Shows
Guilty by Association: The Vantaca PodcastThe Next Renaissance: Why the Physical World Wins in the AI EraIn the Season 3 premiere of Guilty by Association, host Ben Currin (CEO of Vantaca) sits down for a transformative conversation with Zack Kass, the former Head of Go-to-Market (GTM) at OpenAI.As the head of GTM during the launch of ChatGPT, who helped bridge the gap between OpenAI’s research and the global launch of ChatGPT, Zack provides a unique, techno-optimist perspective on the future of work and community. This episode explores the core thesis of Zack’s new book, The Next Renaissance (released Jan 13, 2026), and introduces the concept of "The Human Premium."In this epis...
2026-01-2034 min
Hard Calls with Trisha PriceThe Three Types of Hard Calls Every Product Leader FacesIt's the first week of a new year. You're looking at your roadmap, your team, your strategy - and you're realizing something: You need to make some hard decisions. The thing is, the hardest calls aren’t deciding what features to build.Rather, it's likely determining who on the team comes with you on the journey. Or deciding which products to sunset, even if they're generating revenue. Or it's making the choice to bet everything on a new direction.In this special compilation episode of Hard Calls, host Trisha Price brings together the three ty...
2026-01-0628 min
Guilty by Association: The Vantaca PodcastLead Better, Live Better: Community Management Insights with Sarah HudsonToday on Guilty by Association, Kathleen sits down with Sarah Hudson (Director of Continuous Improvement at Inframark)—a self-described problem solver who has literally spent half her life in this industry. Sarah traces her path from temporary admin to PM lead to CI director, and shares how project management principles, tiny habits, and a renewed focus on wellness can transform the way we lead at work and live at home.They dig into building an onboarding program from scratch, why “progress over perfection” beats all-or-nothing health kicks, how to start with low-hanging-fruit habits (water, steps, smarter takeout), and th...
2025-09-3045 minHard Calls with Trisha PriceDaring to Think Differently About AI Will Lead to Real OutcomesVantaca is bringing AI innovation to an industry in desperate need of disruption - community management or HOAs. Vantaca CEO, Ben Currin joins Trisha Price in this episode of Hard Calls and talks about how Vantaca is wrapping AI and agentic workflows into traditional SaaS software to improve the way we work with each other and agents.Product leaders from any industry will gain great insights into how to think differently about their AI projects. You’ll hear about the lessons learned when the team goes all in on letting go of old mindsets, processes, and sunk co...
2025-09-0942 minGuilty by Association: The Vantaca PodcastRecruiting That Retains: How CAM Leaders Can Build Scalable, High-Performing TeamsHost: Maegen Woytek, Director of Community Engagement at VantacaGuest: Adoni Kokkinos, CEO of Newell Property Management, Naples, FLEpisode Overview:In this episode of Guilty by Association, Maegen Woytek chats with Adoni Kokkinos, CEO of Newell Property Management, about one of the toughest challenges facing community management companies today: finding—and keeping—great people.Adoni shares how his team recruits new talent directly from universities across the country, and how they use location, culture, and career pathing to sell not just the job, but the lifestyle of community management. From trai...
2025-08-2247 minGuilty by Association: The Vantaca PodcastReal Talk from the Front Lines of HOA Operations with Catie MarksIn this episode of Guilty by Association, Maegan Woytek sits down with Catie Marks, President at May Management, to talk about the real-world side of running a high-performing HOA management team.With over a decade of experience in community management, Catie shares her journey from portfolio manager to president—and the lessons she’s learned along the way about building trust, optimizing workflows, and keeping people at the heart of every decision.🔍 What you’ll learn in this episode:How Catie structures processes to improve team performanceWhy communication, consistency, and documentation are make-or-breakThe power of listen...
2025-08-0633 min
Cape Fear Business RoundtableLisa Leath, Chief People Officer at VantacaThis week's guest is Lisa Leath, Chief People Officer at Vantaca, founder of Leath HR, and past board chair of the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce.
