A note from SIPOA President, John Lassiter, regarding the 2025 Volunteer Survey Results:
As promised in the December volunteer appreciation event, attached is the final report from the SIPOA volunteer survey that we conducted last fall and that most of you participated in. Thanks once again for your participation, your candid feedback, and most importantly, your yearlong service to the SIPOA community – we couldn’t have accomplished what we did in 2025 without your efforts. We are happy to report that Rebecca and the Board are already implementing several significant changes to enhance the volunteer experience in 2026 and beyond. Hopefully, those of you who return as volunteers in 2026 will recognize the improvements and take satisfaction that your input was the big driver!!
On behalf of the entire Board of Directors and the SIPOA Staff – we truly appreciate you!
Click here or the image below to view the 2025 Volunteer Survey Results.
Voting is now open for the 2026 Annual Meeting. Voting began January 14, 2026. Proxy Forms must be submitted by 8:00am on February 14, 2026 – late forms cannot be accepted.
SIPOA includes 2,751 properties, and 900 votes must be represented (in person or by proxy) to reach quorum.
So far, 402 votes have been submitted. An additional 23Property Owners started but did not complete the process, so those votes have not been recorded. Property Owners who submit a completed Proxy Appointment Form by February 2 will be entered to win one of five $50 Amazon gift cards.
Please note: the Seabrook island Club voting process is also under way, so you will have received two separate voting packages. If you are still receiving emails from Association Voting, your SIPOA voting process is not yet complete.
What is the Proxy Appointment Form?
The Proxy Appointment Form allows SIPOA Property Owners in Good Standing to cast their vote(s) – one vote per property owned.
Submitting the form:
Appoints a Proxy Holder to cast your vote as you direct
Ensures your vote is counted
Helps establish quorum for the Annual Meeting.
Please submit the form even if you plan to attend in person.
Important:You must select a Proxy Holder to access the voting page. Your vote remains your vote – the Proxy Holder simply submits them as you direct.
PLEASE COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING STEPS BELOW TO ENSURE YOUR VOTES ARE COUNTED:
Appoint your Proxy Holder and proceed to the voting page.
Online Voting Page:
Mark your choices on the voting page.
Click the green button at the bottom of the voting page once you have made your selections.
Confirm your choices on the next page.
Confirm your Selections:
Verify Selections: Scroll down to ensure all your choices are correct.
Make Changes: Click “Change My Vote” only if you need to adjust.
Finalize Vote: If all is correct, sign and click “Cast My Vote”.
If you do not electronically sign and click “Cast My Vote”, your votes will not be recorded.
Property Owners who have not voted, and those who have started the voting process but did not complete the voting process, will receive another email from Association Voting today, Tuesday, January 28 at 5:00pm.
If you did not receive your voting packet on Wednesday, January 14, follow these essential steps:
Voting for the 2026 SIPOA Annual Meeting opens Wednesday, January 14, 2026, at 8:00am. Electronic ballots will be emailed from announcement@associationvoting.com, and paper ballots will be mailed to Property Owners who are not enrolled in e-voting.
How to Vote Online
Open the email titled “2026 SIPOA Annual Election – Your Vote Counts!”
Use the provided username and password from your invitation email.
Vote on the SIPOA Budget, Board of Directors, and Nominating Committee Candidates.
Preview your ballot, sign, and submit your vote.
Own multiple properties? You may vote one per property.
Proxy Forms
Under SIPOA Bylaws, submitting a proxy helps ensure that your vote is counted and allows the meeting to proceed as required.
You may choose one of the following as your Proxy Holder:
SIPOA Secretary, Susan May
A Board Member
Another Property Owner in Good Standing
All Proxy Appointment Forms must be received by SIPOA’s Secretary before 8:00am on Saturday, February 14, 2026. Proxy forms received after 8:00am on Saturday, February 14, 2026, will not be valid.
Gift Card Incentives
Submit by January 26 → Chance to win $100 Amazon gift card
Submit by February 2 → Chance to win $50 Amazon gift card
Reminder: Seabrook Island Club voting is also open. We encourage you to participate in both elections.
