Bill Kress Interviews Rafael P. Aquino, Co-Founder & CEO of Affinity Management Services

Rafael loves nothing more than developing relationships with clients. Working with a combination of pride and joy that is contagious, Rafael is perfectly suited to attract new clients and enhance relationships with existing ones. His engineering degree from Florida International University has equipped him with the skills to manage the multiple challenges of community association management—understanding that each property is unique, he tailors specific services to assure that all their needs are met. He is so driven to succeed that when he’s not in the office, he’s often training with friends for his next event: a half-marathon in Orlando, a full marathon right here in Miami, or perhaps an Ironman triathlon in Brazil.

Most recently, Bill held the post of communications manager/PIO for the Village of Palmetto Bay after serving more than 20 years in corporate communications management with the airline industry and hospitality. Today, as a seasoned communicator, he taps from a deep reserve of skills in journalism, photography, and long-form content to support multiple clients across South Florida. He is also a contract reporter/editor with local print and online publications.

Drawn to Miami as a young man right out of college in the mid ‘80s, this is where his career began, initially in journalism and then in organizational PR. After traveling to nearly 30 countries and living in seven different states, coast to coast, Bill returned in 2008 to re-establish life here.

He has strong ties with the local news media, business leaders, community figures, and municipal officials – as well as close relationships with PR peers and collaborators throughout Miami-Dade County. Also, worthy of note: The Minority Chamber of Commerce named Kress Communications Best PR Firm of the Year 2016.

Connect with Rafael and Bill on LinkedIn

Interview questions:

Q1: Can you please give us an overview of Affinity Management Services? How was it started?

Q2: Can you tell us a bit about your story? How did you end up in the property management field?

Q3: As you know, we’re in hurricane season right now and everyone wants to know how they can prepare. Can you share a few tips for homeowners here in South Florida?

Q4: Thank you for those tips, Rafael! I want to chat a little bit about the recent condo legislation. Can you share -in plain terms – what the new legislation requires of HOAs and how it impacts residents?

Q5: Do you think we can expect more reforms in the near future regarding condo safety?

Q6: Thanks, Rafael. You’ve given us a lot to think about. I want to move into budget season, which is quickly approaching. Do you have any tips for HOAs that are preparing for the budget season?

Q7: What are some ways that Affinity Management Services can help HOAs that may be struggling with budget season prep and adhering to the recent condo legislation?

Rafael Aquino and Pedro Garcia began Affinity Management Services in 2007 with a specific goal in mind: providing comprehensive, reliable management services in order to ease the burdens of board members, residents, and property owners. Rafael and Pedro are each fully credentialed and well-educated in multiple areas of community association management. At Affinity, we pride ourselves on these comprehensive qualifications—it’s one more indication of our devotion to the business and our commitment to your community association. With backgrounds in a variety of disciplines—everything from property development and engineering to accounting and IT, we’re able to pool our skills into a well-rounded, team-oriented approach.