2025-07-0935 minGuilty by Association: The Vantaca PodcastAccelerating Performance in CAM: The Agentic AI AdvantageIn this episode of Guilty By Association, we sit down with Haoyu Zha, the founder of HOAi, to explore the inspiring origin story of how a frustrated HOA board member turned his pain points into purpose—and ultimately, innovation. From a hands-on journey managing communities to launching an AI-driven assistant designed to streamline operations, Hao reveals how HOAi went from a bold idea to a transformational technology now embedded within Vantaca. Learn how this next-gen AI agent is not just automating processes, but enabling management companies to shift from reactive task-handling to proactive, relationship-focused service de...
2025-07-0129 minGuilty by Association: The Vantaca PodcastLegacy Meets Innovation: How EJF Is Leading the Next Era of Community ManagementEpisode Summary:In this episode of Guilty by Association, Eddie Key sits down with Peter Greaves, Founder and CEO of EJF Real Estate Services, to explore how one of the most respected names in community management is scaling operations, transforming culture, and leading the charge into the AI-driven future of the industry.From humble beginnings answering phones during college to building a multi-market, culture-first company, Peter shares the story behind EJF’s growth, leadership philosophy, and intentional approach to acquisitions. He offers an unfiltered look at how to scale with purpose, preserve values through expansion, an...
2025-05-2927 minGuilty by Association: The Vantaca PodcastRecruiting in Community Management Strategies for SuccessIn this episode of Guilty by Association, host Eddie Key sits down with seasoned recruiting expert Sam Morton to explore what it really takes to attract and retain top-tier talent in the community management industry.From overcoming burnout and boosting candidate engagement to refining your interview process and understanding what today's job seekers really want—this episode is packed with actionable insights for anyone building or scaling a team. Whether you're an owner/operator, HR leader, or community management professional, you’ll walk away with real-world strategies to strengthen your recruiting game and elevate your team’s perfor...
2025-04-2135 min
HR NightmaresAI in the Workplace: Friend or Foe?Welcome to Season 4 of HR Nightmares. Today, Lisa Leath (Chief People Officer at Vantaca), Beth Looney (Senior Consultant at Leath HR Group), and Amy Conway (Senior Consultant at Leath HR Group) tackle artificial intelligence in the workplace. Is AI revolutionizing business or threatening jobs? Let's find out. Our hosts examine how differently businesses are adopting AI tools—from hesitant small companies to organizations seeing dramatic productivity gains. The conversation shifts to practical AI applications in HR and business operations, revealing how these tools are transforming everything from administrative tasks to complex assessments. Su...
2025-04-0335 minGuilty by Association: The Vantaca PodcastHow AI Is Redefining the Future of Community ManagementThe AI Revolution in Community Association ManagementIn this episode of 'Guilty by Association,' Eddie Key and Ben Currin, CEO of Vantaca, delve into the impact of AI on community association management. The discussion covers the historical evolution of community management technology, from basic general ledgers to today's advanced AI solutions. They explore how AI can transform workflows, enhance human capabilities, and redefine community management. Key topics include the role of AI agents, the potential for job transformation rather than loss, and practical examples of AI in use. Ben emphasizes a future of greater productivity and...
2025-03-2726 min
HOA - It's A True Story PodcastThe Next Evolution of AI Hits HOAs #197Host Regan Brown and Bill Mann, President of GB Group Construction & Painting, sit down with Kelly Zibell, Senior Vice President of Communitas, to discuss the recent Vantaca conference, which centered on HOA management software and the integration of AI tools. Kelly provides valuable insights into the conference highlights, including the educational tracks offered, and explores how advancements in AI are driving greater efficiency in community management.Chapters00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Guests01:08 Overview of the Conference Attended02:07 Insights on AI Integration in HOA Management05:35 AI Tools and Their Applications
2025-01-0731 min
The HOA Pros Podcast#165 - Maegan WoytekMaegan Woytek, Director of Community Engagement with Vantaca, joins us all the way from Texas—she flew in just for the podcast!
We dive into her incredible journey in the community management industry, starting as a receptionist (thanks to her mom!) and climbing the ladder to eventually join the vendor side in banking.
💡 Learn about HOAi—Vantaca’s groundbreaking AI integration—plus get the scoop on Who is Vantaca? and the secrets to building your personal brand.
