Successful community builders since 1994

Ralph and Jenny Gelder incorporated ECAM in June 1994. At the time they lived in the Sandestin community and Ralph was the President of the homeowners association in which they lived. In his dealings with the management companies of the day, it dawned on Ralph that managing an association could have a more customized service with the personal touch of a family business. A lack of competition in the area didn’t allow for many options in selecting a management company. He felt that his experience in being a Board President, coupled with his previous careers in the public utilities and banking industry, would bring fresh ideas a personal touch to association management. Ralph and Jenny sat around their dinner table and laid out the framework for ECAM, a company based around the values of education, communication, timeliness and family values.

In 1995 Ralph got his 1st management contract, an association within Sandestin. Two more management contracts were signed later that year. Less than a year later in 1996, Hurricane Opal hit the Gulf Coast and devastated the Destin/Miramar Beach area.