METROWEST MASTER ASSOCIATION

How the MetroWest Master Association works with Critical Intervention services to keep the residents and businesses within the MetroWest community safe.

By Nancy Glasgow

MetroWest is celebrating the seventh year of partnership with Critical Intervention Services (CIS), a Florida-based security agency that specializes in enhancing public safety through its Safe Communities Programs.

The CIS Safe Communities Programs focus on two key principles to contribute to the overall public safety of the communities they help protect. First, CIS focuses on connecting with community stakeholders, residents, businesses, property managers, local law enforcement partners and security providers. Second is the character of the officers hired, with the hiring process for public safety officers rivaling most law enforcement agencies by including intense screening/interviewing, testing, education and prior experience requirements.

“Having officers with strong character is extremely important, as our public safety officers (PSO) must establish trust with our community members,” says Shannon Bryson, MetroWest Public Safety Director. “MetroWest PSOs serve as community liaisons, building relationships with community members, businesses, the Orlando Police Department (OPD) and other law enforcement officials and entities.”

MetroWest Master Association General Manager Julie Sanchez became aware of CIS in 2013 when she was approached at a multi-family/ community association management tradeshow.

“At first, I thought that CIS would be just another security provider vendor. Then I sat down with CIS to learn more about their communitybased methodology, and I realized that this was the partner MetroWest Master Association needed,” Sanchez says. CIS was engaged by the MetroWest Master Association to take a deeper dive into the public safety issues MetroWest was experiencing. An 18-month study revealed the tremendous importance of community stakeholders — including law enforce

ment, local security, property managers, local businesses and residents — all working together for public safety. The study also showed a disconnect within the community with regard to the perception of crime versus the reality. During the 18 months of the study, CIS looked at crime statistics for MetroWest specifically and engaged community members and stakeholders about their perceptions of crime in the community. The results showed that the perception of crime within MetroWest did not match the actual crime statics, letting CIS know this, too, would need to be addressed.

As a result, the first of its kind in the country “Private Sector Led Public Safety Program” was born as part of the larger “Safe Communities Programs” that CIS focuses on throughout their operations. The program is based on the unique methodology of the Community and Character Based Protection Initiative (CCBPI), which focuses on establishing trust and building relationships and connections among community members. This unique methodology educates, allows and encourages community members and stakeholders to actively take a role in their own public safety.

MetroWest as a whole consists of 36 residential communities and more than 500 commercial businesses with more than 100 of those being retail.

COURTESY OF THE METROWEST MASTER ASSOCIATION MetroWest PSOs travel within the communities and commercial areas on foot, on bicycles and in public safety vehicles to get to know community members, get them connected and educate them about the Public Safety Program. In 2019, MetroWest PSOs were involved in more than 22,000 community/business contacts within MetroWest, a clear indication that the program is unifying owners, businesses, managers and residents to promote the highest standards of public safety.

“Our Private Sector Led Public Safety Program is tailored to MetroWest’s specific needs and is based on establishing trust and building relationships and connections among community members,” Bryson says. “We have seen that creating and maintaining those community connections has strengthened the social capital of MetroWest.”

The success of the CIS Safe Communities Program is dramatically evident when comparing crime and resident turnover rates in the MetroWest area between 2013 (when the program started) and 2017:

• 16% overall decrease in auto theft • 45.8% overall decrease in vandalism • 16.3% overall decrease in violent acts • 63.9% overall decrease in residential burglary • Residential property managers reported 95-98% occupancy rates and 65-70% renewals in 2017, with a 2-5% increase year-by-year of the program.

MetroWest Master Association and CIS, along with OPD, have also facilitated the process by which MetroWest communities can implement the principles of Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED) in order to achieve Crime Free Certification from OPD. Attaining Crime Free Certification is a threephase process, requiring an eight-hour certification class, inspections by both the OPD and Orlando Utilities Commission, and fulfilling Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design requirements.

In all, 11 MetroWest communities have received Crime Free Cer

• Report! Your eyes and ears are value added to our public safety strategy.

• Engage! Get to know your neighbors. If you look out for them, they are more likely to look out for you.

• Be mindful! Unlocked homes and cars and open garages are an invitation for opportunistic criminals. Bicycles and valuable items left in yards can quickly disappear.

• Think first! Do not confront or follow suspicious persons or individuals engaging in criminal activity. Call 911 or report the matter to the Orlando Police

Department.

tification, with continued efforts to achieve the goal of all communities becoming crime free.

Since becoming the first community in the United States to adopt the CIS Private Sector Led Public Safety Program, MetroWest has built strong and effective partnerships with OPD, local residents, business owners and other community organizations, which have led to demonstrable positive results such as rental retention and increased rents and home values year over year.

“The MetroWest Public Safety Program is a cornerstone of our effort to make MetroWest a great place to live, work, play and connect,” Sanchez says.“We envision the continued success of our Public Safety Program because it has definitely proved since its conception that a connected community is a protected community.”

