There are many autobiographies that are long and frankly boring. I intend to take the long part of that equation out of play. I was born and raised in northern Maine near the City of Caribou. As with all fortunate young people, I attended local schools. My parents were successful farmers and community leaders. Those attributes were passed down.

After attending New England College in Henniker, NH it became necessary for me to attend basic training at Fort Dix, NJ. I spent my required six years in the NH National Guard. New Hampshire seemed a wonderful place to live and raise a family. We lived in Contoocook Village, part of the Town of Hopkinton, for 47 years. While in Hopkinton I was fortunate to be appointed to many boards and elected to others. During those years, we also cleared land and created a certified organic blueberry farm. That endeavor was one of the most satisfying. Having your hands in clean living soil is good for the soul.

Victoria and I live in the Village of Pine Hills where we are fortunate to enjoy the many available benefits of living in The Villages. Here we continue to Live the Dream.

Joan grew up and raised her family on Long Island, New York.  Joan is the proud mother of two daughters and one son as well as the proud grandmother of five grandchildren.  Joan and her life partner John Otto enjoy their home in Hickory Grove Villas in the Village of Sunset Pointe. With both a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education and a Master’s Degree in Reading with Emphasis in Learning Disabilities Joan taught elementary school for 31+ years.  During Joan’s years of teaching elementary school she became interested in hearing both sides of situations while working alongside teachers and administrators.  This led Joan to become a representative to her teachers’ association representing the teachers in her building.  The last five years of her career Joan was elected as Vice President representing approximately 200 elementary teachers in that school district. After retiring and moving to The Villages in 2005 Joan joined the VHA and became a Neighborhood Representative.  Joan continues to be interested in understanding both sides of issues while now listening and collaborating with residents and those who work to keep The Villages moving forward.  Besides being a part of the VHA Joan also enjoys working in the garden, playing golf, reading and knitting.

I grew up in the city of New Holstein (pop. 3400) in east central Wisconsin.  I was graduated in 1971 from the University of Wisconsin in Madison with a Bachelor of Science in industrial engineering (BSIE) and added a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh in 1981. Although my career ranged from industrial sales and marketing to retailing to accounting to product design, most of it was spent in the area of process improvement.  In effect, I used my innate laziness to benefit others by eliminating wasted effort.  I worked in the fields of manufacturing, health care, trade associations, and special needs support. I am married to Betty and have a stepson, a daughter, four grandchildren, two dogs, and four grand-dogs.  

Described as “energetic” and “motivated by challenges,” it is no surprise that Tweet Coleman’s career has spanned positions as a senior FAA representative at the American Embassy in London, FAA Program Manager, and Regional Representative; Boeing 747 and 727 pilot with Continental Airlines; Dale Carnegie communications coach; and surgical nurse with the Cleveland Clinic (to name a few). In addition, Tweet possesses a master’s degree in aeronautical science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University—where she also served as an adjunct faculty member in Hawaii and London, England and a doctorate degree in aerospace aviation education from Oklahoma State University (OSU). Tweet was selected to be a member of the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi at OSU.

Advancing the work of others is a cause close to home for Tweet, who in 1991, founded a scholarship for women in aviation. Hailed by Tweet as her greatest accomplishment, she established this scholarship with the American Association University Women, Honolulu branch, now in its 32nd year, as a way she could further support women from the state of Hawaii in pursuing and achieving their dream of becoming a pilot, a dream both she and one of her daughters have had the pleasure of realizing. Jenny Coleman Michiels is a pilot for FedEx Express.

Currently, Tweet is the Supervisor for District 6 seat 1 in The Villages, Florida. She serves as a mentor to high school students who are in the Aviation Club. Tweet is also an instructor at The Enrichment Academy; some of her topics include: “Manage your Fear of Flying,” “Mindfulness,” and “Brain Enrichment.”  Tweet and her husband, Patrick, live in the Village of Caroline with their dog, Karma, who is the director of the residence.

Dave and his wife Cyndi live in the Village of Hawkins. They moved here from Buffalo NY and also had a home in Bradenton Florida for seven years. They gave up both to be full time residents for the wonderful lifestyle of The Villages.

Dave had a varied career with 23 years of active/reserve duty as a U.S. Army Officer. After leaving active duty, Dave spent a significant time as a municipal manager in New York.  A second career developed as a performance improvement consultant after he obtained his PhD in training and performance improvement.

In addition to helping organizations achieve success, Dave served as a Senior Examiner for the Malcolm Baldrige Quality Award program. This is a presidential award administered by the Department of Commerce and is the highest level of recognition for performance excellence that a U.S. organization can receive.

Dave is an online professor teaching a variety of organizational leadership and human resource management courses for master,s level students. He is also active as the co-coordinator for the Village of Hawkins AED program.

Robert “Bob” Griffin I was born and raised in Dravosburg, PA, a small town outside of Pittsburgh, which explains my loyalty to all Pittsburgh sports teams. I graduated from Penn State University in 1964, where I majored in accounting. After graduation, I began my career as an accountant for ASG Industries, a glass company in eastern Tennessee. Two years later I transitioned into IT as a programmer. During that time, I married Charlene “Charley”, a southern belle. We moved to North Carolina for me to work for PPG Industries Fiberglass Division as a programmer and then a supervisor in 1970. After 3 years in North Carolina, I transferred to Pittsburgh where I finished my career holding a variety of positions – programmer, telecommunications supervisor, data center manager, and worked with the Salvation Army Angel Tree program as PPG’s coordinator. We decided long before retirement that we would eventually settle in the south. We heard about the Villages, visited, revisited and fell in love with it. We moved here in 2006 and soon afterward joined the VHA. I’ve attended the Sheriff’s Citizen’s Academy and the Resident Academy and now serve on the VHA board representing District 6. In addition to serving on the VHA board, I am an avid supporter of the Villages Regional Hospital. I see the VHA as an opportunity to help my friends and neighbors.

