This publication invited the FOUR candidates running for the THREE open seats on the Marsh Creek Owners’ Association Board of Directors to submit a photo and campaign message for Spoonbill Courier publication. Homeowners are asked to return their ballots by mail or to the Dropbox at the Club by 4pm, Monday December 5, 2022, or in person at the Annual General meeting the same day at 6pm.
Frank Merenda
Current Finance Committee Member
Who I am
Irene and I moved into Marsh Creek in April 2021, from a home in the nearby Ocean Cay community. We found the home we want to spend the rest of our lives in, with a great view of #15 green, a large pond, and wooded area loaded with wildlife…and great neighbors. Irene and I have been together for 49 years, met at Rutgers University in New Jersey. We have two children…our son, James is a Colonel in the US Air Force, now stationed at the University of Florida in Gainesville, commanding the AFROTC unit. He has three children. He has had two tours of Afghanistan and one in Iraq. Our daughter is a high school counselor in the Pittsburgh, PA suburbs, with two children, now 16 and 14.
My work experiences
I spent 25 years working for multi-national, multi-billion-dollar chemical companies in the US, Germany and France. My primary role was as a business manager for multi-million-dollar units (up to $50 million annual sales) within these large organizations. For the last 15 years of my career, I owned a financial services company with more than 10 employees. I have obtained a Master’s Degree in Chemical Engineering, and an MBA, as well as financial certifications.
My Community Experience
For the past year, I have been a member of both the Finance Committee and Safety Committee at MCOA. I am also Chair of the Parish Pastoral Council at St. Anastasia Catholic Church. Prior to coming to Florida, I served in numerous church councils, as well as the Finance Committee and Water Treatment management for a gated community with more than 1,700 homes.
Why I should be on the Board of MCOA
Parts of our community are now more than 30 years old. Most importantly, critical infrastructure, such as storm-water management, has reached that milestone. It is critical we manage this period to ensure the community will be as beautiful and functional into the future as it is today. We need to prepare for significant surface replacement for our 9.5 miles of roadway. We need to best manage our finances for the future of the community.
I believe we need to supplement our HOA income from homeowners by producing income with our current assets. I have been instrumental in putting our “cash” to work in the Finance Committee. I believe there are other assets we currently have that can add to our income and help ease the burden on homeowners. We need to change the paradigm of being solely a collector and expender of homeowner funds. We need to do things differently. My broad experience, both financial and technical, will challenge the “We’ve always done it that way” response I’ve heard numerous times and lead to positive changes in our community to maintain and improve our standing as the most desirable address on Anastasia Island.
I’ll be there to challenge and improve the processes within MCOA. Thank you for your time.
Kathy Sharpless
Current MCOA Vice President, Communications Committee Chair and Common Properties Committee Member
Kathy Sharpless
Fellow owners: I am a candidate for one of the 3 Director positions available on your Marsh Creek Owners Association Board of Directors. I was appointed by the Board approximately 20 months ago to fill a vacant position due to my extensive background in homeowner associations. During these 20 months, I have served as Vice President, Chairman of the Communications Committee and as a member of the Common Properties Committee.
I have worked diligently to create more transparency in the Board’s actions and direction as well as to communicate more of the day-to-day activities that affect each owner. Our initiation of the E-Bulletin has provided an avenue to broadcast important information to all in the community and in concert with the Outreach Committee, we have brought several Neighborhood Forums on various topics to our owners.
As a member of Common Properties, my main contribution has been creating a plan for refreshing our landscaping, removal of Washingtonian palms, and pursuit of awareness of our invasive species and vine issues.
If elected, I plan to pursue our continued interest in becoming a more focused and informed Board. We plan to address our Board Governance policy – making it more attractive for members to participate and actively solicit more involvement. I hope to continue with Communications providing additional means of letting you all know what we are doing and soliciting your comments on same. My interest in seeing our community retain and/or improve its appearance continues to be of major importance to us all.
Please let me know if you have any questions about my qualifications or my policy intentions. And thank you for this opportunity.
Frank & Kathy, thank you for sharing your visions for Marsh Creek!. It really helps homeowners who don’t know you, to get a sense of what direction you want to take our beautiful community.
Thanks much!