By Nancy Glasgow

The many challenges presented by COVID-19 require strong community leadership and the ability to make tough decisions. Fortunately, MetroWest Master Association (MWMA) is led by a dynamic and involved board of directors, all of whom live in MetroWest. Recently, in light of the pandemic, the MWMA Board of Directors made the decision to suspend all community events through the end of the year, including the monthly MetroWest Food Truck Connection, October’s National Night Out and WinterFest in December.

“We made this decision with the health and safety of our community foremost in our considerations,” MWMA Board President Jim Drayton says. “We look forward to resuming these signature events when conditions regarding COVID-19 have improved.”

MWMA Board Vice President Stina D’Uva says, “As much as we love our wonderful community events, we want to protect our fellow MetroWest residents and businesses. So, with their well-being in mind, we decided to suspend these events.”

MWMA board members are elected for two-year terms. Following are the current MWMA board members:

Jim Drayton’s professional background in banking, finance and real estate, coupled with his current role as the owner of mortgage company Orlando Home Loans, have helped manage the MetroWest Master Association wisely and well. A 13- year resident of MetroWest, Drayton served as a board member from 2010-2011 and currently serves as the president of the MWMA Board of Directors, a position he was elected to in December 2013. He combines his financial acumen with his passion for the community to ensure that MetroWest continues to thrive.

Agostina “Stina” D’Uva has been an integral leader in the Orlando community throughout her illustrious career. As president and CEO, her direction has helped grow the West Orange Chamber of Commerce into a thriving business force, recognized as a two-time winner of the coveted Chamber of the Year Award from the Florida Association of Chamber Professionals.

D'Uva's career blossomed upon her arrival to MetroWest in 1989. She served as the Greater Orlando Mothers of Twins and Triplets Club president, MetroWest Elementary School PTA president, Gotha Middle School PTSA president and SAC chairman, board member and chairman of the Health Central Foundation, president of the Fairway Cove Homeowners’ Association and founding president of the Olympia High School PTSA. She served on the MWMA Board of Directors from 2008 to 2009 before becoming president in 2010 and serving through 2012. She was reelected to the board in November 2014. These are just a few highlights of her extensive community involvement.

D'Uva's volunteer service was recognized as Orange County’s District 1 Citizen of the Year in 2007 and as the 2013 Central Florida Women’s League Heart of Central Florida Woman.

A resident of MetroWest for the past 24 years, Madeleine Francois was a licensed independent life and annuity agent before retiring. Throughout her MetroWest residency, she has been actively involved in the MetroWest Master Association through committee service including the finance, security, landscaping, National Night Out event, fine & hearing and the DRB committees. Francois currently serves as president of the HOA 5 board and has served as chairperson for the beautification committee, as a member of the welcome committee and social committee, and as Neighborhood Watch Program coordinator.

A member of the MetroWest community for more than six years, Garofalo is a Brazilian immigrant, arriving in the United States in 2011 and graduating with a bachelor’s degree in business administration (B.B.A.) focused in business with a minor in economy from Rollins College. He is a commercial landlord and CEO of AFAM INVESTMENTS LLC, a Florida-based company with real estate investments throughout Central Florida.

Warren Nash has been a resident in MetroWest for the past 17 years. For the past decade, he has lived in Vistas at Stonebridge Commons. His background includes 18 years in flooring sales, restaurant server and manager at Hard Rock Cafe, and employment at Walt Disney World. He has served on the HOA board for Vistas at Stonebridge Commons for four years and as president of that board for three of those years. He has also served on the master board of Stonebridge Commons for three years and has been an active member of the Stonebridge landscape committee for three years.

Julie Sanchez has been with FirstService Residential and the MetroWest Master Association since 2009. She possesses more than 35 years of experience in property management, including multi-family, condominium and homeowner association management, in addition to serving as president of eight COA boards, working alongside of a high-rise developer. Her licenses and certifications include Community Association Manager (CAM), Certified Apartment Property Supervisor (CAPS), Certified Apartment Manager (CAM) and Certified Apartment Maintenance Technician (CAMT).

Sanchez has been continually recognized for her excellence as a community association manager, including receiving the statewide Manager of Excellence Award from Florida Communities of Excellence in 2013. She was recognized as one of the top 20 onsite managers in the entire nation via the 2014 National Manager of the Year Awards. She was also honored by the West Orange Chamber of Commerce with the prestigious 2013 George Bailey Award in recognition of demonstrated excellence in fostering partnerships for the benefit for the local community.

Mary James comes to FirstService Residential with more than 13 years of property management experience with Aimco and other large organizations. She is active in the field and holds both professional designations and high standards as a property manager and employee. Her hard work and dedication have given her the opportunity to grow within the companies and organizations where she has previously worked. James possesses a unique ability to truly understand the operations and processes of the corporate world and governmental entities, and has hands-on experience in running small and large properties, facing any challenge and achieving her own goals and company expectations.