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Candidate Bios 2024

For the November 7, 2024 Annual Meeting…

As per the results of the 18-Sep Annual Meeting, a quorum was not met. [Details Here]

For the 7-Nov “make-up” meeting at the reserve, the below candidates are still running for the two open seats. Scroll down the list or click an individual nave to see their Bio(s).

Details on voting are HERE and HERE.


Tim Burkett

My name is Tim Burkett, and I am interested in continuing to serve on The Highlands HOA Board of Directors.
My wife Jennifer and I moved to The Highlands in 2004, and we have thoroughly enjoyed our time here. We have been married for 24 years. We chose this neighborhood to raise our two children, Jessica and Liam who are now 19 and 15. Our family enjoys all the amenities that The Highlands has to offer and realize that these amenities are important to the value and success of our neighborhood.
I have served as the Vice-President of the Highlands HOA Board of Directors for the last 2 years. I have enjoyed working with the community and the other board members and wish to continue this service. Before serving on the HOA board, I was The Highlands Swim Team president for 5 years. I have also been on several committees/boards both professionally and with each school my children have attended.
I believe my 30 years of work experience in Finance and Banking has been and could continue to be an asset to The Highlands HOA. I have spent the last 15 years at a local community Bank in Colonial Heights. I strongly believe in our community and would love to continue my service for The Highland’s HOA Board of Directors.

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Ed Dentel

My family relocated to the Highlands nine years ago, seeking a nurturing community for our daughter. My wife, Natalie, is an engineer specializing in public safety networks and actively participates in the JFWCC service organization. Our daughter Kayleigh attended O.B. Gates and is now in her final year at Matoaca Middle. She has been engaged in various activities such as Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, the National Junior Honor Society, chorus, and school teams for cross country, track, and field hockey.
I have spent the last 25 years working in Virginia as a consultant, focusing on communications, security, integration, and service solutions for the public sector. During this period, I have designed, negotiated, and implemented some of my company’s most extensive state and nationwide solutions. For the past three years, I have worked exclusively with State and Commonwealth entities, involving Secretary and C-Level roles nationwide.
Three years ago, I saw an open board position as the perfect chance to deepen my involvement in our community. I take my commitment to the community seriously and spend a great deal of personal time on projects around the community. My other passion is mentoring youth, and I am actively involved every week with a local organization focused on youth development.
Three years ago, I approached the board emphasizing that regardless of the complexity of a situation, the solution lies in open and transparent communication. We have made sharing our plans, and progress, an important part of the process. We started as an entirely new board and grew into our roles together. I am proud of what we have accomplished as we have collaborated to drive significant improvements in our community. With an updated reserve study as of last year, and solid financial footing, we are in a great position to drive even more improvements in the neighborhood over the next three years.

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RONALD SIMONS

Ron Simons, his wife Tina, and their dog, Harley, moved into the Highlands in July 2024. Ron has a lot to offer the Board, beginning with 48 years of law enforcement experience, including working for NASA and in the U.S. Army. Currently Ron works for the Department of Homeland Security, both remotely and on site. Ron has excellent leadership and management skills that have been tested and proven, from serving as Vice President of the Titusville Youth Football League in Florida, to coordinating with foreign governments and U.S. Embassies overseas, and Senior Leadership within the U.S. Government. Ron looks forward to working with the board to ensure our neighborhood stays a warm and vibrant place to live.

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Benjamin Lugo

I was born in New York City and raised in a small town in the Piedmont section of North Carolina. Fueled by a lifelong passion for serving my country, my community, and people, I pursued a degree in Resource Management and Adult Education from Troy University. With over 20 years of military service under my belt, I currently hold the position of Chief of Training at a military-related educational institution, responsible for training young adults.
I have been happily married to my wife, Tracy, for 38 years, and we are the proud parents of three children and grandparents to six grandchildren. Excitedly anticipating the arrival of our 7th grandchild and new baby girl. Tracy and I recently moved to The Highlands, Lake Margaret section, in December 2023, and have witnessed the community’s remarkable growth over the past few months.
Throughout my life, I have acquired extensive leadership and organizational skills, having served two terms as a homeowners’ association board member for Waters Edge Condominium in Garden City Beach, SC, and one term as Treasurer. In these roles, I have worked closely with the management company, attorneys, contractors, and residents to ensure all community aspects function smoothly and efficiently. My strong desire to join the Highlands Community Association Board comes from my deep commitment to improving the community, aiding fellow residents, and giving back to the neighborhood I call home
In my role on the board, I aim to uphold my fiduciary duties, protect property values, maintain the quality of life my neighbors have come to expect, and further enhance the desirability of living in the Highlands. I aim to utilize my experience and skills to be a valuable asset to my fellow residents, contributing positively to their overall well-being and satisfaction.