Maegan also shares her gratitude for the many industry professionals who’ve impacted her journey—too many to name!
2024-12-111h 07
The Turn Your Life Around Podcast#073 Wilmington’s Rising Star: Leadership and Growth with Lisa LeathIn this episode, Lisa opens up about the challenges and rewards of being a female entrepreneur, the importance of having a supportive partner, and the strategies she uses to manage her time and priorities. She also discusses her passion for economic development and her role in shaping the future of Wilmington's business community.
Timestamps:
[00:00:00] Introduction to Lisa Leath
[00:01:00] Lisa’s journey to Wilmington and entrepreneurship
[00:05:00] The story behind starting Leath HR Group
[00:08:00] The challenges of balancing work and family life
[00:11:00] The importance of setting boundaries
[00:15:00] Lessons learned from starting a tech company
[00:19:00] The drive behind creating Va...
2024-10-3048 minHOA - It's A True Story PodcastEPISODE#186: ACAM Industry Association GroupHost Regan Brown and Kelly Zibell, Senior Vice President of Communitas, sit down with Maegan Woytek, President of ACAM and Director of Community Engagement at Vantaca. They discuss the role of ACAM, a unique association group that unites management company owners, operators, and business partners to share best practices and promote industry collaboration. Maegan also sheds light on ACAM's impact within the industry and its ongoing initiatives.Chapters00:00 Introduction and Background03:01 How Megan Got Involved in ACAM09:12 What is ACAM?14:01 ACAM Retreat and Tuesday Talks18:53...
2024-09-1737 min
Net 30Unveiling the Challenges and Priorities in Community Association ManagementHost Jarrett Tran, senior account executive, Community Association Management at AvidXchange and Maegan Woytek, a senior account executive at Vantaca, discuss the findings of AvidXchange’s recent survey conducted with the Community Associations Institute (CAI) on the challenges and priorities of today’s community association management companies.
Both Tran and Woytek have worked as community association managers, bringing decades of experience to their current roles. Now, they help businesses in the industry implement technology to effectively streamline and scale operations.
Listen to this episode to find out the top community association management challenges in 2023 and the priorities com...
2024-09-0931 min
C-Suite Sales & Marketing PerspectivesThought Leadership: The Sales Enablement Machine💡 Marina Devalia, CMO at Vantaca and founder of Playbook Lab, discusses the need for marketers to evolve and take on a more strategic role within organizations. She encourages marketers to be brave and assertive in their approach. She also emphasizes the importance of unpacking the buyer's journey and identifying the touchpoints where thought leadership content can have the most significant impact. 💡"I'm a huge fan of training your sales force, your sales team, not only to use the content appropriately, which already validates them as points of authority and knowledge in the industry, but also to elevate them t...
2024-07-1026 min
The Modern RecruiterThe Modern Recruiter #75: From Professional Soccer to Recruiting, Jared Watts, Director of Talent @ VantacaHello everyone,In this episode of The Modern Recruiter, I had a great conversation with Jared Watts, a former professional soccer player turned recruiter. I’m always a big fan of mixing different fields, so I was excited to learn how the skills and mindset from professional sport (in this case soccer or - as we like to call it in France - football) can be useful in recruiting.Here are some of the key takeaways from our discussion:1/ How to apply an athletic mindset to recruiting Jared emphasized the importance of...
2024-07-0237 min
Recruiting TrailblazersJared Watts: How Sports Psychology Can Transform Your Success as a RecruiterSend us a textIn this episode, Marcus Edwardes speaks with Jared Watts, Director of Talent at Vantaca, a community-managed performance software company based in North Carolina.Previously, Jared worked on the agency side in executive search and spent five years playing professional soccer in the MLS. He played for both the Colorado Rapids and the Houston Dynamo, and was the 33rd overall pick in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft.He captained the Under 17 World Cup team in Nigeria and he won the 2018 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup when he was playing at Houston...
