Bio:

I have been a homeowner in Ocean Pines since 2013. In 2021, my wife and I decided to make Ocean Pines our full-time residence as we love everything about the community. I am from Pasadena, MD. I have been a volunteer for 20+ years and knew I wanted to continue my passion for service in my community. I am the current President of the Marina Village Condominium Association where I focus on safety, aesthetics and value of our properties.

I also serve on the OPA Marine Activities Advisory Committee and assisted in recommending the upgrades at the Mumford’s boat ramp last year which resulted in much needed improvements to the ramp pier.

If elected, my goal will be to help make our community even better. I will use my business background in leadership, communications, and financial acumen to help drive the decisions on important issues that are in the best interest of the Ocean Pines community.

I served in the United States Marine Corps Reserve and have a B.S. and M.S. in Business Management Studies from the University of Maryland, University College. Currently, I serve as Vice President at Corcentric, LLC, a Procurement and Financial Automation Consulting Company.


1. What do you think are the most significant issues facing the Association in the next 2 or 3 years and what solutions would you offer?

I believe some of the most significant issues that OPA will face in the next couple years are:

Making sure that we stay aligned with our 5-year strategic plan that includes maintenance of our infrastructure and appearance (roads, drainage, bulkheads, DMA Reserve plan). I would support the current plan as I have spent quite a bit of time reviewing the plans for each of these areas. I believe we are heading in the right direction. I would not want to see the community delay these projects that are so important to our future.

I want to see OPA continue the trend with our financial condition as the last three years have been positive and we have had the opportunity to lower our assessments. It’s important to our community and was identified as being important to our homeowners in our recent community survey. Continuing to listen to the owners will be paramount.

We need to stay close to decisions that surround our community (route 90 dualization/ traffic on 589). They both could have significant impact on our community.

Safety is important to our community, and we need to continue to support police and fire/EMS.


2. Outsourcing of our three Food and Beverage operations has been successful. Do you see other areas in which outsourcing might be appropriate?

I have been living in Ocean Pines for over 10 years and I have seen many changes in our food and beverage operations through the years. I believe it was the right decision to outsource an operation where OPA does not have a core competency and expertise to operate.

Our GM does a great job assessing our operations and determines whether to use overtime with current staff, or bring in outside contractors when we have capacity issues. Areas where we are already utilizing outsourcing service are legal services, payroll administration, newsletter and catalog printing and bulkhead repair/replacement. I believe that outsourcing is the right decision for those areas.

From a Public Works/General Maintenance (roads, drainage and maintenance) standpoint as they have a larger team of employees (FTE’S) and account for a higher portion of the budget, they use outsourced contractors as needed. Landscaping and pool maintenance could be potential areas to evaluate for outsourcing if we are not doing that already. I do believe that we should continue to periodically evaluate our expenses to make sure we are fully leveraging expense line items at least on an annual basis.


3. Boards must make difficult decisions. How will you address differences of opinions between Board members?

I would characterize myself as a strong collaborator. I believe that much can be accomplished by a team when everyone treats each other in a professional manner, and they remain civil to one another. Whenever groups of people come together to come up with solutions, there are always different opinions. I believe different backgrounds and expertise levels are good and can help to create a healthy and productive Board of Directors. My consulting background has required me to work with many different and diverse companies and stakeholders to help drive towards a decision that is in the best interest of the business. I will take a similar approach and make sure everyone is allowed to provide input and respect the opinion of others. Ultimately, the Board works for the community, and we really need to continue making sure that we are listening and driving towards the overall improvement of our community. I would also want to make sure the Board fully utilizes feedback from the committees for decision making. There is an enormous amount of subject matter expertise that resides within the committees, and they all work extremely hard.

Bio:

Thank you for this opportunity to be of service to Ocean Pines, our unique and sought after community! My name is Jerry Murphy, a native of Baltimore and a Mt. St. Joseph graduate. I first arrived in Ocean Pines in the mid 1970's, as a builder of several distinctive Round Houses that still exist today. I later became the General Manager of the McDonalds in Berlin and Ocean City, next becoming an owner of a successful packaging supply company, now currently a realtor with Long and Foster.

My family purchased the Boise Cascade Sales Office, located on Widows Watch Court, which has since been reconstructed. I took sole possession of the house in 1990, where I still reside.

I would like to serve the community that has been such an integral part of my life. Having gratefully served on a Board of Directors in the Baltimore area, I would like to share this experience with the Ocean Pines community. My ability to debate, listen, remain calm and fair would be an asset to our Board and Community.