David brings more than 15 years of experience in finance, accounting, and strategic financial planning. Most recently, he served as a Controller, where he managed all accounting functions, oversaw financial reporting across multiple cost centers, supported strategic planning, and ensured strong cash flow and cost controls. His background also includes extensive experience in budgeting, forecasting, tax compliance, payroll, benefits administration, and vendor negotiations.
In addition to his accounting leadership, David has a solid foundation in wealth management and private banking, giving him a well-rounded perspective on financial strategy, risk management, and long-term planning. He is known for his analytical approach, attention to detail, and ability to translate complex financial data into clear, actionable insights.
We are excited to have David join the SIPOA team and look forward to the expertise and strategic guidance he will bring to our organization. Please help us give him a warm welcome!
During the September 30 Town Council meeting, Heather Paton was recognized. Heather has stepped down as Executive Director of the Seabrook Island Property Owners Association (SIPOA), after almost two decades of service to our community.
During the proclamation, Mayor Kleinman shared Heather’s accomplishments and proclaimed October 1, 2025 as Heather Paton Day.
Some of her SIPOA coworkers were also there to support her. We thank her for her years of dedication and service to Seabrook Island and wish her the best.
On behalf of the Board, we are pleased to announce that Rebecca Lyons will be the new Executive Director for Seabrook Island Property Owners Association beginning November 3.
Rebecca comes to us with a strong background in community leadership that closely mirrors the values and lifestyle we cherish here on Seabrook Island. She is currently the General Manager of Willowsford, a 4000-acre farm-to-market community in northern Virginia with fitness facilities, pools, 30 miles of trails, and over 2000 acres in conservancy. Additionally, she served as Assistant General Manager at South Riding Proprietary, a 6,000-home property that included amenities, including an 18-hole golf course, racquet program, and over 15 parks and ponds built on principles of sustainability and respect for nature.
Rebecca has cultivated a stable, dedicated team with very little staff turnover and managed budgets and capital plans similar to SIPOA. Her experience, combined with her passion for fostering strong, engaged communities, makes her exceptionally well-suited to guide SIPOA as we look to the future.
We are excited to welcome Rebecca into our community and look forward to the leadership, fresh perspective, and commitment she will bring to her new role.
John Lassiter President Seabrook Island Property Owners Association
SIPOA owns and maintains approximately 28 miles of roads behind the gate on Seabrook Island. Many of these roads were first paved in the 1970s. These roads are an asset that must be managed in a cost-effective manner.
This summer, as part of the engineering intern program, we documented the history of the management of SIPOA roads and outlined future management plans in the SIPOA Roadway Management Plan storymap. This storymap is an interactive tool that residents can use to learn more about SIPOA roadways.
Steve Hirsch, SIPOA Director of Engineering, will present on current management practices as well as discuss future repaving plans at the next Get the Scoop meeting at the Lake House.
The SIPOA Nominating Committee is looking for individuals interested in serving on the Board of Directors or Nominating Committee. In the 2026 Seabrook Island Property Owners Association election, candidates are needed for four (4) three-year terms on the Board of Directors and two (2) two-year term positions on the Nominating Committee.
The deadline to submit your Candidate Profile Form is on October 1, 2025.
If you are interested in running for the Board of Directors or Nominating Committee, click here for application forms, important information and frequently asked questions.
Eligible candidates must have owned property on Seabrook Island for at least one year prior to nomination (before October 1, 2024). Prior service on SIPOA committees is encouraged.
An introduction to the ARC and Commercial Access Team who are dedicated to providing an efficient process and consistent communication and customer service.
Join the ARC and Commercial Access team on September 8 at 3:00pm in the Lake House, Live Oak Hall.
View more information on all the exciting changes with ARC here.
When: Monday, September 8 Where: Lake House, Live Oak Hall Time: 3:00pm
The ARC has some exciting new updates: New Faces, New Processes and a New Location!
New Faces – We would like to introduce you to the ARC and Commercial Access Team, who are dedicated to providing an efficient approval process and consistent communication and customer service.