Sandy Mott is a native of Oklahoma.   She majored in Journalism at Oklahoma State University where she met her future husband, Paul.  She has 2 children.  A son lost to cancer at age 40 and a daughter who lives here in Florida with her husband and 3 children.  She has been a Cub Scout den mother, a Brownie leader, a church Youth Group sponsor, and a Sunday School teacher. She has had varied work experience in the savings & loan industry, in direct sales, as a church secretary and an Avon lady. She moved to The Villages in December of 1989, just as development was beginning on the west side of highway 27/441.  She is a charter member of the VHA and is the Village Representative for the Village of Del Mar. She was elected VHA Vice President in February 1992, and became President when the then-President Yyonne Knudson stepped down in August of that year. She served as President until March 1994. She served 3 terms on the VHA Board between 1994 and 2003.  Along with her husband, Paul, she wrote for and edited the VHA Voice for about 10 years ending in Feb. 2003.  She wrote a weekly column, “Sandy’s Corner,” for the Daily Sun from Feb. 1998 to May of 2003, when it evolved into a weekly opinion column on the op-ed page.  The weekly column continued until July 2010 when Paul’s illness left no time for writing. Through all the years, her commitment and devotion to the VHA has been constant.  Now, once again, she will be editing the VHA Voice, with a lot of help from the VHA Board and membership.

A Village of Rio Ponderosa resident since 2003, I am a native of Staten Island, NY.  I have held a number of management positions in the financial industry including a financial newspaper, an investment banking firm, a financial information technology company and, just prior to retirement,  at a boutique accounting firm.  In addition to my full time positions, I served for ten years as editor of a 64-page square dance magazine and was an officer in various civic and community organizations.      I have served as Membership Chair and Director of the VHA since 2006.  In addition to my VHA duties, I am a supervisor of CDD #1, a Florida Master Gardener, Chair of the Bookworm Book Club, Vice President of The Villages Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society, and Treasurer of the Marion County Rose Society. I have been married to my dear husband Charlie since 1973 and we are the proud parents of six children and four grandchildren.  

A native of Ohio. Bachelor’s Degree from Defiance College in Ohio and a Masters Degree in Public Address from Eastern Michigan University. Taught Speech, English and Journalism 30 years at Napoleon High School in Ohio. Coached football, girls basketball, and boys and girls tennis at Napoleon High School for a total of 75 seasons.  Has taught Speech at several colleges in Ohio and continues to teach at The College of Central Florida in Ocala.  Was a member of the Parks and Recreation Board in Napoleon, Ohio for 14 years. Member of The Defiance College Athletic Hall of Fame, The Lorain Sports Hall of Fame, The Ohio High School Speech League Hall of Fame, and the Ohio Tennis Coaches Association Hall of Fame.  Author of three published books. A resident of The Villages since 2004,  full-time resident since 2011.  Wife Jane (44 years) and two grown sons. 

Jan Palmer moved to The Villages in 2017 from the Detroit, Michigan area suburb of Macomb. She hails from Western New York, but has lived in Massachusetts and Michigan as GM moved her husband around. She and Mark have five children, five grandchildren, three dogs, and she considers being a lifelong volunteer and stay-at-home mom as her primary career choice.  On the side she has worked at Kodak, Clarkson University, and Oswego Hospital as a secretary, was a feature writer for The Pepperell Times Free Press in Massachusetts, Young Mother of the Year for Massachusetts, a tour escort for Alcott Tours accompanying seniors and students on bus tours, was the office and editorial assistant for Travelhost Magazine of Buffalo/Niagara Falls region, and enjoyed many years as an activities director in Buffalo and Michigan for assisted living residents. She has written for and edited several newsletters, has been the drama director/writer and women’s ministries coordinator at her churches in two states, and a choir member/soloist and Bible study teacher/facilitator for 40 years plus.  Since arriving in The Villages she has found many opportunities to do what she enjoys;  serving with The VHA and exploring the nuts and bolts of The Villages, being involved with Special Friends activities, bowling, exercising regularly at Bone Builders, participating in Senior Olympics, joining the Writers 4 Kids group and the Writer’s League of the Villages, decorating, gardening, playing cards, entertaining guests, and getting to meet new friends and neighbors.  Her goal as assistant editor for The Voice is to produce an interesting and informative product for VHA members and promote the positive work they do on behalf of all Villages residents. 

Beth was born in St. Louis, Missouri, but grew up in a small town south of St. Louis.  She graduated from William Woods University with a bachelor’s degree in Fashion Merchandising and later graduated from Webster University with a master’s degree in Management.  Being a military wife, Beth has had many wonderful work experiences over the years in retail, health care, law and education.

Beth and her husband Dave moved to The Villages in April 2018 from Southern Illinois where her husband retired after 22 years in the USAF.  They always knew they would retire to Florida, but not sure where.  After being here for a little over 3 years, they cannot imagine living anywhere else.  Beth’s desire upon moving to The Villages was to become involved in clubs and organizations that were both fun and meaningful to her.  She and her husband are also very active volunteers with American Legion Post 347, Lady Lake.

In Beth’s spare time, she enjoys dancing, playing pickleball, treasure hunting for bargains and exploring new places in Florida.
Beth and Dave have a blended family of five children and six grandchildren whom are sprinkled all across the United States.

“Team Work:  Coming together is the beginning, Keeping together is progress and Working together is success” this is what being a part of the VHA is about for me.