AHNA Board Member Elections 2020
As some board members' two-year terms are coming to a close at the end of 2020, the following new leaders were unanimously elected to serve by neighbors who attended the virtual annual meeting in October. New board members will join an experienced team of people who have been representing our neighborhood for years.
1. What's your background in Arbor Hills, and what made you want to get involved?
I moved to Arbor Hills two years ago when my husband, Ean and I bought our first home. We loved our apartment on Monroe Street, but were excited to have a place of our own - and we really wanted to get a dog! Our cocker spaniel Charlie joined us soon after we moved in.
I joined the AHNA Board right way - before we even moved in - when I saw a notice for an opening as the newsletter editor. I have a background in communications, so this seemed like the perfect fit. I have enjoyed getting to know neighbors as I've worked on articles and pulled together features about life in Arbor Hills.
2. What relevant background or experience do you have that you think will help you in your role on the board?
In the two years that I've served on the board, I've learned a lot about our neighborhood and how we can work together to make Arbor Hills a great place to live - and give back to our community. I have served in a number of leadership roles professionally and outside of work, and I'm ready to apply that experience to this role. I know that I have big shoes to fill as our current President, Jim Cortada, steps down, but I also know that we have an incredible, committed group of board members, block captains, and neighbors who are ready to help, so I won't be leading the group alone.
3. What are you looking forward to doing as a member of the board, and what do you hope to accomplish?
First, I think it's important to listen to the needs of our community and tailor our goals as a board to what is important in the neighborhood.
I hope to continue our focus on giving back to organizations that support education and help those in need in our community - whether that's through fundraising or volunteering. As a board, we made a commitment to focus on diversity and inclusion so that all residents feel welcome and supported. I plan to continue to make this commitment a central part of our work in the coming year.
1. What's your background in Arbor Hills, and what made you want to get involved?
My husband and I moved to Arbor Hills almost 2 years ago (November 2018). We spent the first year in our home mostly living out of boxes while we planned our wedding. We attended a couple of the food cart nights and got to know a few of our neighbors but I spent most of my free time planning and prepping for the wedding and honeymoon. We joined the neighborhood association, but didn't have much time to dedicate outside of that. Even though I didn't have much time, I always felt like I was a part of the neighborhood. Between a welcome from our block captain and the regular newsletters, we felt like a small piece of a larger whole. In the second year of living in Arbor Hills we had some new neighbors move in that didn't have the same experience. They didn't know about the AHNA, which made me feel like I needed to take action to make others feel welcome. I think there is a great opportunity for our neighborhood association to have better outreach to our new and younger neighbors, and I'm hoping that I can be a part of that!
2. What relevant background or experience do you have that you think will help you in your role on the board?
I work as a project manager at Epic and I see this opportunity to better engage our new neighbors as a new project. I'm always working with both customers and internal staff to support them and help them find the best path forward. I think of this role in the same way. I want to see the neighborhood association be successful. I'm hoping I can use my project management and social media skills to increase our presence as an organization and get our newer neighbors more engaged.
3. What are you looking forward to doing as a member of the board, and what do you hope to accomplish?
I think there are some big opportunities for us to do a few things: (1) have a more active social media presence (a more active Facebook page and possibly Instagram) and (2) more actively engage some of our younger or newer neighbors. And even though some of that might be outside of the corresponding secretary role, I'm excited to push us in the right direction. I want to encourage the board to think more about how we are getting new neighbors engaged and then reaching out to them often enough to keep them engaged. I'm excited to help the board come up with the right solution and direction!
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My husband and I bought our house on Heatherdell Lane back in 1998 a few months before our wedding. Our son was born in 2000 and our daughter in 2002. When the kids were little we attended the 4th of July parade and celebrations in the park.
Both kids attended Leopold, Cherokee, and West. I was Leopold’s Parent Faculty Organization (PFO) president for 3 years and helped a lot with their annual events (especially the Timberwolf Trample – started by the parents of one of my son’s classmates).
When my son was a freshman at West I became involved with the Madison West Athletic Booster Association (MWABA) as a liaison for the wrestling team. The following year I became part of the executive committee as the website editor. I am still involved with that group: updating the website (mwaba.org), managing their social media (Twitter: @west_athletic, Facebook: @MWABAWestBoosters), and communicating with parents/students via a dedicated Gmail account (also helping at events).
With my kids gone at college, I have more free time and figured it would be fun to get more involved with this group.
1. What's your background in Arbor Hills, and what made you want to get involved?
I moved to Arbor Hills in spring of 2018. I love our street, Arbor Hills Park and the location of Arbor Hills in relation to Madison and the greater Madison area. I wanted to get involved to meet neighbors and create an inclusive neighborhood.
2. What relevant background or experience do you have that you think will help you in your role on the board?
My professional experience includes over 17 years in Higher Education Administration at Northwestern University, Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. My professional and personal experience will help with electronic communication during COVID.
3. What are you looking forward to doing as a member of the board, and what do you hope to accomplish?
I hope to create a more cohesive neighborhood environment, resulting in a cleaner, more welcoming, safer, and more neighborly Arbor Hills. I look forward to maintaining, and eventually increasing, lines of communication with block captains.
1. What's your background in Arbor Hills, and what made you want to get involved?
My wife and I moved to Arbor Hills this February 2020 right before COVID-19 shut everything down. Being new to the area, I wanted to find a way to get involved and meet folks in the area all while helping bring the community together!
2. What relevant background or experience do you have that you think will help you in your role on the board?
My day job is working for a large Communications Agency here in Madison! I lead a team of Public Relations professionals who work to secure media coverage for clients across the country. I have extensive experience writing articles like the ones that would go in the newsletter and enjoy finding interesting stories and sharing them!
3. What are you looking forward to doing as a member of the board, and what do you hope to accomplish?
Looking forward to connecting with folks in the community and sharing the stories of our friends and neighbors! Especially during this time when people feel disconnected, I am eager to find ways to bring people together and celebrate the positive happenings in our area!
Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions if you would like more information on my platform (michael.horecki@gmail.com)!