From Dreamer to Business Owner E3
Emmanuel and Angela welcome business owner Rita Chmiel onto the show to talk about what it takes to turn a dream into a business dedicated to educating and helping homeowners in her community and beyond.
Rita has a background in sales and has also worked with local communities and major corporations over the years researching sustainability in the landscaping sector. Her passion for championing environmental issues and advocating for others led her to business ownership.
She is now the owner of Community Resource Advocates (CRA), a business promoting green issues and supporting homeowners who are members of an HOA (Homeowner Association). Rita discusses how turning a dream into a business with purpose begins by stepping outside your comfort zone and following your heart.
Tune into this episode if you’re on an entrepreneurial journey and want to know what it takes to follow your dream, even when it gets tough. You’ll also pick up tips on choosing joy over fear, finding your “aha” moment in business, and turning your emotions into movement when you want to overcome resistance. Other highlights include the importance of perseverance and self-belief, even when you keep hearing the word “No.”
Community Resource Advocates’ mission is to provide information on the dynamics of owning a home in a HOA. Their goal is to educate all homeowners about their personal responsibility in living in a non-profit corporation as it is in Arizona, or as in other states purchasing into an organization of housing. These homes are yours to enjoy but also yours to protect.
By ignoring the responsibility of voting, you put your home at risk in market share, your community at risk in personal investment, and lose the ability to feel secure living in your own environment. 
They are an unbiased platform that will do all the research for Homeowners and Board members to find sustainable practices for all their assets but does not provide any service to carry out the work. We will help create a 5-year plan with a 10-year goal for all homeowners to have access to and will include the state educated list of sustainable trained contractors to perform the work. This platform will remove the biased behavior between contractors and property managers who are also just a service provider, a contractor.
Property managers are not educated in the terms or actions on what is considered sustainable, or the use of ‘best known practice’ for the communities’ assets. They rely on their peers to help find a contractor who may or may not follow what is considered protecting your assets versus demolishing them.
Community Resource Advocates will remove the burden from belief the property manager knows everything and gives the board members history to understand the costs for preservation and the goal for upkeep no matter who is in office or on the board.
Rita Chmiel purchased a house back in 2004 and has had multiple issues with the HOA management. Besides the lack of knowledgeable information on creating a plan for her community, there was not any understanding of the difference between conservation/preservation tactics versus damaging the community’s assets.
The contractors were just doing stuff that cost thousands of dollars but didn’t follow any recommendation by any educational research center our state has provided and in fact damaged the assets instead.
As the years went by, more and more neighbors chose to go on to the board with the promise to create change but were quickly engulfed into believing the property manager was right, and all the educational information was not necessary. Each board member went from friendly and hospitable to ignoring and retaliating tactics towards her that were suggested/recommended by the property manager.
It was obvious, the fear the board members carried making any decision without the property managers’ approval. They were overwhelmed with all the decisions needing to be made without any information given to them on how to protect, preserve, conserve the communities’ assets. All they are given is a spending budget and lead to believe the decisions they were guided towards making were the right ones to make, and to trust the contractors the property managers brought in to use.
The HOA industry has become the largest corporation/organization that affects 70% of all homeowners but is managed without any education in sustainable practices nor are they given any information of proactive measures in creating a 5-year plan with a 10-year goal.
Working with two other global institutions, BOMA and IFMA it was apparent all other major corporations are required to have this plan to justify the costs to the shareholders/ homeowners. HOA’s are not required to create a plan, nor are they required to follow any plan to protect the communities’ assets.
The HOA industry has become the most uneducated, free-for-all for contractors, under the disguise of maintenance at the expense of homeowners who have no place to go for help. Rita will change this.
About Your Hosts
Emmanuel Williams, CEO and co-founder, DetailXPerts
With a background in engineering, Emmanuel built DetailXPerts around a sophisticated steam cleaning process that saves water and sanitizes.
As a leading authority on green cleaning practices, Emmanuel has dedicated his career to promoting environmentally friendly cleaning methods in the auto detailing and commercial cleaning industries.
He is also passionate about supporting local communities and mentoring entrepreneurs seeking sustainable franchise opportunities.
Angela Williams, President and co-founder, DetailXPerts
Angela has a deep understanding of business and all things entrepreneur related. Her expertise includes Information Technology, Financial Systems, and Accounting.
She is a certified Project Management Professional, too. Her insights and experience drive the success of DetailXPerts, a thriving eco brand. Angela is always active in an evolving business landscape, from championing green tech to building strong client relationships. She’s also dedicated to mentoring franchisees from startup to success.
Together, Emmanuel and Angela bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table and are excited about talking to other entrepreneurs and leaders who share their passion for inspiring listeners on More Details, Please.
About Our Sponsor
DetailXPerts is a mobile detailing, truck wash, and commercial cleaning company that brings eco-friendly and efficient services to socially conscious customers. Its unique steam cleaning technology guarantees a deeper clean and continues to drive innovation in three competitive markets.
The company started as a steam cleaning car wash in 2002 and established its first car wash franchise in 2008. Now DetailXPerts has franchise units operating nationwide and in other water-stricken areas in the world.
At DetailXPerts’ core is the triple bottom-line philosophy of people, planet, and profits. Every day, the company strives hard to make the world a better, greener place while providing jobs to those in need and earning some profit in the process.
The company motto is “We bring a greener clean”. And it fulfils its promise thanks to green tech, mobile units, and on-demand services prioritizing customer convenience and sustainability.
Follow DetailXPerts on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
JJ Levenske is a seasoned construction executive with over 30 years of experience in the commercial and industrial sectors. From pre-construction services to complex quality controls and close-outs, he brings a commitment to delivering the highest levels of professionalism and customer service.
Robert Johnson is a knowledgeable construction professional with over 40 years of experience. His experience ranges from residential to the commercial and industrial sectors.
