Kiawah Island Digest January 2018 | Page 2

Mike Feldmann ( Continued from Previous Page )
Sue Schaffer - Nominating Committee Recommended Candidate
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May 2017 January 20185

Mike Feldmann ( Continued from Previous Page )

• Critical Thinking : My orientation is rational , focused and open-minded . I am guided by facts , evidence and analysis rather than emotion .
• Problem Solving : I strive to see all aspects of a situation ; appreciate and respect differing views ; quickly identify key issues ; assemble and process data to formulate creative solutions .
• Collaboration : Via good experiences and bad , I ’ ve learned the importance of inclusiveness and working together . KICA , town , resort and Kiawah Partners at times most certainly have competing agendas and different priorities . Yet these entities all seek to enhance the Kiawah experience . This common interest affords opportunity for cooperation and collaboration .
• Commitment : If elected I ’ d take the director ’ s stewardship responsibility - protecting and enhancing Kiawah ’ s assets -
very seriously .

Sue Schaffer - Nominating Committee Recommended Candidate

Statement of Focus My extensive and varied Kiawah experience gives me a knowledge of the island and a keen understanding of KICA and “ the maze of K ’ s ” that will make me a valuable addition to the KICA board . All board candidates are committed to preserving Kiawah ’ s natural beauty , creating a stable financial picture , and creating a strong community with high class amenities , and I share that vision . However , board service is much more complex . New board members have an approximate one-year learning curve , but from 10 years of varied service to KICA , I have deep knowledge of the association and can immediately “ hit the ground running .”
One of my key strengths is that I recognize and welcome the wide range of viewpoints , expectations and experiences that KICA members bring to Kiawah . I would encourage and explore diversity of perspective . I have always promoted open dialogue in the community ; from the beginning of my membership on the Digest Production Committee , I urged that Digest cover all sides of issues rather than try to paint a rosy picture . As both a private homeowner and former rental condominium owner , I understand the differences in the needs of people who do and do not rent their homes and those who do and do not belong to regimes . As a board member I will work to learn and attempt to address the concerns of our demographically varied community .
My background and experience give me an understanding of the financial and legal aspects of nonprofit and service boards . While I am not afraid to express a different opinion , I work collaboratively , help to make decisions creatively , solicit feedback and build consensus .
While KICA is currently financially secure , the board should not assume it will always be so and should continue to carefully monitor the association ’ s finances and seek ways to keep income stable and costs under control . In particular , this means seeking ways to stabilize income for capital expenses ; the Major Repairs and Reserve accounts are too highly dependent on the unpredictable “ contributions to reserves ,” known as real estate transfer fees . Furthermore , Kiawah has experienced three straight years of severe storm-related flooding and resultant unanticipated expenses , and I would urge the board to consider the consequences to KICA ’ s finances and to the real estate market if that pattern continues .
KICA boards should no longer be looking only to the near future . The board needs to deal with a number of changes in the coming years : the ARB will transition from developer to KICA control ; the developer will leave the island , and KICA will have additional responsibilities as a result ; the resort will transform the East and West Beach areas ; weather-related emergencies could increase . My KICA knowledge and professional experience position me to help KICA adapt to these changes and will make me a valuable board member .
Although the 2015 amenities project was rejected by the KICA membership , it gave the community an appreciation of the shortcomings of KICA ’ s community facilities and social and fitness programming . I am a Kiawah Island Club member who has always supported community amenities . Amenities for KICA members are like libraries in larger towns ; they enrich the community and make it a more desirable place to live , which enhances everyone ' s property values and quality of life . I fully support the renovation of the Sandcastle . The acquisition of the prior Town Hall building opens exciting new management and programming opportunities for KICA .
I hope you will give me the opportunity to help KICA adapt to and shape island changes while continuing to keep Kiawah special and magnificent .
Personal and Career Highlights
• Kiawah homeowner and part-time resident for almost 30 years , since 1988 ( plus three summers as renter ).
• Current owner of private home and unimproved lot ; former owner of a rental condo ; Kiawah Island Club member .
• Doctorate in Business Administration from George Washington University ; concentration in Management and Organization Behavior .
• Full-time residence in McLean , VA .
• Professional career in management consulting and university business school faculty .
• Experience working with corporations , family-owned businesses , government and medical groups .
• Served on two non-profit boards six years each , chairing one .
• Masters swimmer for over 40 years .
• Married , three adult children , one grandchild .
KICA Experience
• Board of Directors , 2012-2015
• Strategic Planning Committee .
• West Beach Revitalization Committee .
• Communications Development Committee
• Amenities and Services Committee
• Digest feature writer since 2007
• Have established relationships with leaders of the major Kiawah entities : town , resort , developer , KICA .