“Who’s luckier than us?” That’s our mantra, the question my husband Peter and I have asked each other for the past 3 ½ years. We are filled with gratitude for the friends we have made and the lives that we lead in our Four Seasons Community. The joy I have found here fuels my desire to serve this community on a leadership level.
I am MaryEllen McCormick and I am running for the HOA board to represent you and your concerns.
Our first “resident majority” HOA board was elected in July of 2024 and has worked tirelessly, putting residents’ needs first. I thank them and their dedicated group of committee volunteers for this fantastic start. As our HOA board grows from three members to five members, I am looking forward to joining them and serving with them in the years to come. I will dedicate my time and energy to take our community to the next level.
Within this website I am excited to share my personal story as a Four Seasons at Orlando resident, including my background and accomplishments, my contributions to our community, and my priorities and leadership skills.
I look forward to meeting you, to earn your vote so that I can contribute to the growth of our beautiful community.
Please take a few minutes to complete the anonymous short survey to help me prioritize your concerns.
Video
Serving Our Community
HOA Communication Committee Co-chair
Currently I am co-chairing the HOA Communication Committee with Tracy Reid and a small group of dedicated neighbors. Our work together began in August of 2024:
- Created a Communication Committee Charter and an Overall Communication Plan
- Created and implemented a plan for upcoming elections of 3 CDD board members. These efforts resulted in 70% voter participation.
- Organized “CDD Meet the Candidate Night” in the clubhouse
- Coordinating HOA Committee Information Nights - ongoing monthly
- HOA Board Social - hosted all committee members and board for a social evening
- Investigating tools to to reach all FSO residents beyond email - researching Community Bulletin Boards
Pre Transition Team Steering Committee & Chair of Communications Committee
The Pre Transition Team was a group of over 60 residents who came together voluntarily to prepare our Community for Transition from KHOV management to elected HOA Board members
- Our committee knocked on doors to collect over 75% of our neighborhood emails
- Created and managed a gmail account for all of the communication between the residents and the PTT
- Organized and compiled monthly “PTT Update emails” sent to all residents on our list to keep neighbors informed of our continuing efforts
- Coordinated a general meeting of residents off campus at Mystic Dunes/Kenzie's room with over 100 residents in attendance to share our mission and goals
- Created and shared recommendations to the newly elected HOA Board members after the election in July 2024
Social Activities
- Four Seasons Blvd - Block parties (2022-present). Co Coordinated the block parties on our street
- Earth Day community cleanup (2022-present)
- Holiday Golf Cart parade - helped coordinate for 2 years
- Assisted with social events as needed in our clubhouse
Priorities
Fiscal Responsibility
As board representatives it is our fiduciary responsibly to act in the best interests of our residents at all times. I believe that my experience on a previous HOA board and my familiarity with budgets, financial statements, assessments and reserves will enable me to make significant contributions to the board.- All decisions made by the board should be analyzed based on the impact on the current and future home values and monthly assessments
- Review budgets to determine opportunities to minimize costs (as much as possible)
- Seek advice from finance committee member.
- Balancing residents’ concerns within financial constraints
Communication
Implementing and monitoring communication is of utmost importance to the overall success of our HOA Board Work. Informed residents should always be a top priority.
- Continually monitor our channels of communications looking for the best ways to reach all residents
- Work to ensure that residents are receiving all information sent from the board in a timely manner
- Meet with residents in person through weekly/monthly sessions in the clubhouse
- Organize content, data, zoom sessions and documents for ease of residents’ searching
Landscaping
This topic is of overwhelming concern to residents. - Continually monitor landscaping concerns and work with the CDD board to review options to improve our current landscape concerns
- Explore options that similar communities use for landscaping in our region
- Create a short term and a long term plan with guidance from the Landscape and Irrigation Committees
Core Values
Collaborative and Teamwork-driven
Bringing residents together to achieve greatness, empowering people to be involved and to foster new ideas while remaining open minded.
Strong Communication Skills
Ability to work in small or large groups, bringing neighbors together. Informing everyone of our work and soliciting feedback.
Innovative and Resourceful
Seeking solutions and reliable resources.
Experience
MBA, BBA, George Washington University
Old Courthouse HOA: Vienna, Virginia
President, Vice President, Treasurer/Secretary
Served two years as HOA President in our Vienna, Virginia Community. In addition, I served for two years as HOA Vice President and two years as HOA Secretary and Treasurer. Coordinated neighborhood events and seasonal activities.
