HOA Board of Directors

My name is Debbie Nelson, and I would like to thank you for considering me as a member of the Golden Vista Board of Directors. I’d like to provide you with a bit of history, both personal and business experiences that have prepared me for this position.

I was born in Burlington, Iowa. My parents passed when I was young and I was raised by my Grandmother while attending high school in Washington, Iowa. I attended Kirkwood College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and then went on to attend courses in Portland, Oregon focusing in Business Marketing. I am currently single, have been married twice and have no children. I moved to Oregon in 1973, and secured a variety of employment positions in the 45+ years I lived there.

My work history includes:
Michelin Tire Company, Portland, OR… Customer Service Representative for 13 years. This was Michelin’s NW service center. I started as the contact for Earthmover Tire sales to the Pacific NW while the Alaska pipeline was being constructed. I then was promoted to Original Equipment Representative for major accounts in the PNW. Client list included Freightliner in Portland, Kenworth in Seattle, Alloy Trailer, and a total of 71 manufacturers of equipment that required tires to keep their assembly line moving. Sadly, the Portland Distribution Center closed after 13 years as the company centralized major accounts servicing to Louisville, Kentucky.

ADP, Portland, OR…Employer Services Representative. This position involved taking payroll information via phone for employers with less than 100 employees to process all aspects of their payroll.

Crown Pacific Ltd. Partners, Portland, OR… Payroll Manager for 1O years. I managed payroll processing for 2,200 union and non-union employees in 12 states. I served as Project Manager and implemented Kronos time clocks at all our sawmills, and centralized payroll into our corporate office. While working at Crown Pacific, I assisted with acquisitions and sales of corporate holdings, then the process of our Company going Public, and in the end…I worked for our Bankruptcy Attorney. I took a year off, bought a 32 ft class A RV (named Severance) and spent a year going cross country from Portland, OR to Portland, Maine. I ended up buying 2 wooded acres In Brinnon, WA and did freelance consulting. Clients that hired me to do consulting and implementing ADP, Kronos and Ceridian included Pacific Natural Foods, Nor-Pac Food, Vanguard-EMS and Stimpson Lumber. Then another opportunity became available.
Standard Insurance Company, Portland, OR. I managed all aspects of payroll processing for 9 separate companies owned by Standard. Payroll encompassed payroll in 51 states, representing approximate 3,500 employees with an annual gross payroll averaging $265 million. This was most certainly the biggest challenge of my career. I was fortunate enough to retire at 57 and spend my time volunteering and just enjoying the best of life.

I have been coming to Golden Vista for 14 years. The first 3 years I drove my RV and rented a lot. I then purchased a home at lot 945. I love being at GV for 5-6 months per year.  While being at GV, I have worked in the Activities Office for 4 years, started up a Singles Mingle group and kept that going for 4 years (until Covid), offered free sewing and alterations to any Veteran in the park, served on the Elections Committee and was Chairperson for one season, obtained my Food Handlers card and helped many organizations with events, volunteered with Grafters Corner for 3 years under Glenda Omak’s leadership, currently Secretary of the Pet Club, happily a member .of the Comedy Club, just basically an advocate for anything that I can help with to promote the activities we have here at GV.

I have served as both Vice-President and then President of our Condo Association where I live in Traverse City, Michigan. I have volunteered for 3 years to maintain raised bed gardens for Father Fred Foundation in Traverse City to provide fresh vegetables to those less fortunate. I have served as Board Treasurer for Emerald Town Alliance in Brinnon, Washington… our objective was to put on Shrimp fest and raise money to pay the rent for the local food bank, award scholarships for 2 graduating students, and select several non-profits to receive funds. I have been a volunteer for Red Cross locally in Oregon and Michigan, as well as their national Accounting department.

My vision for Golden Vista is to continue to provide a safe, attractive Resort that can be enjoyed by current and future owners. We are experiencing some “growing pains” of a Resort that has been in existence for 35+ years and upgrades are necessary as needed. My goal is that owners continue to have an opinion and opportunity to voice their concerns and receive feedback in a timely manner. Creating better communication to new owners (and renters) regarding our By-Laws, Rules and Regulations will only strengthen the understanding of expectations of both owners and management. I hope that we see more of that over the next 3 years and I would do everything in my ability to hear your ideas and opinions, talk about resolutions, and unify to take action.