man is always willing to be little.

– Ralph Waldo Emerson

Jeff Gourlie is responsible for the operations and growing success of LandArc Management.

Gourlie’s expertise in the community management industry spans the decades. He has extensive knowledge in the area of buildings and grounds maintenance, which was acquired during a career of more than 30 years that included positions as a resident manager and maintenance supervisor, giving him invaluable knowledge necessary for the everyday operation of community associations. Prior to becoming President of LandArc Management, Gourlie has been Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, and President of Kramer-Triad Management Group.

He has been awarded the Association Management Specialist (AMS) and the Professional Community Association Manager (PCAM) designations from CAI. He has been a lecturer at both CAI Michigan Chapter educational seminars and at the United Condominium Owners of Michigan (UCOM) annual seminar. He has served on the CAI Michigan Chapter Board of Directors twice as President as well as Treasurer and Secretary. Gourlie also served as the Vice Chairman on the Membership Advisory Committee for CAI on a national level.

Outside of his responsibilities at LandArc, Gourlie serves on the board of Associa Cares, a nonprofit organization dedicated to assisting families and communities in crisis as a result of natural and man-made disasters.

One of Gourlie’s favorite quotes is:

A customer is the most important visitor on our premises. He is not dependent on us. We are dependent on him. He is not an interruption of our work. He is the purpose of it. He is not an outsider in our business. He is part of it. We are not doing him a favor by serving him. He is doing us a favor by giving us the opportunity to do so.

– Mahatma Gandhi, Leader of Independence in British-Ruled India

As Senior Vice President of Integrated Services, Matt is responsible for the oversight of several Associa service entities throughout North America. His responsibilities in this capacity include serving as a leader to these business unit leaders to help them achieve Associa’s core corporate objectives as well as uphold Associa corporate policies. Matt also educates our teams throughout the company on Associa programs and services that are available for our communities to take advantage of. 

Matt was formerly the Sr. Vice President of Branch Operations for the west/southwest region of the U.S. and previous to that, Vice President of Associa’s National Field Services, where he was responsible for the oversight of the maintenance operations in Associa branches to further develop service and product offerings.

Prior to his position with the corporate office, Matt was President of Associa’s Real Property Management in Columbus, Ohio. He holds his AMS®, CMCA® and PCAM® designations from the Community Associations Institute (CAI) with more than 25 years in the community association management industry.

Matt has been married for 18 years and has a son and two daughters. He and his family currently reside in Frisco, Texas.  Previous to that, he was based out of our Scottsdale, AZ location.  

Favorite Quote:

Do the right thing.

As a project manager of Associa, Faith DeSmet assists the Operations and Executive team with completing projects and initiatives for the company. She is also the event planner and coordinates employee events at both the Home Office and the CSSC.

DeSmet serves as director for Associa Cares, the company’s 501(c)3 charitable organization dedicated to assisting families and communities in crisis as a result of natural and man-made disasters.  She heads the local Dallas committee and plans fundraisers across North America, allowing Associa Cares a greater reach to help those in need.  In addition to managing the request process from receipt to distributing outgoing donations, she also handles general filings for the organization to ensure compliance with various state and federal laws.

A graduate of Johnson & Wales University, DeSmet worked as a pastry chef for seven years throughout Charleston and Dallas. After working in Dubai as an executive pastry chef for Emirates Airlines, she returned to Dallas where she began her paralegal career at Associa. She then graduated summa cum laude from The University of Texas at Dallas with a Bachelor of Arts in interdisciplinary studies. Over the past two years, DeSmet has been assisting Associa’s Chief Operating Officer and the executive team as a project manager.

Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it.

– Maya Angelou

As President of Equity Management, Lisa Locke is responsible for the operation of the company. She has an extensive background in the real estate industry, and spent many years working with leading homebuilders such as Centex and Pulte Homes prior to coming to Equity Management. She has more than 20 years of experience in the community association management industry with Equity Management and has earned the Certified Manager of Community Associations (CMCA), Association Management Specialist (AMS), and Professional Community Association Manager (PCAM) designations from Community Associations Institute (CAI). She also holds a California real estate license and is working towards her Broker’s license. She also serves on the Associa Cares Board of Directors, is a current Rotarian and past Rotary Club President, has served as a chairperson for the Susan G. Komen Race Committee, is on the Board of the WAVES Project (Wounded American Veterans Experiencing Scuba) and involved with Michelle’s Place – a local cancer resource center. Associa Cares is a nonprofit organization dedicated to assisting families and communities in crisis as a result of natural and man-made disasters.

We make a living by what we get, but we make a life out of what we give

As Vice President at MRCM Associa, Stacey is responsible for business development and the oversight of a portfolio of Condominium Corporations. She fosters and develops extraordinary relationships with employees, board members, residents, and industry professionals. 

Prior to joining Associa MRCM, Stacey successfully co-founded and established Harmony Management, a boutique property management firm specializing in condominium management throughout the GTA.  Harmony sold to Associa® in July 2017.

Stacey is a dynamic professional, with over 19 years’ experience in the condominium, real estate, loyalty, development, asset and property management industry. She has a Leadership Diploma from Queen’s University, is a Registered Condominium Manager (RCM) from Humber College and has a CMCA® Designation from Community Association Managers International Certification Board.

In addition, Stacey currently sits on the CAI Canada Board of Directors as Secretary, and is also the Vice President of Board of Directors for PCC 475. She volunteers her time on the CAI Canada Committees along with being an active member of ACMO, and CCI.

Put your heart, mind, and soul into even your smallest acts. This is the secret of success.

– Swami Sivananda

As Vice President of Associa’s High Rise Condominium Division, Dustan Goodell brings over twenty years of luxury HOA condominium experience to his current position.   Mr. Goodell will be responsible for developing national relationships with both existing, and new development of condominiums with a focus on the luxury condominium market in key cities throughout the country.

Previously, as President of Somerset Association Management, Mr. Goodell oversaw the firm’s operations utilizing his background in the hospitality industry to provide exemplary standards and only the finest in service and hospitality for Somerset managed associations.

Since entering the association management industry in 1995, he has successfully worked with existing and newly developed high rise communities throughout Texas. This experience included the pre-opening efforts for The Vendome on Turtle Creek, the Mayfair at Turtle Creek, The Azure, as well operating such communities as One Arts Plaza, 360 Condominiums and The Warrington on Turtle Creek.

The emphasis on gracious hospitality and a 5 star mentality toward resident service has established Goodell as the leader in high rise community management. The role of Vice President of the High Rise Division is the next step to establishing the standards of excellence not only in Texas, but throughout the industry.

In addition, Goodell is a board member of Associa Cares, a nonprofit organization dedicated to assisting families and communities in crisis as a result of natural and man-made disasters.

As a General Manager for Community Management Corporation, Bryant oversees the daily operations of one of Northern Virginia’s premier large-scale community associations. Since 2017, Phillips has served  as chairman for the metropolitan Washington DC region’s Associa Cares annual Vendor Fair which is Associa Cares largest annual fundraising event. 

Before joining CMC, Phillips held roles in the hospitality industry ranging from kitchen manager to director of sales for national hotel brands such as Hyatt, Sheraton and Westin. Bryant honed his hospitality and culinary skills at Johnson and Wales University in Charleston, South Carolina and has a passion for food!