Advertising Agency Experience
Assistant Marketing Director and Marketing Analyst
DDB Needham Worldwide (Washington Office) and WB Doner (Baltimore Office): Oversaw marketing efforts for clients: McDonald’s Corporation, Washington Post, National Guard, AARP, McCormick Spices, Klondike Corporation and more. Created marketing surveys, new product testing, focus groups for clients in both the Washington DC region and nationally.
Educational Leader
Department Chair, Leadership and Entrepreneurship
Taught college level high school courses in Leadership and Entrepreneurship in Virginia High Schools. Developed Entrepreneurship Curriculum for Virginia – the first of its kind. Department Chair: responsible for management of 40 teachers Represented schools on School Board task forces. Five time “Teacher of the Year” for local schools, Washington area Teacher of the Year. National Entrepreneurship Teacher of the Year.
Survey
Survey: The Importance and Value of your feedback
Neighbors, I created this survey to ascertain our community's overall concerns and priorities. I have found surveys to be an invaluable tool in building a strong communication and action plan. The results of this survey will assist me as your board representative.
I appreciate your time in completing this survey and ask that every member of your household complete their own survey.
Thank you for your support and for your feedback,
MaryEllen
Questions and Concerns
Email your questions, suggestions and concerns to vote4maryellen@gmail.com As additional questions and concerns are shared through the Survey, they may be added to those already here, along with MaryEllen's answers.
What qualities do you bring to the HOA board that will strengthen our association?
As our HOA board membership grows from 3 to 5 members, so will our breadth of experience. The strength I bring to the HOA board revolves around my communication skills. I have the ability to develop relationships and gather people with a purpose. My open-minded approach and active listening often translates into respectful conversations about difficult concerns.
I believe in collaboration and will bring experienced individuals together to solve problems. I know the importance of relationship building and social interaction. I would like to reach out for advice from other neighboring communities as well as our own CDD board.
I enjoy meeting and speaking to neighbors. When we first moved here I went door to door on my street to help organize a block party. More recently I knocked on doors throughout the community as Communications Chair of the PTT informing neighbors about our mission. Most recently I set up an information table with our HOA Communication Committee Co-Chair Tracy Reid at the Clubhouse Art Fair. We met and talked to neighbors to inquire about signing up for electronic correspondence as a form of cost savings for our HOA board.
I believe in collaboration and will bring experienced individuals together to solve problems. I know the importance of relationship building and social interaction. I would like to reach out for advice from other neighboring communities as well as our own CDD board.
I enjoy meeting and speaking to neighbors. When we first moved here I went door to door on my street to help organize a block party. More recently I knocked on doors throughout the community as Communications Chair of the PTT informing neighbors about our mission. Most recently I set up an information table with our HOA Communication Committee Co-Chair Tracy Reid at the Clubhouse Art Fair. We met and talked to neighbors to inquire about signing up for electronic correspondence as a form of cost savings for our HOA board.
In what ways do you see Four Seasons being different three years from now?
My vision for the future of Four Seasons at Orlando:
- Financial stability:
- Financial health in our spending and overall costs
- Monthly assessments reflect a fair value for our money
- A steady increase in our home values
- Residents feel a sense of pride in our beautifully landscaped community.
- Residents feel safe, enjoying a well-maintained clubhouse with a wide variety of social activities.
How can we submit more questions?
Please email questions to vote4maryellen.com
Closing Note
You can count on me to seek solutions.
If I need support in areas that are not my strength then I will reach out to neighbors for guidance. I believe in collaboration, teamwork and the courage to work through difficult problems. Together we can create a successful community. Our three inaugural board members have worked tirelessly to begin the task of digging us out of a hole created by a builder with other priorities.
My priority is to support our community moving forward. It is my hope that in a few short years the worries about our lawns will diminish and we will view our monthly dues as a good value.
I ask for your vote to represent you on our HOA board. Thank you for your support.
If I need support in areas that are not my strength then I will reach out to neighbors for guidance. I believe in collaboration, teamwork and the courage to work through difficult problems. Together we can create a successful community. Our three inaugural board members have worked tirelessly to begin the task of digging us out of a hole created by a builder with other priorities.
My priority is to support our community moving forward. It is my hope that in a few short years the worries about our lawns will diminish and we will view our monthly dues as a good value.
I ask for your vote to represent you on our HOA board. Thank you for your support.