Meet the CLPOC Board Candidates

The Nominating Committee is pleased to announce that three members have met the qualifications to have their names placed on the ballot for election to the Canadian Lakes Property Owners Corporation (CLPOC) Board of Directors. These individuals are seeking election to the CLPOC Board of Directors to fill the seats of Paul Szymkowicz, John Colley, and Dan Rice, whose terms of office expire on December 31, 2022. John Colley and Paul Szymkowicz have chosen to seek re-election. The three members seeking to serve the three-year term on the Board are: John Colley, Linda Ricketts, and Paul Szymkowicz.

Election ballots for the CLPOC Board of Directors will be sent out in October to all property owners in good standing as of September 30, 2022, who DID NOT opt in for electronic voting. Please return your ballot in the envelope provided with your signature on the top left-hand corner of the envelope. Those members who opted in for electronic voting will soon receive a link via email to vote electronically. Please be sure to vote in this important election. Election results will be announced November 19, 2022, at the CLPOC Annual Meeting.

JOHN COLLEY

Q&A

Board Members bring experience, wisdom, and strategic thinking. Can you tell us about yours?

I believe that I bring the wisdom and experience that comes with successfully navigating life (so far), including being married for almost 40 years, raising 2 great children, and having a multitude of great friends. The ability to deal with what life throws your way is obtained through many experiences. I have had the fortune, both good and bad of experiencing many curveballs in life.

On the professional side, the experiences that I obtained over 40 years in the construction industry provide me with knowledge, perspective, and background. I have managed companies in excess of $150 MM annually. The leadership, planning, budgeting, marketing, and cost control principles that I mastered in business are avaiulable to be applied in my role as a Director. MY NAME IS JOHN COLLEY. My wife Kathy and I have been residents of CL for 8 years. We have two married children. I have been a CL Director for 6 years. I hold a BSEE and an MBA (Go Blue!), spent 40 years in the construction industry, working across the US and China, managed businesses in excess of $300MM annually. Currently I work in the consulting field. I spend my leisure time running, reading, working around the house, and spending as much time with my family as possible. I also cherish the time that I can spend with friends.

What do you know about the CLPOC? Why are you interested in committing your time and energy to us?

My wife and I have been residents of CL for 8 years. I have served 2 terms on the Board, for a total of 6 years. Over the 6 years, I have served on the Finance and Strategic Planning Committees.

My knowledge of CLPOC primarily comes from being involved. It also is supplemented by a natural curiosity where I have personally had discussions with long-time residents of the community about the local history as well as their wants and needs.

In the last 6 years, with the support of the membership, CLPOC has progressed significantly. During my tenure, the current Funding Plan was adopted, a plan that has proven to be extremely valuable to the CLPOC and the membership.

What do you think are the characteristics of a great Board Member?

In selecting a Director, the characteristics that I feel are required are varied. In order to even be considered, there is a minimum level of competence, caring, and empathy that is a prerequisite. Adding to these minimum-entry traits are critical and reflective thinking. Being able to adequately see the “other side” of an issue provides great perspective and ultimately provides better solutions.

The most important characteristic for a Director is to represent the people that put them there. Being aware of what the issues are, examining them critically, and addressing them properly in the best interest of the CLPOC is ultimately the desired role.

If elected, what is the first thing you would tackle in this position?

The current CPP and CRC initiatives hold great promise for our quality of life in CL. These initiatives also directly affect our property values and the value of the CLPOC. Therefore, my interest is in seeing these 2 programs continued to fruition.

Over the past few years, in spite of a worldwide pandemic, CLPOC was able to not only weather the storm, but establish a firm financial footing. This, coupled with the many other great things that are happening in CL has led to a “vibe” that is recognized throughout most of the community. To THE GOOD LIFE!

