Woodhaven’s Board of Directors and staff would like to recognize and congratulate Karen Roche on her upcoming retirement as Executive Director effective June 1, 2019. Karen has dedicated 40 years of her life to Woodhaven Lakes, and has many accomplishments in her service to the Association, our Property Owners, Board of Directors and staff.
In 1979, at the age of 21, Karen began her career with Woodhaven as Recreation Programmer. Over the ensuing twelve years, Karen was promoted to Recreation Manager, and Recreation Director. Karen’s time with the Recreation Department helped lay the foundation for the multitude of recreational programs, events, services and amenities we all enjoy today.
Karen continued to rise through the ranks of Woodhaven, with time spent as Assistant General Manager, and ultimately landing in her current role as Executive Director in 1993. During that time, Karen worked closely with Charles Frazier, Board President, and Jeff Hickey, General Manager to develop a co-management structure for the Association which has worked effectively and efficiently for the past 26 years.
In her time as Executive Director, Karen was a leader in developing Woodhaven’s relationship with its current legal counsel Ward, Murray, Pace and Johnson. Karen helped navigate the Association through some extremely tumultuous times, including the residency lawsuits during the early 1990s. Karen was an integral member of the management team, along with Woodhaven’s Board of Directors and legal counsel, which helped negotiate and close the deal with Aqua America to purchase Woodhaven’s water and sewer operations. Karen was instrumental in directing and overseeing multiple Property Owner Committees and Boards through multiple updates and adjustments of Woodhaven’s governing documents, including successful revisions of Woodhaven’s Covenants and Restrictions in 1996 and 2016.
In the aftermath of the tornado in 2015, Karen calmly and confidently used her experience, knowledge, leadership, compassion and personal skills to help the Association successfully navigate through one of the most devastating and trying periods in Woodhaven’s history. Her managerial skills and expertise were beneficial in directing staff, Property Owners and Board Members, and with coordinating outside emergency services from initial search and rescue efforts through cleanup, re-opening, rebuilding and reforestation initiatives.
Karen’s tenure has also included the oversight, planning, coordination and construction or renovation of most facilities on property including the Family Center, both pools, Administration Building, Rec Plex Area, Pavilion, General Store, Lakeview Building and most recently the Nature Center/Bait Shop.
Though her contract as Executive Director will end May 31, 2019, Karen will continue in a supportive role through the end of this year. Through her 40 years of service to Woodhaven, Karen has always shown compassion and displayed respectfulness to Property Owners and staff, regardless of the circumstances. We are extremely grateful for Karen’s time and dedication to Woodhaven, and are happy to continue to call her part of our family.
Karen has played an integral part in assisting Jeff Hickey with the development and initiation of a succession plan for the Association following her retirement. Because of the strong leadership on our current management team, we have been able to promote from within, thus continuing to provide the same level of service and programs which have allowed Woodhaven Lakes to thrive.
Jeff Hickey, current General Manager of 26 years, will transition into the Executive Director role. As a contracted employee, he will continue to report directly to the Board of Directors. Joining the Management Team will be Amy Ackert, as General Manager of Administrative Services, and Randy Koehler, as General Manager of Member Services.
Amy Ackert has been our Human Resource Manager for 9 years, as well as manager of our administrative staff. Amy will continue her HR responsibilities, while adding oversight of a number of departments on the administrative side of the Association.
Randy Koehler has been our Sales & Marketing, Communications, and IT Director for 22 years, managing Woodhaven’s marketing services, publications, IT staff, and our Real Estate Operations. Randy will continue to oversee Woodhaven Lakes Realty, Inc., Information Systems as well as several departments on the member services side of the Association.