2023-02-2447 minHR NightmaresTaking DEI Out of BoxesThis week, HR Nightmares host, Lisa Leath is joined by guest co-host Graham Elmore, Director of People and Culture with Vantaca. They are joined by our special guest Caroline King, Founder of Bright Star Diversity. After 17 years working in business strategy for the corporate world, Caroline decided she wanted to help businesses fill the gap that she felt was lacking in the working world: DEI. Lisa continues the conversation around diversity, equity, and inclusion by asking Caroline how businesses can go beyond a check-box initiative, where to start if you have no programs or policies in place, and how...
2023-02-0841 minHR NightmaresSearching for Top Talent? Put Your Marketing Hat OnThis week, Alexis Hunter, the Community Liaison of Wilmington Heath, joins Lisa Leath, Chief of People of Vantaca, and Andy Almeter, President of Leath HR Group. Alexis shared how her Public Relations degree paired with her experience as a Practice Manager (who wore the hat of HR, Marketing, PR, and Operations), has helped her in her current role - connecting internal people and resources with external resources. The group dives into how putting a marketing hat on when searching for new talent can help you stand out – on LinkedIn, in person, at community events, etc. Lisa shares how a si...
2023-01-2546 minHR NightmaresShould Offshore Software + Technology Scare People?How does the future of software look? More talk about keeping software jobs onshore! Wayne Hippo, Managing Partner of PS Solutions joins HR Nightmares hosts, Lisa Leath, Chief of People of Vantaca, and Amy Conway, Sr. HR Consultant of Leath HR Group to discuss the power of keeping our jobs onshore (software and IT especially). The group also dives into the employee experience starting with the hiring process and how many companies often “sacrifice the excellent for the perfect”. Wayne has been a huge fan of non-traditional hiring and giving people a chance. Once you have the “hire the attitude, train the ski...
2022-11-0252 minHR NightmaresTake the Meat and Leave The BonesThis week on HR Nightmares, Chakema Clinton-Quintana, VP- Inclusive Small Business at Live Oak Bank joins HR Nightmares hosts, Amy Conway, Leath HR Group, and Lisa Leath, Vantaca. The ladies discuss how a fairly new small business resource center, Channel, powered by Live Oak Bank helps connects small businesses to the Wilmington community. Chakema explains the importance of educating small business owners about financial literacy, capital resources, and compliance. Some small business owners are unsure how to start, where to start, or how to continue to grow. This episode will help small business owners answer some of those questions and...
2022-10-1948 min
Wilmington Chamber of CommerceWhy should you get involved with the Wilmington Chamber?This week, we sat down with two of our Executive Committee members, Jim Hundley (Thomas Construction) and Lisa Leath (Vantaca/Leath HR), to chat about the benefits of joining the chamber. Tune in to learn about all things from networking and leadership development to our Chairman’s Club.
2022-10-1219 min
Guilty by Association: The Vantaca PodcastThe Secrets of StaffingAfter experiencing the difficulties of hiring and retaining qualified staff while running a community association management organization, Rob Buffington of Gordian Staffing became his own first customer when he deciding to scale his business using remote team members. Now, five years and 300 employees later his company is focused on helping other community association management companies address their staffing needs with remote team members. Guilty By Association cohosts Shelly DeAntonio and BD Snow pick Rob’s brain on all things staffing, how to get the most out of a remote team member, and the best ways to set new employees up...
2022-10-1052 minHR NightmaresCybersecurity is an HR Nightmare all people leaders need to talk aboutRobbie Garner, CEO of Atlantic Computer Services joins Lisa Leath, CPO of Vantaca and Gabbi Plumez from Leath HR Group for Cybersecurity Awareness Month. In this episode, we discuss how costly cyber attacks can be for businesses of all sizes. Lisa, Gabbi and Robbie share some of the horror stories from their own personal experience and how they had to help businesses recover from an attack on their digital systems. Not only is it important to keep your payroll, account, software systems safe but it is also important to keep your people safe, especially as the working world continues...