1. What do you think are the most significant issues facing the Association in the next 2 or 3 years and what solutions would you offer?

The issues that appear to be of most concern currently, are drainage and bulkheads. While some recent improvements are underway, there is still work and decisions to be made. I would suggest a plan that would take into consideration the environmental and conservation challenges we face today. Safety of the Community, Police Recruitment and The Southside Fire Station Development are issues that must stay on the front burner for funding, both public and private.


2. Outsourcing of our three Food and Beverage operations has been successful. Do you see other areas in which outsourcing might be appropriate?

Regarding outsourcing, I feel that the current path that the Board/ Association is taking with the food and beverage contracts are very good. They are the best that Ocean Pines have had to this date...exceeding all expectations, with profits and participation at an all time high. At this time, I do not see a need for any additional outsourcing. However, I would defer to our general manager, John Viola and the various committees, to suggest any areas that outsourcing might be needed.


3. Boards must make difficult decisions. How will you address differences of opinions between Board members?

Understandably, not all members of the Board will agree all of the time. When different opinions arise, I will listen, weigh all options, and measure the risk versus the rewards. I will vote according to my best vision, educational background and experience.

Bio:

I became familiar with Ocean Pines when my parents purchased a lot in the 70s, retiring here in 1991. Over those years I watched the community grow into a place I wished to live, and I purchased my home here in 2002.

My father served on the OPA Board in the 1990s, and with many others had the opportunity to work closely with the developer and county to provide amenities and services needed for a growing community, which we all enjoy today.

The board’s role now is to ensure we maintain our beautiful community and its amenities, keep our community safe by supporting our Police and Fire Departments, protect our property values, and follow the association’s governing documents.

With over 8400 property owners I recognize there will always be differing priorities and opinions. I will listen to community members and thoughtfully make decisions on the issues at hand in order to wisely spend your money.

Serving on a variety of Ocean Pines committees, along with being the former owner/publisher of the Bayside Gazette gave me the opportunity to connect to the community. I’m now retired and would love to continue focusing on our wonderful community by serving on the board.


1. What do you think are the most significant issues facing the Association in the next 2 or 3 years and what solutions would you offer?

Our community is now 55 years old and there is a need to expedite the process of run-down properties to protect property values. Neighborhoods which have a secondary HOA have managed to do so with fines. Reasonably enacted, it could help to resolve issues with unkempt properties after warnings are ignored, along with encouraging owners to address needed repairs in a timelier manner.

The Beach Club, which is one of our oldest most valuable assets, is in need of a renovation and to be brought up to current ADA accessible standards so all of our property owners can enjoy this wonderful amenity.

Drainage will always be an on-going issue and we should continue to look for grants through local environmental partners who can help mitigate drainage problems, along with erosion to our shorelines, as we have with the Bainbridge and Jenkins Point projects.

Keeping our community safe by supporting the needs of our Police and Fire Departments.

Working with our county and state representatives for essential needs, including a cell tower capable of providing reliable cell service to areas in the ‘dead zone’, and ramping up improvements to Rt. 589 as commercial growth continues to expand along that corridor.


2. Outsourcing of our three Food and Beverage operations has been successful. Do you see other areas in which outsourcing might be appropriate?

Outsourcing our Food and Beverage operations certainly proved with the right local management group those facilities could be turned around in a big way. We are fortunate to be located in an area where hospitality is the main industry, making it fairly easy to find a local company who could take on that task to great success.

In our other major revenue generating operations of aquatics and golf there are few local resources with the expertise and manpower needed. An earlier attempt to bring in an out- of- area management group for golf did not go well, and there are few local resources to handle our pools, so I don’t see an opportunity at this time.

Currently the General Manager determines when he and his management team feel the need for outsourcing special projects and interim labor shortages. The board can, and should, at any time consider a recommendation by the General Manager for permanent outsourcing for any department due to continued labor shortages that may greatly impact the community, or one that will provide a positive cost/benefit opportunity for the association.


3. Boards must make difficult decisions. How will you address differences of opinions between Board members?

Making difficult decisions is made easier by listening to a variety of viewpoints, suggestions and opinions, as there are rarely perfection solutions to all issues.

I tend to be direct, as I believe a healthy and respectful discussion is the best way to arrive at a practical and well-reasoned result. There will always be times in which any board member may be more passionate about something than others, and listening respectfully to the opinions of others allows everyone to be heard and have their viewpoint considered. In the process of constructive debate most of us can learn something we may not have thought about, and even realize there may be a better solution than our own to a sticky problem.

