Three Neighbors, One Mission: Meet the RSFA Board Candidates

I grew up in Montecito CA. and was running a $1B business in NYC, prior to moving to the Covenant 15 years ago. After a few weekend trips, I knew this was my forever home. I’ll never get over the feeling of deep breathing seeing trees and driveways to hidden homes on my first drive from the Carlsbad airport into the Ranch on La Bajada then around the Golf Course on La Granada. For me, and so many of us, it’s a feeling of comfort, security and beauty. Then the quick drive to the village for coffee on my first 4th of July where I ran into families, friends and the coolest decorated Golf Carts at our Village Parade. Experiencing the sweetest moments of joy, laughter and community, I knew it was my forever home. Now seeing horses and hikers on the trail out of my kitchen window still warms my heart every time.

My wife Cheryl and I moved to the Covenant from Manhattan Beach almost six years ago, and like many who arrive here, we were searching for something a bit different, more space, more quiet, and a place that truly reflected how we wanted to live. For Cheryl, that meant room for her horses. For me, it meant access to great golf. We explored communities up and down the coast, but nowhere offered the unique combination of equestrian lifestyle, world-class golf, and sense of community that Rancho Santa Fe does so effortlessly.

Our “wow” moment came not at a showing, but on a simple walk. We were out on the trail system shortly after moving in, surrounded by the natural beauty, the silence, and that unmistakable sense of openness. Coming from the energy and density of Manhattan Beach, it stopped us in our tracks. We looked at each other and said, “Wow… did we ever make the right choice.” That feeling has stayed with us. Whether it’s time with our two adult children and three grandchildren or simply enjoying the day-to-day rhythm of life here, we’re reminded how special this community is, and how important it is to preserve it.

I am seeking reelection to the Board because I am not finished serving. I grew up in a family shaped by service. My father worked for USAID, and much of my childhood was spent living across Africa. When he retired, we settled in Rancho Santa Fe, where I attended San Dieguito High School.

Then, as now, the trails were the heart of the Ranch. We rode our horses to visit friends, tying them to the hitching post at the pharmacy while we ran in for a Coke. Those simple moments defined a way of life that made Rancho Santa Fe feel like home.

Even after moving away as an adult, the Ranch always drew me back. In the early 2000s, I returned for good. Today, my daughters—like me—consider the Ranch home, no matter where life takes them.

Change is inevitable, but preserving the rural character of our community remains my highest priority.

I support all our amenities, and I am a firm believer in Town Halls, and Advisory Votes with our community. Supporting one passion doesn’t mean ignoring another. You can love Golf, Horses and the Trails all at the same time. It’s our job as a board member to represent the needs of our community, so we need to know what they are thinking. It’s a Board members responsibility to research and understand the complexities of issues. Then we need to work with our committees, our association staff, our governing documents, and financial plans as guides to supporting what is in the best interest of our community.

Rancho Santa Fe is unique in that it isn’t defined by a single interest, but rather a collection of passions: equestrian life, golf, tennis, trails, open space, and a strong social fabric. A Board member’s job is not to prioritize one over another, but to ensure they all thrive together.

My approach really comes from the path my career has taken. I graduated from the University of Missouri School of Journalism and started out as a trainee at Burson-Marsteller, one of the world’s leading public relations firms. Early in my career, I had the chance to live and work in London, Brussels, and Geneva, and later in New York, Chicago and for the last forty years, Southern California. Along the way, I traveled extensively for business, throughout Europe, across Asia, South Africa, and beyond, which gave me a broader perspective on how different people approach challenges and decision-making.

At Young & Rubicam, I eventually led the Western U.S. region, growing it from a $12 million operation and 15 staff into a $300 million plus business with more than 250 associates, while keeping a close eye on profitability. That experience gave me a real appreciation for balancing growth with discipline and decided to take what I had learned and start my own agency, Reynolds & Associates. It’s been a bit more boutique by design, but over the past three decades, it’s been consistently successful and profitable.