LINDA RICKETTS

FOUR YEARS AGO, beautiful Canadian Lakes became our full-time family home. Arley and I added a children/ teenager section to our library and started the Kindness Rock Garden. We have cleaned beaches and pavilion areas; Pete and I host the community beach campfires and I run the Canadian Lakes United And Enlightened (CLUE) Facebook site. I don’t take running for the Board lightly and I have much to learn, but this is my home too and I want my community to continue living the good life and to help Canadian Lakes keep growing in a positive way.

Q&A

Board Members bring experience, wisdom, and strategic thinking. Can you tell us about yours?

I may not have as much experience as the other candidates, however, what I bring to the Board would be my honesty, sense of humor and my persistence in getting things done quickly.

What do you know about the CLPOC? Why are you interested in committing your time and energy to us?

The CLPOC is a nonprofit corporation that consists of a very large area with over 4,000 members that is overseen by an elected Board of Directors who are also members of Canadian Lakes and are volunteers. We also have a great paid staff of office and maintenance personnel. I love Canadian Lakes! I am doing this to become more involved in my community and to volunteer my time to work with good people.

What do you think are the characteristics of a great Board Member?

Above all would be honesty.

You cannot have people on a Board of a community such as Canadian Lakes, making financial recommendations and decisions regarding the well-being of its Members/Community without trust. To really listen to other Board Members and our CL Members and always work as a team. As a Board Member, it should never be about making a name for yourself. Every decision made should always be about what is in the best interest of Canadian Lakes.

If elected, what is the first thing you would tackle in this position?

Updating our current amenities is something that is way overdue. Outdoor pool furniture, the fishing pier on Sunset Lake and playground equipment are just a few that could use an overhaul.

PAUL SZYMKOWICZ

Q&A

Board members bring experience, wisdom, and strategic thinking. Can you tell us about yours?

I have worked for the same company for over 42 years. I started as shop help and maintenance but quickly moved to management and production. Years ago in a meeting, we were reviewing my job requirements, The owner made the following comments. Ultimately, it was my job to take his “job” away from him and it was his job to give me the tools and training to be able to do so. Eight years ago, in another meeting this was his comment. “The first fifty was his legacy and the future will be our legacy”. (I do have a Partner).

It is a quite a different experience to go from an employee depending on an employer to becoming the employer. I believe that I have brought this well-rounded experience to the Board of Directors during my first six years as a Board member. IT HAS BEEN MY PRIVILEGE TO SERVE on the CLPOC Board of Directors for the past six years. Over those past six years some very important things have taken place in our community. I was one of the three authors of the current five-year funding plan that is preforming outstandingly in its third year. We acquired the naming rights to “Canadian Lakes” and as a result of doing so, CLPOC was able to update and restate our “Articles of Incorporation” for the first time. Thanks to the membership for six years of support and I hope to continue to serve.

What do you know about CLPOC? Why are you interested in committing your time and energy to us?

I have been a member of Canadian Lakes since 1970. At that time Canadian Lakes was controlled by Don Bollman and after that by CLDC. The CLPOC was not created until 1994 when the development was turned over to membership control by a membership elected Board of Directors.

I was nine years old when my family purchased here. We spent our summer vacations and most holiday weekends here. Canadian Lakes was an absolutely great place to grow up and that is still true today. As an adult, I wanted to give back to the community that has given me so many memories to cherish for the rest of my life.

What do you think are the characteristics of a great board member?

For any position on the board some leadership skills would be very important as well as communication skills. The willingness to work as a team or part of a group is also important. Directors must understand that Canadian Lakes is a business. We should all want what is best for the community. We are a board that is ruled by majority. If some votes don’t go your way, remember it is not personal. The important thing is that every Director has the opportunity to speak and express their opinion.

If elected, what is the first thing you would tackle in this position?

This is a difficult question for me, we have done so many good things over the last several years. The five-year funding plan is doing extremely well. We acquired the naming rights to “Canadian Lakes” and in doing so were able to restate our “Articles of Incorporation” for the first time.

Three items come immediately to mind.

Looking forward to the future, I think that Rule and Deed enforcement will be one of the Board of Directors next biggest task to move forward on.

Making sure that our staff and employees have the proper tools and training to do the job that is expected of them.