Meet a Lifesaving Community Manager

By Laura Otto
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From left to right, Amy Morrison, executive director of CAI’s North Carolina Chapter and Christina Yepes

Christina Yepes embodies the true spirit of what it means to help your community and neighbor.

Yepes recently received the Susan Rouanzion Spirit of Community award, which recognizes a community manager who exemplifies exceptional dedication to the profession, grace under pressure, and a profound commitment to fostering community.

Introduced at the 2025 Community Associations Institute North Carolina Annual Conference and Expo, the award honors the memory of Susan Rouanzion, who was a vital contributor to the chapter and the community association industry.

The inaugural award was presented to Yepes, a community manager with Slatter Management who performed lifesaving CPR on a homeowner who went into cardiac arrest during a board meeting.

“Yepes recognized the severity of the situation, and intervened with remarkable speed and clarity,” says Amy Morrison, executive director of CAI’s North Carolina Chapter.

Yepes immediately assumed control of the situation, delivering precise instructions, and administering crucial CPR until paramedics reached the scene.

“I am happy to say that following successful surgery, the board member is on the road to recovery, thanks in very large part to the manager’s courageous and decisive response,” says Morrison. “Her actions, coupled with her evident care for community members, not only saved his life, but serve as a powerful illustration of why she is so deserving of this award.

Celebrate your community and your profession with CAI’s Love Where You Live and Love Where You Work campaigns. We’re highlighting the people and moments that make community association living and management meaningful. Whether it’s a neighborhood event, a volunteer project, or a story about the professionals who make it all possible, your stories show what makes communities thrive.

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Laura Otto

Laura Otto is the Senior Editor of Digital Content at CAI. A seasoned journalist, Laura previously worked for a creative, advocacy agency in Washington, D.C., where she wrote and edited content for a variety of public health clients. Prior to that, Laura served as a senior writer and editor for the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences. Laura is a graduate of Temple University in Philadelphia.