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Rocquel Crawley

My name is Dr. Rocquel Crawley-Hairston, and it is with enthusiasm and a deep commitment to community service that I submit my letter of interest to serve on the Highlands HOA Board and work with other board members. I have lived in the Highlands for over 8 years and have wonderful neighbors that I consider part of my family. The Highlands community has grown over the past years, and I would like for everyone to feel inclusive, supported and have a voice regarding major decisions that impact the Highlands Community. I have earned the following degrees, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Master of Business Administration and Doctor of Health Administration.
For the past 26 years I have served in various roles which include Nurse Manager, Director of Nursing and Operations and Sr. Operations Director. I am a visionary leader with proven expertise in creating a positive professional practice environment with emphasis on safety, customer service, quality, and building teams. Experienced in strategic planning, analytical skills, operations, finance, policy development, risk management, project and change management. I have served and led various national boards as president, vice-president, secretary, and as a board member.
If I am fortunate to serve as a board member you will have someone who is transparent, highly engaged, resourceful, and will provide a fresh perspective and drive meaningful progress.

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David Jones

My name is David Jones, and I have been a proud resident of the Highlands for over a year and a half. As a single father with two boys, one in elementary school and one in middle school, I am deeply invested in fostering a positive and engaging environment for our community.
In my professional life, I serve as the Southeast Regional Manager for Ai Data Centers. My previous experience includes managing data centers across the U.S. for Capital One. My educational background includes an MBA with a focus on Project Management and an undergraduate degree in Information Systems. These experiences have equipped me with strong project management skills, strategic thinking, and a deep understanding of technological infrastructure, all of which I believe would be valuable assets to the Board.
Outside of my professional and parental responsibilities, I am passionate about giving back to the community. I currently serve on the Board of Hope 21, an organization dedicated to providing clean water through water filters globally. This role has allowed me to contribute to meaningful humanitarian efforts and has reinforced my commitment to service and community development.
My personal interests, including traveling, DJing in Northern Virginia, and being an avid bourbon collector, reflect my appreciation for diverse experiences and my desire to connect with others. I believe these interests, combined with my professional expertise and commitment to community service, would enable me to bring a unique perspective and a dedicated approach to the Highland Community Association Board.
I am enthusiastic about the opportunity to contribute to our community in this new capacity and am confident that my skills and experiences will support the Board’s efforts in making the Highlands an even better place to live. Thank you for considering my nomination.

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Toni Lee-Andrews

Toni Lee-Andrews is the President of Andrews CPA Associates, P.C. located in Colonial Heights, Virginia. With over 30 years of experience in accounting, she has been a certified public accountant since 1996, working since 1990 with a diverse group of clients in several industries in the Tri-Cities region.
The firm’s services include business, personal, estate and trust tax planning and preparation, bookkeeping and payroll services, IRS representation, and QuickBooks accounting support. . She is also Director of the Professional Ethics Division at the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA).
Toni has experience with board service as she currently serves on the Board of Directors of Touchstone Bank. She has previously served as Treasurer of the Old Nags Head Cove Homeowners Association and is a past President, Vice-President, and Treasurer of the Country Club of Petersburg.

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Elizabeth Rowe

My name is Liz Rowe and I live at 8400 Abercrombie Dr, Chesterfield, VA 23838. I have lived in the community for 8 months. Brief background, I am retired Navy and spent the following years running a family-owned lighting business in Yorktown, VA (York Lighting) for the next 16 years. I was on the community board and the recreation board in my Yorktown neighborhood (Running Man) for many years. I will be out of town September 18th so cannot attend the membership meeting.

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