Lauren Lee’s open door in Sun City is closing on September 4.
Lee announced at the association board meeting on August 19 that she is resigning as Sun City’s executive director effective September 4.Her departure comes about 22 months after she came to the position in November 2013.
“I am returning to Arizona to be near my son and grandchildren,” she said in a brief statement at the meeting. “Family considerations were the top priority in this decision. I still have my home in Peoria, where I used to work. I also feel good about the progress the board here has made in increased efficiency and transparency. The staff at First Service Residential (FSR) and the on-site group is very capable and doing a good job for residents.”
There was no immediate word on whether she plans to retire or take another job.
Lee came to Huntley in November 2013 after serving six years as executive director of Westbrook Village in Arizona, a community similar to Sun City Huntley. She has spent nearly 20 years working in the management of active adult communities. She is the second woman to serve as executive director, and the sixth executive to serve the community since it opened in 1998.
During her tenure, staff productivity was studied and evaluated, resulting in many staff changes and realignment of assignments and schedules. She also adopted a very public, “open door” policy, inviting residents to come to her office for a chat if she was present and the door was open. She also instituted a series of town meetings of the board, in which there was no agenda and residents were encouraged to ask questions and make comments. Another new innovation was “meet and greet” sessions in lounges and other public areas of Prairie Lodge, where residents could come and “talk to the executive director” about anything. Also during her watch, many upgrades of facilities in the community’s two lodges and other common areas were carried out.
She frequently said that, “I get my paycheck from FSR, but I actually work for the residents of Sun City.”
Board president Bonnie Bayser said Lee told the board of her decision on August 17.
“First Service Residential (FSR, the company that manages Sun City’s activities and facilities) has begun a nationwide search on appropriate websites and media,” she said. “FSR will make a decision as soon as possible. We have three weeks notice, so it’s possible a replacement will be named by the time Lauren leaves.”
Steve Doran, an FSR executive, attended the August 19 board meeting.
In 2013, Lee was hired after 50 candidates applied for the position in a nationwide search that lasted more than two months. She was chosen from among eight candidates that interviewed for the job.
