Contributors

Dawn M. Bauman has worked for CAI for nearly 20 years at both the international and chapter level. Bauman and her team have produced nearly fifty public policy initiatives impacting the community associations housing model— including policies on Fair Housing, pets and assistance animals, and the removal of racially restrictive covenants.

She is frequently sourced in U.S. and international media outlets, including— The Wall Street Journal, U.S. News & World Report, The Washington Post, and Bankrate, on community association housing topics.

Bauman works directly with CAI’s 36 state Legislative Action Committees (LACs) and The College of Community Association Lawyers (CCAL) to further CAI’s mission—promoting effective leadership and responsible citizenship in homeowners associations and condominium communities. CAI’s LACs and CCAL fellows are considered industry experts and are often leaders in providing model language used in current legislation and regulations throughout the U.S. For the past eight years, Bauman has delivered dozens of education programs and presentations pertaining to legislative and legal trends shaping community associations, Fair Housing, and assistance animals during CAI’s annual CEO-MC Retreat hosting 300 of the world’s leading community association management chief executive officers.

She is an annual presenter at CAI’s Annual Conference and Exposition: Community NOW, attended by 2,000 homeowner leaders, community managers, and business partners where she delivers the latest education, resources, and information about legislative and regulatory topics shaping the community associations housing model.

In 2021, as the executive director of the Foundation for Community Association Research, Bauman led the research committee’s mission to better understand diversity and inclusion in today’s community associations. Following a survey, The Foundation published the exclusive full report, “Creating Harmony in Diverse Communities,” detailing the survey findings and recommendations for CAI to create new education and programming for its membership and the public.

​

Phoebe E. Neseth, Esq. serves as CAI’s Vice President of Government Relations, Public Affairs & Legal at CAI and is a licensed attorney specializing in government relations, public affairs, and legal advocacy for the community association housing model. In this role, Phoebe leads CAI’s advocacy efforts at the local, state, and federal levels, directing strategic public policy initiatives, leading legislative action committees, and overseeing legal programs and initiatives through CAI’s College of Community Association Lawyers (CCAL).

Since joining CAI shortly after law school in 2017, Phoebe has become a key voice in shaping public policy that impacts community association governance and the rights of millions of homeowners. She leads the Institute’s efforts to identify and track emerging legislative trends, collaborates with volunteer leaders and policymakers, and represents CAI on national advocacy platforms, including her appointment, to the American Society of Association Executives’ Advocacy Council, where she contributes to advancing government relations and policy strategies across the trade association community. She also serves as a co-chair of the national Women in Government Relations State Relations Task Force.

Before her tenure at CAI, Phoebe worked as a legislative consultant with a Maryland law firm, supporting trade associations and engaging with the Maryland General Assembly on legislative and policy matters. This early experience laid the foundation for her deep expertise in advocacy, public policy, and legislative strategy.

Phoebe holds a Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies from Pennsylvania State University and earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Baltimore School of Law. She is admitted to practice law in the state of Maryland and is based in Washington, D.C.

Tony Campisi, CAE joined Community Associations Institute in December 2003 as Executive Director of the Keystone Chapter, where he focused on board governance, leadership development, financial and membership growth, government affairs and innovative membership programs. During his tenure with the chapter, the association saw tremendous growth in membership, revenue and volunteer engagement. He was honored with the Chapter Executive Director Rising Star Award in 2007 and Chapter Executive Director of the Year Award in 2013.

In September 2025, Tony joined the CAI headquarters office as Director, Government & Public Affairs, where he works with CAI’s legislative action committees and advocates to advance sound public policies that support the community association housing model.

Tony graduated from Villanova University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Geography and a Master of Arts Degree in Political Science. He earned his Certified Association Executive (CAE) credential in June 2024 from the American Society of Association Executives.

Prior to joining CAI, Tony served as General Manager of MidLantic Business Alliance and was a staff member of the Office of Fiscal Review under Pennsylvania State Treasurer Catherine Baker Knoll. Tony has more than three decades of political campaign leadership and experience, including his own campaign for public office in 2001.

Elise Busse serves as Director of Government and Public Affairs for the Community Associations Institute, having joined the organization in 2025. Originally from Minnesota, now based in D.C., Elise brings a diverse background in government relations, having spent several years advocating for and representing local governments, nonprofits, private organizations, and labor unions at both the state and federal level. Her first work with CAI began in Minnesota, where she represented the organization at the State Capitol and supported state-level legislative initiatives.

In her current role, Elise advances state-level policy priorities, supports Legislative Action Committees nationwide, and coordinates lobbying strategies, legislative analysis, and grassroots engagement to strengthen and protect community associations across the county.

Elise holds a master’s degree in Public Policy from the University of Minnesota’s Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs as well as a Bachelor of Music from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities.

Marlee joined CAI in late 2024 as an experienced organizer and policy professional. In this role, she supports the team’s state and federal advocacy efforts and mobilizes advocates nationwide to participate in CAI’s grassroots advocacy campaigns. Prior to joining CAI, Marlee worked on public policy at several nonprofit organizations focusing on topics including higher education, social and racial justice, and reproductive rights. She also has experience managing campaigns to elect progressive candidates. She is a proud graduate of the University of Michigan (Go Blue!) and currently resides in Washington, D.C.

Ben joined CAI in 2022 and serves as the team’s lead for tracking local-level issues. He also assists with CAI’s many advocacy efforts at the state level, and is responsible for conducting research projects and assisting with the development of CAI Public Policies. Prior to joining CAI, Ben served as a legislative aide at the Montgomery County (Maryland) Council, where he drafted local legislation. Ben holds a Bachelor of Science in Political Science from Towson University, and a Master of Public Policy from University College Dublin. A Washington, D.C.-area native, Ben currently resides in Virginia.

Fekadu is the Senior Manager, Government & Public Affairs and PAC Compliance, and works with hundreds of volunteer leaders throughout the 50 states serving on CAI legislative action committees and CAI government affairs committees to advocate for strong and sensible public policy-impacting community associations.

As Senior Manager, of Government & Public Affairs and PAC Compliance, Fekadu is a liaison as well as a team leader and has been with the Community Associations Institute for over 20 years. Managing the Legislative Action Committees (LACs) nomination process, the Political Action Committee (PAC), and Lobbying reporting compliance and filing deadlines by ensuring CAI complies with the laws and regulations. Manage CAI Designation Code of Ethics Committee Docket and handle complaint inquiries and provide project management support for special projects at the direction of the SVP.

Fekadu holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration – Management from Colorado Technical University.