Edition:
March 26, 2010
Public Notices - DBA Info • CONTACT
US: News Department • Display
Advertising • Classified
Advertising
Board names interim general manager team The Property Owners Association Board of Directors last week announced the hiring of David Rudat and Jovan Grogan of Management Partners Incorporated to serve as an interim general management team to help the Association with day-to-day operations and the search for a permanent general manager. They are contracted month to month until the general manager’s position is filled.
Biography information on the company’s website indicates that Rudat has demonstrated innovation and leadership throughout his more than 35 years of work in the public sector, including 24 years of fire service experience and 10 years as city manager for the City of Orange, among other public administration roles. He has a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from California State University, Long Beach, and a master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Southern California.
Since joining Management Partners in 2006, Jovan has performed organization reviews, staffing studies and process analyses for entire organizations as well as discrete local government programs and services, according to the company’s website. He also has completed research in a variety of best practice areas, conducted benchmarking studies and facilitated workshops of mid-level and executive managers. Jovan completed his undergraduate and graduate education at Cornell University, holding a bachelor’s degree in Urban and Regional Studies and a master’s degree in Regional Planning.
When Directors said on March 18 they were “happy to announce the hiring of Management Partners, Inc.” to serve as interim general manager, that was an understatement for newly appointed President Guy Kestell and Vice-president Michelle Gordon, who put in three weeks of intensive hours overseeing the business of the community while interviewing prospective interim managers to run the affairs of the community.
Guy says he and Michelle did double duty, filling in for President Randy Bonner and General Manager Clint Warrell after the two leaders resigned within 10 days of each other in late February. Clint had worked for the Association 26 years, the past 13 as general manager. So budget decisions, change orders, personnel matters and the myriad other daily tasks of the POA necessitated Guy and Michelle’s temporary but intense day-to-day oversight.
Guy says he “takes his hat off” to Michelle and cannot express enough his appreciation to the other Directors for the guidance and support they provided during this time.
He says he has confidence the new team of Rudat and Grogan have the skills and background to oversee POA staff decisions and put together a Request for Proposal (RFP) for a new general manager. With his term set to end in May, Guy says it will be the responsibility of the three remaining Directors and two incoming Directors to choose the new general manager or to contemplate whether the POA should be run by a professional management company, as some members have suggested.
Guy says he personally would like to see the POA find a general manager with a strong background in human resources as well as policies and procedures. There currently is a handbook for POA employees but there isn’t a manual for policies and procedures, according to Guy, who adds this was something Randy was beginning to work on and the new general manager needs to implement.
Finally, in regards to the recent audit, Guy says, “The special management audit of POA financial accounts and business practices conducted last year revealed nothing criminal – no fraud or theft of POA assets.” Directors say they will use their best efforts to address and correct the policy and management control issues identified; however, members should be aware the results of the investigation are subject to attorney-client privilege and involve personnel issues which must remain private.
In addition, acknowledging concerns brought up at the last Board meeting regarding the accounting company hired by the POA to audit the POA annual election in May, Guy notes Michelle and Community Relations Manager Laurie Owen are taking special precautions to make sure the election is carried out properly, fairly and equitably.
|
|
