DIRECTORS ELECTION

Questions? Email Elizabeth Simpson at [email protected].

Board Candidates

Nominating Committee selected candidates:​

Karen Booth, 1 Shelley Ct.

Click here for Karen’s candidate video.

Born and raised in Connecticut, Karen had a successful career in Commercial Banking. She recently retired from Wells Fargo Bank, where she managed a team of banking professionals, who provided loans, treasury and other banking products to private and public corporations.  Over the years Karen developed strong business relationships with clients, colleagues, community leaders, and not-for-profit organizations. Karen gained experience by supporting a diverse client base that included manufacturers, retailers, service businesses, hospitality, and real estate.  Karen holds a BA and MBA degree in Finance.

Palmetto Dunes has been a part of Karen’s life since 1987, when her parents built a second home & they eventually resided. Over the years, Karen’s family spent vacations, holidays and frequent visits to PD.  Although she has seen significant growth and change since 1987, Karen proudly states that PD will always be considered “home” to her entire family. Karen and her husband Peter took ownership of the home in 2008, and recently completed a full renovation. They are excited to now reside in PD.

Why do you want to serve on the PDPOA Board of Directors — and is there anything in particular you would like to accomplish? 
PD has been a part of my family (including 4^th generation), for over 35 years. I am committed to the PD community and will seek to make improvements whenever possible for our future generations.   I believe that my financial analysis, business negotiation and strategic planning skills will allow me to make meaningful contributions to the POPOA Board & fellow property owners. As a board member, I would like to obtain a deep understanding of issues as they arise; make sure there is open and effective communication among owners to make informed decisions; and work together to create a stronger community.

What do you see as the most important challenges facing Palmetto Dunes in the next 5 years?
Some challenges include:

• A timely and successful search for an experienced and qualified general manager.
• The property owners within PD are varied (full time residents, non-renters and investors/rent short term) and often have different priorities. It is important to balance the needs of each group; yet ensure that PD will remain a top choice and attract new families who will reside and strengthen our future.
• Enhanced amenities for residents that are comparable to other Hilton Head communities (playgrounds, pool).
• Seek efficiencies in ARB & ease of doing business
• Security, resort maintenance, traffic management.

Barbara McFadden, 1 Offshore

Click here for Barbara’s candidate video.

If my face is familiar to you, it’s likely you live in Mariners and have seen me and my dog Hunter out walking or remember me from my time on the PD Board in 2009-2012.

We bought our first PD property, a Fazio condo, in 1986. This led to a home (garage needed) in 2000 and full-time residency in 2002. My Mother was also an active Queen’s Grant resident from 1988-2020.

I am a recovering attorney turned businesswoman. I served as law clerk to a judge, worked in a Federal Agency as trial attorney, and joined the IBM General Counsel’s Office, serving in the US and abroad for 25 years in various legal capacities, retiring in a business role as Vice President for International Transactions. For my next act, I opened a small legal practice in Bluffton focused on all aspects of Elder Law and was active in the Rotary Club of Okatie, serving twice as Club President. Now fully retired, I look forward to once again serving our community.

Why do you want to serve on the PDPOA Board of Directors — and is there anything in particular you would like to accomplish? 
As stated above, I have owned property and lived in Palmetto Dunes for 38 years. It is my home. There are multiple complex issues facing our community as infrastructure matures and our demographics evolve. My motivation for rejoining the Palmetto Dunes Board is this inflexion point. Many of the challenges and opportunities facing our broader Island community also face PD. We must decide now how we best preserve our quality of life and the things that attracted each of us to PD originally while meeting needs of the evolving demographics of our owners, visitors and businesses.

What do you see as the most important challenges facing Palmetto Dunes in the next 5 years?
I have spent my life listening to clients, customers, and colleagues, working to understand concerns, interests and goals, developing creative solutions to meet expectations and successfully negotiating resolutions. I am well able to communicate complex information in an understandable manner. I believe this experience and my past Board service will help our community navigate our present environment and set our course for the future. I have no set Agenda except to listen, understand and help develop winning community solutions for our current needs while assuring our future, all in a fiscally responsible manner. I look forward to the next three years.

Lee Whitehurst, 10 Starboard Tack

Click here for Lee’s candidate video.

Lee and his wife Debbie bought their home in PD and started living part-time in HHI in 2015. They fell in love with the Lowcountry and became full-time residents in 2021. Previously, they lived in the mountains of West Virginia and spent 25 years in Northern Virginia.

Lee was a geologist and environmental scientist for thirty years, having worked for the State of WV and then the US Environmental Protection Agency. The focus of his work involved developing and implementing regulations to protect underground sources of drinking water.

Since his teenage years, Lee has been interested in building and playing stringed instruments. After retiring, he trained as a luthier and opened an instrument repair business. Lee loves playing banjo and guitar, cycling, walking in the community and on the beach, captaining his boat on the lagoon while observing wildlife, and enjoying all the theater and music events this wonderful island has to offer.

Lee served for six years on the POA board of his WV community. Currently, he’s serving on PD’s Sustainment and Stewardship Committee.

Why do you want to serve on the PDPOA Board of Directors — and is there anything in particular you would like to accomplish? 
He believes that it’s important for residents to become involved in helping to set the direction for PD as it evolves and new challenges emerge. He feels that he can bring value to the PD board through the experiences he gained from his work life and previous WV board activities. Lee has witnessed several “near accidents” occurring between bicyclists and cars in our community. If he is selected for the Board, he would like to focus on creative ways of enhancing safety and compliance for bikers through education, improved signage, and incentives through our own PD bike ambassador program.

What do you see as the most important challenges facing Palmetto Dunes in the next 5 years? 
Lee, Debbie, and Jethro are frequent walkers of the community and beach and truly enjoy engaging with residents and visitors they encounter. The number one issue they hear about from residents is the concern about losing the residential feel of our beloved community. Lee feels that it is critical for the Board and Association to stay aware of this concern and always strive to establish and maintain the proper balance between the needs of residents who call PD their home and the owners of rental properties.