Teresa Bosteter of Windermere Real Estate & Property Management in Bellingham recently earned the Association Management Specialist (AMS) designation from the Community Associations Institute.

Bosteter, who has been managing associations for more than 16 years, is one of more than 3,800 managers nationwide to earn the AMS designation.

To earn the designation, managers must have at least two years of experience in community association management, complete advanced course work and must have already earned the basic industry certification for managers — the Certified Manager of Community Associations credential.

Professional association managers provide administrative, operational and managerial counsel to community boards. They typically are responsible for managing budgets and contractors, directing association personnel, and overseeing compliance with association covenants and restrictions.

Approximately 50 million people live in the nation’s estimated 250,000 association-governed communities. Windermere Management oversees the operation and budgets for 22 community associations in Whatcom and Skagit counties.