ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

Questions? Email Elizabeth Simpson at [email protected].

Board Candidates

Dominic Colapietro
44 Fazio Villas

My wife Stephanie and I have been coming to Palmetto Dunes for the last 30 years and purchased our current property in 2011. We split our time between Hilton Head and Augusta, GA. and are on the island every other week year-round. I have been a member of the Fazio Ill board and have served as president for the last 4 years. I earned my BS degree in accounting and finance from Fordham University. After college, I attended the United States Marine Corps Officer Candidate School. Upon my commission, I went to Naval Flight school in Pensacola and earned my wings. l had numerous duty assignments and my final billet was as the Commanding Officer of a helicopter squadron. Currently, I am president and owner of a global textile sourcing company. In 2024, I served on the PD GM/CEO search committee and also the board nominating committee. When not on the island enjoying the beauty of our community, I volunteer at the Golden Harvest food bank and Augusta University Hospital.

Why do you want to serve on the PDPOA Board of Directors? Is there anything in particular you would like to accomplish? 

I’d like to take an active role in shaping issues that I am passionate about, including protecting our property values, preserving the aesthetic appeal of PD, and being an advocate for my neighbors. I’m also very interested in trying to find a solution for safe bike/pedestrian and vehicle traffic including better signage. I’ve owned my home in PD for over 16 years, and over time, I’ve noticed things that need to be addressed, especially during the high tourist season. I am confident that my extensive background in both military command and business ownership will greatly benefit our community.

What do you see as the most important challenges facing Palmetto Dunes in the next 5 years?
Managing escalating operational and insurance costs
Formulating better traffic flow, regulations and signage
Understanding all the infrastructure needs involving roads, bridges and related issues
Developing a stronger relationship with the town of Hilton Head and Beaufort County
Melding the residential and commercial interests to form a stronger relationship.

Mary Ellen Prentiss
5 Catboat

After more than 35 years as a global supply chain executive, I retired from a career leading global sourcing, operations, and strategic planning for international retail brands. Today, I provide business consulting through Prentis Group Consulting and enjoy speaking and mentoring students at SCAD.  Currently I am serving on the Palmetto Dunes Architectural Review Board (ARB) and Appeals Committee, where I’ve gained valuable insight into our community’s governance and the importance of preserving the character that makes Palmetto Dunes so special.

My family and I have enjoyed Palmetto Dunes for many years. We’ve built lasting friendships and wonderful memories here. We love the active lifestyle this community offers—from golfing, playing pickleball, biking and walking our dog on the beach to simply enjoying time outdoors together. Serving on the Board would be a meaningful opportunity to give back to a community that has given us so much.

Why do you want to serve on the PDPOA Board of Directors?  Is there anything in particular you would like to accomplish?

Serving on the ARB and Appeals Committee has given me a better understanding of what it takes to keep Palmetto Dunes the special place it is. I’d like to continue serving by helping protect the character, beauty, and quality of our community while making sure we’re planning wisely for the future. I’ll bring business experience, a collaborative approach, and a commitment to listening and making thoughtful decisions for all property owners.

What do you see as the most important challenges facing PD in the next 5 years?
I believe our priorities should be preserving everything that makes Palmetto Dunes such a special place while planning for the future. By investing wisely in our infrastructure, amenities, and natural environment, communicating openly, and balancing the needs of homeowners, seasonal residents, renters, and visitors, we can protect our property values and enhance our community. Preparing for the future means making thoughtful investments today so Palmetto Dunes continues to thrive as an exceptional place to live, vacation, and enjoy for generations to come.

Dan Regenold
3 Junket

My wife Becky and I have owned property in Palmetto Dunes since 2001 when we owned two condos at Villamare.   We now live at 3 Junket in Mariners where we just became full time residents.  We choose to live here because we think it’s the best place in the world and we want to keep it that way with a residential feel.

Professionally, I founded and ran a 70+ person manufacturing company for 40 years, which has given me a versatile business background.  My two years on the Finance Committee has given me a solid foundation of PD finances and an understanding of our organization.

I have started a major charitable Initiative, a FREE University that teaches classes to the public and acted as Board President to an arts organization that helps disabled artists in Cincinnati, OH.  My education includes a BA in Finance from Indiana and an MBA in Economics from Xavier University.   And, if you see a little Black Dog chasing the ball on the beach, that’s Gidget and she belongs to us!

Why do you want to serve on the PDPOA Board of Directors?

