Candidates for Election

Victor Florian

Why do you want to serve on the board?
The perception of both the Board of Directors and their method of operation is very important to me. Therefore, my primary intention is to bring balance to the board. I hope to have a positive influence on the way our monthly meetings are held so that order, respect, consideration and professionalism can be shown to all Sorrento homeowners.

Additionally, I would like to propose new ideas and identify operational efficiencies to help reduce our constantly increasing monthly dues. For instance, I feel that by auditing our expenses and scrutinizing our suppliers’ contracts prior to awarding them, we may be able to reduce spending. Along with other measures, I believe that we can effectively lower monthly HOA dues, without losing any of Sorrento’s current prestige.

Work Experience
1979 – 1983 - Assistant Controller – Security Pacific National Bank
Team member in the development, audit and implementation of Budgetary Planning for domestic & foreign
branches of the bank.

1984 – Founder and Owner of Company: VRF Financial Group,
a division of Rocca International USA, Inc.
Finance & Business consulting with expertise in Tax Planning

1992 – Real Estate License - Real Estate Finance and Consulting

2001 – Real Estate Broker License - Founded Acropolis Mortgage Company
Mortgage Finance for the residential market.

2005 – Rocca International USA, Inc., expanded to work with Asia & Latin America
International Trade Projects between China and Latin America with projections to do the same between the
United States and Latin America

Educational Background
1975 - California State University Northridge – Bachelor in Business Administration
Finance and Economics Emphasis

1976 - American Graduate School of International Management (Thunderbird)
MBA in International Management

Current Activities

• Board Member of the Valley International Trade Association
• Board Member, founder and member of the Executive Committee of
• The Latino Business Chamber of Greater Los Angeles
• Member of the Town Hall Professional Association
• Member of the Los Angeles World Affairs Council

His latest activities in Los Angeles have included his participation in an LA Access event where government officials and business people got together to discuss solutions to present economic challenges. He also participated in a Washington DC Access event where 200 business people from Southern California, including Mayor Antonio Villarraigosa, traveled to DC to discuss weaknesses in the United States’ economic pillars.

Email victorforhoa@gmail.com

Mary Cooley-Lopez

Why do you want to serve on the board?
I want to serve on the Board because I believe I can make a difference. I also think I could offer neutrality to our somewhat unstable Board. One of my chief goals is to see what can be done to alleviate the pressure of the rising Homeowner fees which are due to our insufficient reserves and inflation. I have several ideas on how to counterbalance them:

• First of all, we could rent out the community pool to community members who would like to have a party. Prerequisites would include a refundable deposit and a non-refundable deposit plus acceptance of contracts and rules. The rental money could go towards any number of community projects. Let’s face it, many people already throw parties there unofficially and against the rules, but this way we can have more control over the safety issues and clean-up.
• Another idea is based on the upcoming DWP Water Conservation restrictions. We could plant pretty blooming succulents from the cacti family or other plants near the gates or anywhere else because they will need less water. Not to mention that fact that we will not have to seasonally replant every six months. This could save the association up to $20,000 which was spent just last fall. We could organize a Community Beautification Day to weed and plant the appropriate plants ourselves. You would be surprised how many neighbors would come to help and donate their time.
• Additionally, we could use the Sorrento Newsletter to feature various advertisers from businesses from our own community. There are many people that live in this community that own businesses who could advertise to our 622 homes. They could even offer specials to our community which could benefit them by generating more untapped clients. Again this may yield some extra income that the community could use beyond paying for the cost of the newsletter.

If you like my Community Spirit and would like to see a Fresh and New Outlook on the Board, Please vote for me! If I am elected I will work hard on your behalf to better this community.

