Susan Knox Wilson
Every year, the PebbleCreek Homeowners Association Election Committee is charged with finding candidates who are interested in running for PebbleCreek’s Board of Directors. The volunteer position is for a two-year term that begins in January.
“Serving as part of the board is something to be proud of,” commented Cliff Crooks, Election Committee Chairman. “But it is not a position that everyone is cut out to assume, nor do they necessarily want to assume. There is a great deal of responsibility that comes with guiding our HOA, but also a lot of reward. But before you throw your hat in the ring, you might consider what a former board member has to say about the position.”
“Our neighboring city, Litchfield Park, is smaller than PebbleCreek,” noted Nancy Wilson Smith who served two terms on the board from 2012 through 2016. “With more than 5,500 homes and some 9,500 residents, we have many of the same issues to deal with that most cities do; roads, security, landscaping, building maintenance, budgeting, and on and on. It’s important that our HOA Board is committed to the big picture for our community and always puts what’s best for the entire community first. Board members must clearly consider how their decisions affect every resident—and the lifestyle we enjoy in PebbleCreek.
“Strong leadership skills are a big part of the job,” Nancy continued. “PebbleCreek has a five-member board that consists of two elected resident members and three members appointed by Robson Corporation, so understanding how to collaborate for the best interest of the entire community is essential to preparing for the future. Because we will transition to being a resident managed community in the next several years, having board members with strategic vision is key.
“Candidates interested in being on the board need to understand that sometimes the board must come up with creative solutions to resolve problems while still maintaining compliance. Not every decision is going to make everyone happy, so you have to find a reasonable solution that is in the best interest of the whole community.
“I decided to run for the board because I felt my management and leadership experience from a long career in a large global association could help the community become more professionally managed,” added Nancy. “During my tenure, the board created the position of General Manager and established our website to house readily accessible HOA information and more effectively communicate to the community. We made a number of other changes that have greatly helped ensure the health, value, safety, and continued success of our community. It was a lot of work, but I found it truly rewarding.”
For more information about running for the HOA board, visit the Election Committee website on the PebbleCreek HOA website: pebblecreekhoa.org, select the “HOA Board” tag, then the “Election Committee” tag. For questions or additional information, contact Election Committee Chairman Cliff Crooks at [email protected].