I put my name forward as a potential Board Member to ensure that Palmetto Dunes remains financially strong as we continue to build our financial reserves to protect our community.   My candidacy isn’t just about Balance sheets; it’s about creating the best experience of Palmetto Dunes and maintaining the beauty for everyone who visits.   The substantial reserves we are accumulating in the Community Enhancement Fund  (>$8 million) needs to be spent on amenities to improve PD.   (If we don’t start to allocate the CEF monies let’s reduce the fee we charge owners when they sell.)

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

• This year a void is created as our PD Board will lose two important finance committee members. The continuity of leadership in the finance area is important as we carry forward important procedures we have put in place.
• Creating balance between residents of PD and owners of rental properties is challenging. My varied ownership experience will help me make the best decisions.
• I see infrastructure and traffic issues as problems in Palmetto Dunes. I will always look for ways to improve and be transparent about it.
• I look forward to meeting, listening and working with you the next three years.

Lutz Schremmer
10 Promontory

My wife Denise and I moved to HHI in 1997 from Connecticut and raised our then 3&6 year old children here, while keeping my job as an Partner/Owner at one the nation’s largest marketing firms, based in Greenwich Ct.   Prior to my 25 year marketing career, I had leveraged my Architecture degree from Columbia University, working as a builder, and in various facets of multi-family construction.  Now retired for 5+ years after selling our firm, I continue to live primarily in PD, and part time in Manhattan, while occasionally doing some real estate development in the Atlanta area.

We picked Palmetto Dunes after looking at communities across the SE Coast and across the Island.  We loved the then healthy balance PD provided between the vibrancy of a resort community and quieter non-STR gated communities.   Long hot summers notwithstanding, we still love it here.  I have enjoyed working on the PDPOA Board this year in an interim capacity, along with several committees.

Why do you want to serve on the PDPOA Board of Directors — and is there anything in particular you would like to accomplish?
As a current board member, I understand the importance of preserving the quality of life that attracted us all here.  Great work has been done to clarify and simplify governing documents, enhance communication and seek community input on projects and move forward with much needed aging infrastructure work, all while being responsible stewards of our considerable financial resources.  That said, there’s a difference between preserving and enhancing.  I look forward to leveraging my background skills to look for new ways to enhance life in PD for all owners.

What do you see as the most important challenges facing Palmetto Dunes in the next 5 years?
I’ve watched over the past three decades as our community has shifted from primarily full time residents to primarily part-time owners and STR investor owners.   When my daughter and grandchildren moved back to HHI from NYC last year, it was a wake-up call to me that they didn’t even consider PD: “Dad, other then the beach there’s not much there for young families”.  She grew up here and she’s right.  We can do better to make our community more attractive to a broader demographic, while balancing keeping costs low for our aging retirees and still attractive to vacationers.

Miles Snowden
4 Armada

I am a physician and healthcare services executive.  My wife, Dorothy, and I have owned our home in Palmetto Dunes for 12 years.  We have been part time residents throughout that time and enjoy sharing our home with extended family and close friends yearround.  In addition, prior to owning our home, our family vacationed nearly every year in Palmetto Dunes for many years.

For the past 26 years I have served as an executive in both national and international companies, including Delta Air Lines and United Health Group among others.  I retired last year, and now have the oppportunity to give my time to the interests and organizations which have been important to my family and to me.  My professional experience includes managing extensive teams of employees across the country, being accountable for large budgets, operating nationally scaled businesses, managing complex projects and representing corporate interests with national and international audiences.  In addition, I have served on both for profit and not for profit boards and committees for a number of organizations.

Why do you want to serve on the PDPOA Board of Directors — and is there anything in particular you would like to accomplish?

I am interested in serving on the Board in order to continue the legacy of good guardianship of our community.  I am not in pursuit of a particular goal or a specific change.  Palmetto Dunes has been a safe, beautiful, and desirable community for decades.  This has allowed us, as property owners, to not only enjoy great experiences, but to also benefit from substantial increase in the value of our homes.  As a Board member, my goal will be to maintain our history of good guardianship of our community for both our current and our future owners.

What do you see as the most important challenges facing Palmetto Dunes in the next 5 years?
I respect the broad variation in how our community’s homes and amenities are used by residents and visitors alike, and I view this as a special advantage in maintaining a great community for current owners and the generations to follow us.  This variety of stakeholders, while certainly one of our strengths, will always also be one of our challenges.  We must be persistent in our efforts to assure our community provides a great experience for everyone every day.