What all of that taught me is that leadership is about listening, weighing different perspectives, and making thoughtful decisions you’re accountable for. As a director, that translates into a few simple priorities:

• Making sure the broader membership is represented, not just the loudest voices
• Reaching out proactively so more members have a chance to weigh in
• Bringing consistency and discipline to how decisions are made
• And communicating clearly so people understand the “why” behind those decisions

In the end, good governance shouldn’t be reactive. It should be thoughtful, steady, and focused on what’s best for the community over the long term.

I have always made it a priority to stay involved in our community. One of the most challenging and rewarding roles I’ve held was serving on the Art Jury, which remains one of the most consequential committees in the Ranch.

I have also worked with the Trails Committee for many years, and even after completing my term, I continue to attend meetings and serve as an informal liaison to the Board. The same is true for the Osuna Committee, where I help navigate the challenges facing Osuna Ranch. I look forward to the return of Celebrate Osuna and the Farm to Table dinner in the near future.

There are several important projects I would like to see through to completion, including the Golf Club renovations, Tennis Club enhancements, and—most importantly—the future use of Osuna Ranch. Renovations at the Clubhouse are progressing on schedule, and the new space will be an exceptional social hub for our community. It is important to me that we restore the traditions that bring us together while also creating new ones.

It’s incredible that our founding Documents, 100 years later – serve to keep this rural yet sophisticated community as a Diamond in the Rough. For a Board member, understanding our governing documents and their intent is critical, for example this concentric circle design of density in the village and larger lot sizes as it goes outwards was all planned and creates the community we live in today.

What I like to reflect on with friends and neighbors, is that we all moved here for different reasons – and we all LOVE it, so now that we are here together, changing it drastically defeats the purpose of what the ranch was intended to be. Simultaneously, we need to grow – mindfully and strategically – knowing that the Board decisions we make today will set a precedent for tomorrow. It’s a fine balance that takes thoughtful, clear, honest communication and decision-making skills from our Board Members, and I hope you will entrust me with this responsibility.

As Rancho Santa Fe approaches its 100th anniversary, we have a rare opportunity, and responsibility, to think not just about preserving the past, but about shaping the next century. The Ranch’s founding principles of open space, low density, rural character, and dark skies, are not just ideals, but rather the foundation of what makes this community so special and so valuable. Preserving those qualities must remain central to every decision the Board makes.

At the same time, stewardship doesn’t mean standing still, as we can’t live in the past, but we can absolutely use it as our compass. On complex issues facing the Association, including projects like Silvergate, I believe a director’s role is to come in with an open mind, a commitment to transparency, and a willingness to engage the community before reaching conclusions. These are nuanced decisions that deserve thoughtful evaluation, broad input, and a clear understanding of long-term impact.

My approach is grounded in:

• Protecting the character and long-term value of the Covenant
• Making decisions based on facts, input, and thoughtful analysis
• Ensuring consistency and transparency in governance
• Keeping a long-term perspective, rather than reacting to short-term pressure

As we approach the Centennial, this is an opportunity to reaffirm what makes Rancho Santa Fe exceptional—while ensuring it remains strong, relevant, and well-governed for the next generation.

In closing, I’m running for the Board to bring a steady, practical, and balanced perspective, grounded in experience, focused on transparency, and committed to serving the entire community. Most of all, I want to help ensure that the feeling Cheryl and I had on that first walk, the sense that this place is truly special, is preserved for every family who calls Rancho Santa Fe home.

Preserving and protecting the rural character of Rancho Santa Fe has been a passion of mine since I first arrived here as a teenager, and that commitment remains as strong as ever.

I encourage everyone to get involved – serve on committees, attend Board meetings, and make your voices heard. Even before serving on the Board, I attended meetings regularly, and I continue to value seeing both familiar faces and new participants.

This is our home. It is up to all us to ensure that Rancho Santa Fe remains a place our children—and future generations – will always consider home.