Debates on issues are not meant to be personal. Everyone should feel comfortable in expressing their ideas and opinions, and strive to agree to disagree in a civil manner…… and then even enjoy getting together amicably with each other later for a cocktail. Respect and civility can go a long way in providing a productive board and a community which is content feeling sound decisions are being made.

Bio:

My name is Jeff Heavner and I encourage all to cast your vote and consider me as one of your choices. I recently retired from a 31-year career at ExxonMobil in a wide variety of challenging leadership roles. I spent the last 4-years as a member of an 8-person leadership team that safely and successfully directed a $3 billion lubricants business with an expense budget of $250 million.

My wife and I celebrated out 40th wedding anniversary and have 2 daughters. I graduated from the US Naval Academy and honorably served our great country on the USS Midway, CV-41, homeported in Japan as an intelligence officer for fighter squadron, VF-151, and then as an instructor at the Navy and Marine Corps Intelligence Training Center in Virginia.

I have been successful by establishing a safety culture, casting a wide collaboration net and valuing the perspective of others, planning and setting goals and working as a team to make good decisions. I will use my proven leadership behaviors and broad experiences to help keep our team’s collective direction aligned to execute a plan ensuring we all continue to enjoy the lifestyle and property values where we have chosen to live.


1. What do you think are the most significant issues facing the Association in the next 2 or 3 years and what solutions would you offer?

Ocean Pines is a vibrant community that competes with the best. I call it the “Land of Pleasant Living.” The association will always have significant internal and external issues to face to continuously improve our infrastructure (police, fire, roads, bulkheads), amenities, marketing and public relations, public works, and recreation and parks. Improvement is vital to lead this community forward into the next 50-years. Issues like police staffing, aging fire trucks, aging beach club, community aesthetics, road projects outside of the Pines. The list is continuing and is long.

The cornerstone of my success at ExxonMobil was leading departments forward by focusing on the execution of both yearly and longer-range strategic plans. The plans identified the significant issues and their solutions. Departments discussed progress at leadership (board) meetings. Our success was dependent on working together. I recommend that each of the thirteen advisory committees and general manager develop, maintain, and report the progress of strategic plans.

This approach builds teams and transparency. I also recommend adopting the practice of scheduling time during board meetings where one or two committees reviews the highlights of their plans. Get more individuals involved and talking. I believe this would create more community interest.


2. Outsourcing of our three Food and Beverage operations has been successful. Do you see other areas in which outsourcing might be appropriate?

Outsourcing, the practice of hiring a third party for services, is usually a choice by companies to reduce costs. However, it can also be an alternative for organizations that do not possess the sustained core competencies to provide the best customer experience and compete for improved usage, revenue, and profits. It became clear that OPA did not have the core competencies to delight customers at its three wonderful food and beverage venues. The board made a great decision to outsource! Food and beverage absolutely require highly specialized skills and resources.

Every organization has the responsibility to routinely evaluate its operations for opportunities that either significantly reduce costs or improve customer delight and share of wallet. The services and technology available are ever changing. An advisory committee, Strategic Planning, should undertake this responsibility. I recommend developing a protocol to help accomplish this task with minimum burden.

The board has the advantage from a broad spectrum of thirteen talented advisory committees. These committees are most valuable! I would also recommend that committee members interface directly with the board during meetings versus through their board liaison. It is wonderful to see the strong patronage at the three OP venues.


3. Boards must make difficult decisions. How will you address differences of opinions between Board members?

Big issue decision making is challenging work. This disciplined focus can define character. Board members bring diversified perspective that can be the heartbeat of a well-oiled machine working to improve the needs of our wonderful community. Differing opinions can flush-out facts or knowledge that may strengthen or even change the opinion of others. It is essential to both choose board members that have demonstrated the ability to collaborate with others and establish a professional environment that encourages open discussion.

I bring the skills required to professionally ask open-ended questions that respect the opinions of others while uncovering the prevailing reasons behind beliefs. I developed this business acumen over decades of leadership positions at ExxonMobil in sales, engineering, marketing, and distribution, built upon a Navy leadership foundation. I truly value the opinions of others and have developed excellent listening skills.

A key aspect of productive teamwork is valuing diverse thinking. Boards should create a culture where individuals share and discuss the foundation of differing opinions. It is easy to erode courage of conviction and halt discussions of why others feel the way they do. Good decisions now will keep Ocean Pines a most valued community for the next 50-years.