Pat Brown is the President of The Hamptons, a homeowner association of 152 units that is one of the 25 villages of the Aberdeen Property Owners Association (POA) in Boynton Beach, Florida. Pat also serves on the Aberdeen POA Master Board which represents 1,400 acres of property that includes 2,418 homes and recreational facilities.
Pat moved to Boynton Beach in 1976 after living in Connecticut and New York. Pat went to school at St. John’s School of Nursing in New York. After completing her studies and moving to Boynton Beach, Pat began her career as a nurse practitioner at Bethesda Hospital. She became the Director of Surgical Services and remained at Bethesda for over 30 years.
Pat has two children, Tara Lynn and Jeffrey. Tara is an attorney and Jeffrey is a fire fighter paramedic in Boynton. Pat’s hobbies include antiquing furniture and playing games, especially Monopoly which is her favorite. She also enjoys reading anything, from books to the ingredients list on a tube of toothpaste. Pat has been on the board for a total of eight years, two years as a Director and the past six as the President.
This past week, I spoke with Pat to discuss her experiences working as the President of The Hamptons HOA and as part of the POA and Advisory Board:
Ashley: What do you like most about being on your neighborhood board?
Pat: I enjoy working most of all with the community. A large part of that is making sure that the community is well maintained. There are a lot of older neighbors, so I like to help the community when I can. But most of all, maintaining the pristine condition of the community and by doing that, keeping up property values of the homes within the community.
Ashley: What has been your proudest accomplishment during your time on the Hamptons board?
Pat: A significant accomplishment during my time on the board was when we were able to revise and update our declarations and covenants. Another proud accomplishment was when we were able to upgrade the pool area. We bought new furniture, painted the area, and installed two new bathrooms. It is a beautiful community pool enjoyed by many of those who live here.
Ashley: Has your community gone through any rough spots, if so, how did you overcome these?
Pat: Every association board comes across difficulties. More recently, we have worked with the County Commissioner to make sure that sober homes are not moved into the community. We have absolutely nothing against them, we just do not feel that is it appropriate for our neighborhood.
Ashley: What advice would you share with other board members?
Pat: I would tell new or potential board members that If you’re going to do it, you must do it with an open heart. Being an association board member is a lot of work, but it truly can be a rewarding experience. You need to be committed to the obligations you are undertaking. Having a good sense of humor is also very beneficial. If you don’t have one at the start, you’ll likely develop one! Having a great management team is also essential, as it is something that can either make you or break you as a board. Lisa Teets, our Property Manager is wonderful. Lisa, Scott and Maria are always there and always do what they can to go above and beyond for the community by doing things that are not in their job descriptions. Before Hurricane Irma last year, they were there until the last minute before the storm to make sure we were prepared, and they were there immediately after the storm to help.
Ashley: How does your community communicate with residents?
Pat: One way we communicate to the residents is via email blasts. We also have a Hampton website we recommend all residents to visit where we post pertinent information about the community.
Ashley: You are also a board member on the Master Board, Aberdeen POA. Are there differences in the way things are done? Is there any advice you’d give another Board Member who is in a similar situation?
Pat: Overall, they are quite similar experiences. The POA is just a bigger picture in the sense that it includes all the communities. The main goal is to maintain and improve property values so that’s what we strive for in the end. I would likely give them the same advice I would give to a single association board member.
The Hamptons has been managed by Campbell Property Management since 2012 and Aberdeen POA has been with Campbell since 2000. Both communities are managed by Lisa Teets.
“Pat is very dedicated and an amazing Board Member. She always puts the association first; it is a true privilege to work with her,” says Lisa.
“Meet the Director” is an ongoing series where we recognize an outstanding Director from a community association in South Florida.
Serving on the Board of a Community Association is a challenging and often thankless job. There are thousands of dedicated volunteers in South Florida that have stepped up to lead their communities and we hope this series serves as a reminder to us all – to thank those that have invested their time and energy to make their communities a better place to live.