KimTurczyn joined us in November of 2022. Having had previous experience working with municipalities, she was the ARC Assistant. Her job has recently evolved into the Regime Community Compliance Assistant position. She will be working directly with Regime and Association managers and boards to improve communication and assist owners, managers and contractors during the submittal process and review of their project requests. As all Regime / Association projects must meet the Standard for that particular Regime, Kim is becoming familiar with the Regime / Association Standards to better assist owners and contractors. kturczyn@sipoa.org
Ana Donahue began in January of 2025. She has years of retail and commercial customer service experience. As the Single Family Community Compliance Assistant, Ana is committed to providing all customers (Property Owners, contractors, etc.) a friendly and efficient experience as she assists with the submittal process and initial review of their project requests such as painting, rot repair, and window replacement. She helps owners and contractors ensure that their project meets the Requirements of the SIPOA Policies and Procedures. adonahue@sipoa.org
LauraDemnard joined us in June 2025 as the New Construction Community Compliance Assistant. Her focus is on all aspects of New Construction and larger Remodels. Her previous experience in Code Enforcement with the City of Charleston has also prepared her for the Compliance related portion of her duties to ensure that job sites are maintained and Policies met. She assists with preparing the documents for the ARC meetings, correspondence with owners, contractors and architects and has recently begun to assist with onsite Initial Site Visits and Post Construction Reviews. ldemnard@sipoa.org
Cindi Bray alsojoined us in June as the ARC Community Services Representative. All things ARC begin and end with Cindi. She is the receptionist and assists us all: co-workers, Property Owners, and contractors alike. She has several years of experience in hospital management and customer service, and she uses that experience to assist and facilitate a smooth ARC experience in person, by phone, or via email. All ARC requests should be sent to her at arc@sipoa.org to be assigned to the appropriate assistant. Once approved, she will also send the final email to provide you with a copy of the approval and information on any next steps that might be needed.
Keiaunta “Kiki” Alexander just joined us a few weeks ago as the Commercial Access Assistant. She has a strong background in customer service and assists vendors and contractors with the SymLiv system where the Commercial Access barcodes and day passes are maintained. Some of our vendors are individuals, while some have very large vehicle fleets. We use the SymLiv online system to streamline the Commercial Access process, and there are often questions to answer, and of course, barcodes to affix to vehicles. commercialaccess@sipoa.org
New Processes – Along with our growing team, we’ve rolled out some process improvements to enhance your experience with the Architectural Review Committee and Department. While we have some big plans and will be transitioning to a new online project and construction approval process in the next few months (Citizenserve). The Town of Seabrook Island also uses Citizenserve for application processing.
We have already implemented some new internal tools, systems and target timetables that will provide quicker and more effective communication on your project or any questions. Once a request is submitted to ARC (in person or via email to arc@sipoa.org), an email is sent to acknowledge receipt with 24 hours. Within 2 business days, when the project has been received by Kim, Ana or Laura, they will send an email letting the applicant know that it has been assigned, if they’ve had a chance to review the application, and will let you know if there is any additional information needed for the full review. Within 7 business days, of receipt and initial review, an additional email will be sent stating that the project is now being forwarded to the Director for review. Within 7 business days you will receive an additional email stating that additional information is needed or that the application has been approved. With this improved workflow and defined timeline there should be fewer delays and clearer, more consistent communication providing a smoother review and approval process.
We are dedicated to improving this process and applicant experience. Please keep in mind that almost 50% of the applications submitted are incomplete in some way and that delays the process. Here are some examples of information needed to ensure your application for exterior improvements is complete
If painting, the color brand, name, number and LRV (Light Reflective Value) are required.
If doing roof work, provide the shingle brand and color name. Also note if it is a roof repair or full roof replacement
If the project is a simple one where no changes to materials, colors, etc., are proposed and the repair or replacement will match existing, we are working toward an expedited process where approvals may take as few as 2 business days.
We are in the beginning stages of process and software transition with a goal of full implementation in early 2026. The staff will be trained on the new software and we will provide information on the new web-based system once we are closer to the implementation date.
NewLocation – The SIPOA ARC and Commercial Access offices have moved to a new location. We are now located at 1002 Landfall Way (previous SIC Amenity office location). As with the SIPOA office, we are open Monday – Friday from 8:00am – 4:00pm.
With new faces, new processes, and a new location, we’re looking forward to providing an efficient and pleasant experience for owners, contractors, and architects from submission to approval. We are excited about all of these changes and look forward to sharing this with the Seabrook Island community. More information about the updates will be shared at the September 8th Get the Scoop meeting.