Experience/Qualifications:

I am a UCLA graduate (Cum Laude) and a LAUSD Teacher on Temporary Leave to take care of my two wonderful boys, ages 3 and 5. I am also one of the original members of this community. I moved here in 2001 and I live on Pesaro Way. You may know me because I am the current Editor and Chief of the Sorrento Newsletter. I also am a member of the Mom’s Club, Mom’s Boot Camp, Book Club, Media and Newsletter Committee and Hospitality Committee. As a Hospitality member for last two years, I have helped plan and volunteered for the Annual Luaus, Annual Spring Flings, Halloween events, Annual Election Meetings and gate decorations at the holidays. I have attended most Board Meetings in the past so I can keep abreast of the community news and voice my opinions and ideas. I plan to continue to be an active hard working member of the community regardless of being elected because I have my heart invested here in this community.

Email mcooleylopez@gmail.com

A.J. Silvia

Why do you want to serve on the board?
My goal is to provide a common sense business approach for HOA financial and business practices. I can bring to the HOA a fair and equitable voice for promoting Homeowner advocacy within our community. I would like to seek alternative methods and options for spending HOA funds and gain the best value for our Homeowners through balanced and unbiased thinking. I intend to provide diversity and civility within the Board of Directors with a committed and dedicated willingness to work with and for all Homeowners.

Experience / Qualifications
I have been a Consumer Advocate all my professional career. For the last 25 years, I have been a Patient Advocate as a Registered Nurse. These advocacy skills are directly transferable to being a Homeowner Advocate for which I will champion for YOU.

Prior to my Nursing career, I was a sworn Law Enforcement Officer for 8 years with several departments. I utilized my common sense, education and compassion dealing with peoples’ needs to provide fair and balanced advocacy for the communities I served.

I have volunteered my time and efforts to this HOA for the last year by serving as a member of the Architectural and Landscaping Committee. On one (1) project alone, I dedicated and committed six (6) months of efforts identifying overpayments of tens of thousands of dollars of HOA funds with the Department of Water and Power. These efforts will lead to a refund of approximately $10,000.00 for the last twelve (12) months to the HOA…this translates savings to YOU the Homeowners.

Education:

Graduate:
MSN (Master of Science Nursing)-University of Colorado, Colorado Springs

Undergraduate:
BSN (Bachelor of Science Nursing)-Beth-El College of Nursing
A.A. (Associate of Arts Nursing)-Los Angeles Pierce College
A.S. (Associate of Science Criminal Justice)-Cape Code Community College

Email ajsilvia@aol.com

David Sobel

Why do you want to serve on the board?

Two years ago, I was honored that you, the Homeowners, elected me for my first term with the Sorrento Homeowners Board of Directors.

As a relatively new homeowner, I was elected because I wanted three things accomplished that I know we all value so much.

We wanted:

1. Increased security
2. Increased safety
3. Increased financial sustainability of our Association

Within the two years, I have helped the Board to move toward these goals by doing the following:

1. Increased Security – The Board has replaced our previous company, ACE Security with Centurion Security. Centurion Security is an extremely valuable asset to our community. They have proven themselves time and time again; whether it is dealing with the fires that raged through our community, or the patrol calling your home because you left the garage door open at night.

2. Increased Safety – While on the Board, I have helped install speed humps at major east/west slopes to help reduce speeding within the community. Additionally, within the first three months of being elected to the Board, we went to S&S to get them to pay over $30,000 to better secure the Torino Gates. Residents no longer have to fear being tailgated in at the only unmanned security gate within the community.

3. Increased Financial Sustainability – When I was elected to the Board, our reserves were completely underfunded. If a major catastrophe hit our community, we would not have had enough money for necessary and vital repairs. This would have lead to an assessment that everyone would have had to pay. The Board has accomplished this by raising your dues. I know that when we all moved here, we were told that eventually, when the whole community was built out, that dues would come down. That is simply not realistic from an economic standpoint. I do not want our HOA to be unprepared for any predictable or unforeseen situations. On a monthly basis, we are completely funding our reserves as our number one priority to restore the reserves to a healthy level.

More work still needs to be done in all three of these areas to maintain the standard of living in our wonderful community.

I appreciate your vote.

Email sorrentomeadows14@yahoo.com