2022-10-0545 min
Guilty by Association: The Vantaca PodcastFull Speed Ahead with Vantaca CEO Ben CurrinIn a change of trajectory, Vantaca CEO Ben Currin went from serving as a nuclear engineer on an attack sub in the U.S. Navy to piloting the rocket ship to the moon that is Vantaca. Guilty By Association Co-Hosts Shelly DeAntonio and B.D. Snow spend time with Currin chatting about his time in the military, the transition to civilian life, and what attracted him to Vantaca and the community association management industry. Currin also discusses where he sees certain trends in the industry going and Vantaca’s vision, along with some great book and podcast recommendations.
2022-09-2638 min
Guilty by Association: The Vantaca PodcastBalancing the Old with the NewBalancing the Old with the NewHow do you balance processes that have worked in the past with new emerging technologies that help a community run more efficiently? Ricky Zilem, VP of Business Development with PS Property Management in Austin, Texas, stops by the Guilty By Association studio to chat about the questions community management associations are asking themselves, and new tech solutions emerging in the CAM industry. Cohosts Shelly DeAntonio and BD Snow also become the interviewees when answering Zilem's questions about how Vantaca approaches our relationship with community association management companies.
2022-09-1250 min
Guilty by Association: The Vantaca PodcastFrom Customer to Customer Success ManagerVantaca Customer Success Manager Stacey Kruse joins Guilty by Association: The Vantaca Podcast to chat with co hosts Shelly DeAntonio and BD Snow about her experience with Vantaca both as a customer and an employee. Having personally experienced the implementation process for Vantaca while working at a community association management company, Kruse talks about how understanding where our clients are coming from has helped her in her role as a customer success manager. The Vantaca team also dives into change management, working through the different laws in each state, working remotely, and the best HOA violation she's seen.
2022-08-2922 min
Guilty by Association: The Vantaca PodcastManagement with Service in MindCustomer service can mean many things to many people. To Chris Morales, Director of Workflow at Heritage Property Management Services in Atlanta, Georgia, customer service is of the utmost importance when working in the community association management industry. Guilty by Association cohosts Shelly DeAntonio and BD Snow sit down with Chris to chat about her career journey, her customer service philosophy, and the importance of education in the CAM industry at every level—from community managers to homeowners and board members.
2022-08-0129 min
That "L" WordPutting the “Human” Back in HRInviting another podcast host into the mix is always fun, but when someone with as much fire and spirit as Lisa joins Jody and Morgon you never know what will be said! Lisa is the HR Queen of Wilmington and recently took on the role as CPO for Vantaca making her the PERFECT person to discuss conflict and provide tips for leaders and team members in navigating difficult waters. She shares some great HR stories and several terms we had to write down and look up when no one was looking! Get in touch with Lisa here: https://www...
2022-08-0147 min
Guilty by Association: The Vantaca PodcastBanking on CAM: Trends and Insights in CAM BankingOn this episode of Guilty by Association, cohosts Shelly DeAntonio and BD Snow are joined by James Bradley, Director of Business Development Strategy with Association Prime. Having spent time in many sectors of the community association management industry, banker Bradley provides his unique look at the trends and insights around the relationship between community association management companies and their banks.Guilty by Association: The Vantaca Podcast is available for streaming on Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Podcast, and More!
2022-07-1840 min
Guilty by Association: The Vantaca PodcastWin as a Team: The Importance of People & CultureAnyone who has spent time around a Vantaca employee will tell you -- we're big on company culture. Vantaca Director of People and Culture, Graham Elmore, stops by the Guilty by Association studio to chat with hosts Shelly DeAntonio and BD Snow about the lengths to which the Vantaca team has gone to build that winning company culture and the importance of finding the right people. As someone who was previously an elementary school principal, Graham also chats about his path to Vantaca and how some of the people management strategies he learned in the classroom apply to the...
2022-07-1129 min
Guilty by Association: The Vantaca PodcastEngineering Success with Vantaca Co-Founder Dave SweyerGuilty By Association and host Shelly DeAntonio have a special guest on this week — Vantaca co-founder Dave Sweyer. In addition to being the co-founder of Vantaca, Dave is also the co-owner of CAMS, an industry leader in community association management since 1991. CAMS is headquartered in Wilmington, NC, with locations across the Carolinas. An engineer at heart, Dave chats with Shelly about everything from what led him to the CAM industry, to the founding of Vantaca and valuable lessons learned along the way about facilitating change management, building successful teams, and the importance of asking the right questions.
