Meet the FRSA Team Lisa Pate, FRSA Executive Director FRSA is a full-service Association offering member benefits and customer service, industry-specific educational programs, code and technical support, meetings and events and publications. Through the Credit Union, we offer equipment loans, project financing and banking services. FRSA is a one-stop shop for the services and support a contractor needs for business. It’s FRSA’s team of staff members who make all these services possible. Between the Association (FRSA) and the Credit Union, we’re a small staff of nine full-time employees and one consultant, each person with specific skill sets that make the whole organization run smoothly. As I started to write this article, I asked each staff person to tell me what they liked about their position and working for FRSA and to provide me with their favorite quote. Let’s meet the team.
Michelle Ospina, Office Manager/ Receptionist
Michelle is new to FRSA, having been with us for only three months. She began just as COVID-19 started and was part of a very limited onsite staff. Since we were shortstaffed, Michelle learned very quickly how to handle many of our daily functions: phones, mail, deposits and database operations. She is responsible for overseeing our office, handling the vendors, office orders, electronic equipment, machinery, office supplies, mailings, phone systems and databases. She assists both the Executive Director and the Director of Convention and Expo, as well as other staff members on an as-needed basis. Part of Michelle’s responsibilities include working on Convention and Expo items. During the interview process, we prepared her for the need to hit the ground running, to get up to speed on all things Convention because this is a large event and something we needed to get in front of. Ironically, we’re now working on undoing items that have been worked on over the past ten months and learning new steps for conducting a virtual convention. Michelle stated, “I’ve been here for a few months and, while unique due to circumstances, it has been great. I’m still just as excited as I was the first day to have been given the opportunity to join the FRSA 24
FLORIDA ROOFING | July 2020
Team. I look forward to continuing to learn and grow here along with mastering my role and hopefully exceeding expectations sooner rather than later. I have a hospitality background that’s just as in-depth as my real estate experience and this is still the most professional, yet lighthearted environment I’ve had the pleasure of being in.” If she thinks we’re fun, wait until she meets our members!
John Hellein, Director of Educational & Research Foundation
John has been with FRSA for eight years, beginning as the Editor of Florida Roofing magazine. Over the years, John transitioned from a staff person to a consultant, laying out the graphics for the magazine and creating promotional material for the Convention and Expo. He came back full-time in March as Foundation Director. His duties include staff liaison for the Education Foundation, the Endowment Board of Governors and the Worker Training Subcommittees. John’s strengths include technology skills, which have come in extremely handy as we move Convention events online. He’s created the Online Auction and worked with speakers to record and transition seminars from a classroom setting to online format. When asked about his job, he stated, “Seeing people move from problems to solutions is one of the great things that I like about working at FRSA: members and staff working together in a thousand different ways make it possible for people to provide for their families through the Florida roofing industry.” One of his favorite quotes comes from John Lennon, “Everything will be OK in the end. If it’s not OK, it’s not the end.” John’s light-hearted personality and humor keep us laughing and mindful to not take ourselves too seriously.
Kelsey O’Hearne, Ad Sales Manager
Kelsey has been with FRSA for about three years and her main job is to sell advertising for Florida Roofing magazine, but her speed and efficiency enable her to assist with other programs and services. She handles our social media and supports programs for the Convention and Expo.