Our Founder, Karen McDonald, CMCA, AMS, PCAM, RS
Karen McDonald, CMCA, AMS, PCAM, RS started in the community association industry in 2001. Prior to becoming a reserve study provider, she spent 15 years in the community management industry, with a portion of this time also managing rental properties. Her experience working with community associations is vast, with a strong background in bookkeeping, budgeting and building maintenance and administration. She founded Accurate Reserve Professionals, LLC to provide community associations with affordable, high quality reserve studies.
Due to her extensive management experience, Karen bridges the gap between community associations and their reserve studies and brings a reasonable, whole minded approach to the studies she prepares. As a former board member and President of her prior HOA, she understands the challenges that properly funding the reserve account can pose for some communities and works to find a solution which will assist the client in reaching their reserve funding goals. She has worked with both community associations and other entities (private clubs, water systems, etc.) throughout Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana and has prepared over 1,000 studies in her career.
Karen holds a degree in Business Management from Western Washington University, with a concentration in small business entrepreneurship. She holds multiple management and reserve study provider credentials through Community Associations Institute, including the Certified Manager of Community Associations (CMCA), Association Management Specialist (AMS), Professional Community Association Manager (PCAM) and Reserve Specialist (RS). She is dedicated to continuing education and regularly attends relevant classes and seminars.
Karen has been very active in the Washington State Chapter of Community Associations Institute (WSCAI), which is one of the largest chapters in the organization. She sat on the Chapter's Board of Directors from 2015 to 2020, and was honored to serve as the Chapter's President in 2019. She has been involved in Chapter committee work since 2011, having served on the Communications, Market Expansion, Membership and Social Committees. She was also the editor of the WSCAI Journal for several years during this time. Karen was honored to be awarded the WSCAI Volunteer of the Year Award in 2013, the Presidents Award in 2015 and the Volunteer of the Year Award again in 2018.
A knowledgeable resource for many things community association related, Karen is a frequent author and speaker at seminars, college classes, trade shows and at private events hosted by management companies for their staff and/or clientele.
Outside of the office, Karen resides on a 19 acre hobby farm with her husband and a collection of farm animals.
WSCAI Board of Directors
2015 – Treasurer
2016 – Treasurer
2017 – Vice President
2018 – President-elect
2019 – President
2020 – Immediate Past President
Community Associations Institute Education
M100 – The Essentials of Community Association Management
M201 – Facilities Management
M202 – Association Communications
M203 – Community Leadership
M204 – Community Governance
M205 – Risk Management
M206 – Financial Management
PCAM Case Study
M320 - High Rise Maintenance & Management
M360 – Leadership Practices in Building Community
2018 National Convention Attendee
2019 National Convention Attendee
2024 National Convention Attendee
Shanna Berlanga, Project Manager
Shanna Berlanga joined Accurate Reserve Professionals, LLC in 2023. Having owned a condominium unit that went through a major special assessment that included deck and siding remediation projects, Shanna fully understands the challenges that underfunded reserves pose to many communities. Shanna has a strong technical skillset and her background includes customer service, bookkeeping, budgeting and administrative support for a large management company. Her attention to detail and prompt communication are an asset to the associations she serves. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Washington and is a regular volunteer for her children’s schools and PTSA, previously having volunteered for a number of non-profit organizations. Outside of the office Shanna enjoys gardening and spending time with her family.
Dawn Clark, Project Manager
Dawn Clark joined Accurate Reserve Professionals, LLC in 2023 following 20 years in the property management industry. Her extensive experience inspecting properties, both interior and exterior, brings attention to detail in the site visits she performs. Dawn is well versed in maintenance best practices having arranged and provided oversight for routine maintenance and repairs all the way to complete replacement projects for the properties she managed. Dawn is a natural leader and previously served as a corporate board member. She holds an associate degree in Arts and Science and volunteering is near and dear to her heart having volunteered for a number of non-profit organizations, including serving as a board member who was responsible for budget preparation. Outside of the office Dawn enjoys hiking, reading, puzzling and while no green thumb, working in her yard and garden beds.