Apr
24
2024
From The Blog
Meet Your New Board Secretary, Paul Hennessy
SERVICE TERM: 2024 – 2027 | SECRETARY: 2024 – 2025
Vision and Objectives for KICA
The existing KICA Strategic Plan is excellent and I whole-heartedly endorse its ‘vision for Kiawah’:
- Preserve and enhance the quality of life on Kiawah;
- Protect our property values;
- Take a leadership role in ensuring the Island’s unique look and feel is retained;
- Provide the exceptional stewardship that the KICA Community expects and deserves.
My objective- with the help of the entire Community- is to live and act on these words.
The island now faces several important and growing challenges: traffic, residential density, and increasing amenity/infrastructure burden. While at the same time natural habitats are threatened. The board must represent the community in aggressively mitigating these challenges. And do so in a manner that is fact-based, collaborative, and decisive. I plan to do my part as a board member.
My top priorities:
- Adhere to the principle of ‘Designing with Nature’.
- Mitigate structural challenges.
- Approve a continuation of the Governance Committee to improve and update the Covenants.
- Negotiate a truly independent ARB.
- Restructure the Board to exclude the Developer mandate.
- Ensure prudent and efficient financial management.
- Support the continuing priorities of the Amenities/Sandcastle Task Force.
Professional Background
I have worked at regional, national and global financial institutions in a variety of responsibilities from risk management to direct business leadership with full P&L responsibility. I also served on multiple oversight committees and affiliate boards.
I have deep experience working collaboratively within complex organization structures. (This will be helpful in the Maze of K’s environment.)
Education: Notre Dame BA. Northwestern/Kellogg evening courses. United States Marine Corps: six month active duty and 6-year reserve status. NCO level.
Experience
My most recent and relevant experience has been as a member of the KICA Finance Committee. The best example of my work was the initiation, design and approval of an Association report (posted on our website) showing 100% of cash and investment- and related purpose- this report is informally called ‘Where’s Our Money’. This met an obvious need and took over two years to finalize.
Other areas of specific focus included:
- Reserve Policy, process, adequacy, and transparency. (Work remains to be done!)
- Drafted a new Conflict of Interest Policy for the Board and all Committee members; this was approved and adopted.
- Contributed to updated and improved Financial Control Manual.
- Significant work on improving our investment management practices and reporting.
In addition, since becoming a permanent resident in 2019, I have attended virtually every KICA Board Meeting, making what I believe were/are focused and constructive suggestions. I have attended most Town Council meetings and several Town and KICA workshops/task-forces with important community mandates. All these efforts have contributed to a better understanding of critical issues and the relevant ‘players’. I have been an active and enthusiastic member of the ‘Our World’ Steering Committee.
Board Service Statement
Key issues I hope to address on the KICA Board:
- Cohesive and respectful engagement within the board itself.
- Continuous engagement with the community. Listen and learn.
- Continuation of Governance efforts relating to Covenants, an independent ARB, and Developer Board representation.
- Efficient operations; disciplined budgeting and a strongly funded Capital Reserve.
- Improved Board responsiveness. When community members ask a question or make a suggestion, they are ALWAYS entitled to a real and timely response- and serious consideration.
- Collaboration with other Kiawah stakeholders.
- Support KICA staff; enhance job effectiveness and satisfaction