2022-06-2726 min
Guilty by Association: The Vantaca PodcastEvery Super Hero Has an Origin Story: How Vantaca BeganHow did Vantaca come to exist? What deficiencies were there in the community association management industry that led our founders to build a better solution? Two of Vantaca’s original employees—Greg Rohde, Chief Growth Officer, and Lauren Godwin, Chief Customer Officer—talk about the early days of Vantaca, the impetus to create the software, and their own journeys within the CAM industry. Host Shelly DeAntonio dives into the past, present and future of Vantaca with Greg and Lauren.
2022-06-2121 minGuilty by Association: The Vantaca PodcastFinding the Pulse, the next step, AcquisitionsHow can your previous career in a different industry help you become successful in a different industry? Scott Wolf, owner of Brigs in the Greater Boston Area, has a rich history in the hospitality industry that has molded himself and his company's core values. From learning customer service standards from one of the leading hospitality chains in the world he believes that understanding how to service the client and provide top quality service is what has allowed Brigs to evolve year after year while acquiring other companies. Scott chats with BD and Shelly about the...
2022-06-1335 minGuilty by Association: The Vantaca PodcastThe book of Komatsu Hosted by: BD Snow and Shelly DeAntonioEvelyn Dufford with Association Services of Washington joins BD Snow and Shelly DeAntonio to chat about how the pandemic affected our industry, board education, areas of focus, and the infamous “Book of Komatsu.” Learn how the Association Services of Washington pivoted during and after the pandemic with their employees and their clients. How has the pandemic changed the landscape for where people live, and will they commute to work? How were receivables impacted due to the pandemic? While the day-to-day hustle of running a management company embodies many moving parts, Evelyn and her team came up w...
2022-06-0631 minGuilty by Association: The Vantaca PodcastHOA after dark, the first client, the OG Hosted by: BD Snow and Shelly DeAntonioWhat is it like to be the first client on new software in the industry? Lisa Turner with Silver Leaf Management Company in Loganville, Georgia sits down with BD Snow and Shelly DeAntonio to peel back the layers of the transition and evolution of Vantaca. Lisa takes us through Silver Leaf’s 5-year journey with Vantaca and how it has impacted her company, employees, and board members. Lisa also lets us in on some of her strangest violations yet, HOA after dark….
2022-05-3043 minGuilty by Association: The Vantaca PodcastGet comfortable with being uncomfortable, the evolution Hosted by BD Snow and Shelly DeAntonioFrom IT to property manager, to Executive of PRM Chicago; Niall Dempsey taps into the importance of technology in the Community Management industry. Technology has allowed PRM Chicago to have an employee work-life balance, efficient training, analyzing data, and recruiting. Vantaca’s software has allowed Niall and PRM Chicago to customize workflows, and dictate the software for his company and not have the software dictate the company.
2022-05-1030 min
REFLECT the Life You WantSuccess in Transition and in Creating Culture with Ben Currin, CEO of VantacaBen Currin is CEO of Vantaca. Vantaca's software and services deliver real ROI for association management companies while engaging and empowering the communities they serve. Created with the user in mind, Vantaca software is where mobility, up-to-the-minute data, reporting, and analytics come together to deliver 360° value to the community association management industry. As CEO, Ben's focus has been on building a successful company with a thriving culture that improves the lives and businesses of Vantaca's customers. Ben has been a member of Vantaca's leadership team since 2017, serving in various executive-level strategy and ope...
2022-03-2532 min
Signal Fire RadioSubmariner vs. Submarine(r)Episode 42: Submariner vs. Submarine(r)From Midshipmen to CEO. Ben Currin dove into a nomination at the Naval Academy to graduate as a Nuclear Officer and then forged a career in command positions aboard various nuclear submarine platforms. Ben transitioned from the navy and had the hindsight to be one of the first hires at a company he’s now CEO of. Ben shares insane leadership insights that brought him to where he’s at today, in a company forged around culture and authenticity.Connect with Ben: https://www.vantaca.comFind us on L...
2021-11-2251 min