Heather Rowe '24 Board Candidate
Candidate for Tolomato Island Board of Directors
Heather Rowe
Hi! I am Heather Rowe. Our family purchased our lot on Tolomato Island in 2021 and designed and built our house. We moved into our home in April of 2023.
I am a transplant and ran south after graduating with my Industrial and Systems Engineering Degree from Wright State University in Dayton Ohio. I met my husband, Johnny, in Statesboro Georgia (he is a Georgia Southern graduate). Johnny grew up here in McIntosh County. We moved "home" because we spent most weekends here visiting family and hanging with friends even with 2 young boys in tow (Brady 5 and Connor 3). We have loved living on Tolomato Island and look forward to raising our family here in this beautiful community.
Community service is important to me. I started as a participant in the Relay for Life in 2008, became its Youth Engagement Chair in 2014 and still participate. I have been a United Way Co-Coordinator, and served as the McIntosh County Chamber of Commerce, Event Coordinator, managing in a cost conscious manner, multiple simultaneous objectives. I even participated on Dancing with the Statesboro Stars for two years, a fund-raising event for a domestic violence shelter in Statesboro. Let's say I had "star" status because of the company I worked for, and let me also say, I wasn't the "Pro". I had a blast, and it was a great experience. I was also the Treasurer of a Home Owners Association (HOA) in Statesboro for 3 years. The new housing development had grown at that time to approx. 100 homes.
As a full time mother and full time professional engineer who is fortunately able to work from home, I am prepared to take on the responsibilities of a Board Director. Johnny and I have discussed the time commitment, and he is supportive. We as a family team will make the necessary adjustments.
I want to be involved in my community. As a Board Director I hope to encourage community involvement, open communications, and a family friendly environment. I hope I can earn your vote and that you will support me for the 2024 TIPOA Board of Directors.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Enthusiastic and thorough professional who can convey information with clarity, patience, and the terminology appropriate to specific audiences. Highly organized, diligent, responsible, and able to create/execute complex projects and programs to meet community needs. Extroverted recruiter and relationship builder with a strong desire to serve.
PHOENIX ENGINEERING AND CONSULTING – Project Manager, 2022 – Present
Phoenix Engineering and Consulting is a Profession Engineering (PE) firm. In addition to engineering and Project manager responsibilities, creating process documentation for future growth and providing exceptional customer service, I assist in marketing strategy to continue to bring in new business and reach out to potential clients, develop an understanding of their business needs and verify we are the right fit for the client.
(Note, my profession over uses Acronyms. They are included for technical reference.)
NORDSON CORPORATION, Swainsboro, GA, 2012 – 2021
Continuous Improvement Lead, 2019 – 2021Multi Location responsibility for creating and implementing process improvements through use of Continuous Improvement (CI) techniques and tools.
- Managed and executed cross functional projects creating value for the business.
- Subject Matter Expert (SME) in use of Web Based Business Intelligence (WEBI) system used to create and implement new tools for tracking and evaluating progress of project objectives.
- Organize and Lead Rapid Improvement Events (RIE) for issues/opportunities requiring immediate attention.
- Utilize methodologies like LEAN, SIX SIGMA, and 5S tools to optimize manufacturing, planning, and supply chain value stream maps.
Value Stream Lead, 2012 – 2019
Responsible for harnessing the output of approximately 25 individual contributors into a cohesive production unit meeting and exceeding organizational KPI objectives.
- Responsible for Talent Development including Hire / Fire responsibility for 23-30 team members.
- Increased operational efficiency through redesign of manufacturing layout and process.
- Improved employee engagement through implementation of preferred work schedules.
- Instituted 5S (LEAN Manufacturing) methods
- Created Training methods and tools to ensure efficient onboarding of personnel.
- Ensured Design for Manufacturability was accounted for on new products and managed their introduction into the production process.
- Problem Solving through Root Cause Analysis including 5 Why's and Fishbone Analysis
KOYO BEARINGS, Sylvania, GA, 2010 – 2012
Prepared the Sylvania facility for a transfer of manufacturing of 600 additional Pin and Shaft part numbers from the Honea Path facility.
- Submitting management of change requests to have all the necessary documentation completed.
- Creating operation sheets to outline the process flow.
- Reviewing control plans to meet requirements of APQP (Advanced Product Quality Planning).
- Designing layouts to allow for the increase in machines and gages.
Prepared and supported our facility in the switch to SAP (brand) enterprise management software.
- Performed cost analysis and estimates for sales purposes.
- Designed layouts to accommodate new business and to significantly increase production efficiency.
- Created and updated operation sheets to eliminate unnecessary procedures.
- Tracked and organized asset paperwork, improving maintenance
If you would like to ask me questions, you may openly dialogue with me by first clicking on my blog Title and entering a comment at the bottom.
Comments
DrSmileGuy
on Friday, 13 October 2023 22:53
Heather,
I'm excited to see you as a candidate. I love it that you have previous HOA experience as Treasurer and that you are an engineer! I know that engineers are detailed oriented problem solvers in this world and enthusiasm and creativity is the whole package.
Good luck and I hope we get the opportunity to work together to really make a difference for the beautiful community of Tolomato.
Steve Anderson
Amason
on Saturday, 14 October 2023 13:52
Heather and John, Love your Groundbreaking photo!!!
JimandGinny
on Sunday, 12 November 2023 18:50
Everyone seems shy so I will start on the questions.
The by-laws state that Board meetings will be conducted according to Robert’s Rules and Procedures. With respect to members, Article 3.14 reads as follows:
Members other than directors may not participate in any discussion or deliberation unless permission to speak is requested on a Member's behalf by a director. In such case, the president may limit the time any Member may speak.
Current practice is for the Board to conduct its business, get committee reports, then invite member comments. Member comments are typically not recorded in detail. This being the case, members occasionally have comments that are detailed in nature and/or require follow up. Several months ago, I asked if a Board member would make a motion to attach my comment to the minutes. The Board President stated that my request did not require a motion and that the TIPOA attorney said that the only time a motion is required is when the Board is spending money. Also, as usual, the request to attach the comment was summarily ignored.
Do you agree with the above interpretation of Robert’s Rules and Procedures?
What is your opinion on attaching member comments to the minutes?
Hrowe
on Wednesday, 15 November 2023 20:43
I understand trying to get all the business out of the way before opening up the floor. (Having too many inputs we would be there forever on one topic) However, I would think making notes in the minutes about the comment and who made the comment so it can be remembered and possibly revisited if necessary.
JimandGinny
on Thursday, 16 November 2023 17:34
The Board told us that the dollar value of delinquent accounts is concentrated in a handful of properties. Purchases of these distressed properties result in TIPOA recovering these accounts and replaces the accounts with paying home owners, thus purchases of distressed properties should be encouraged. Purchases of these distressed accounts also gives the buyer a potential for higher-than-normal return on investment. That is, it is a win-win.
Unfortunately, information regarding these properties is available only to the Board. Furthermore, the Board is typically the first contact prior to a distressed property being listed on the open market. These facts, coupled with purchases by board members has led some to wonder if board members “may” be profiting from their unique position. For example, one board member purchased (either in their name or through LLCs registered in their name) 6 properties over a 4-year period. The county listed 1 of these purchases as not being fair market value and 2 as being estates. A second board member purchased 2 properties, one of which was listed as not being fair market value.
I will repeat, I am not saying that the board members who purchased theses properties did anything wrong. I am saying that since the membership does not have access to the same information as board members, this does not look good.
The question, how do we encourage purchases of distressed properties while removing any appearance of impropriety—how do we level the playing field? What we can’t do. Georgia Properties Owners’ Association Act (GPOAA) does permit the Board to publicize a list of outstanding assessments. Furthermore, nothing in the governing documents or GOPAA places restrictions on Board member purchases and I don’t think we should restrict their purchases. What we can do? GPOAA does permit members to submit a written request for such information. Most members are not aware of this.
Could we include a note to accounts receivable in our financial statements specifying the number of accounts more than 2 years in arrears or with more than $2k in outstanding assessments? Maybe include in the note a listing of the amounts “without” any identifying information? As part of the note, we could say that additional information is available upon request?
Could we set a policy that no Board member may make an offer on any property to be listed for sale until such time as the sale is listed on the open market?
Other ideas?