Donna Branch

My name is Donna Branch, and I am running to become a member of the HOA Board for Country Place. I am the original owner of my home and moved to Country Place in 1984.

I worked for AT&T, Lucent Technologies, and Avaya—the latter two being spinoffs of AT&T. I retired from AT&T after a long and fulfilling career. In 1991, I became a Project Manager, which was far from a typical 8-to-5 job. I moved to Tampa as a single parent and raised my son and daughter in this neighborhood. Between my demanding job and raising my children, I didn’t have time to participate in or become deeply involved in the community.

Now that my children are grown—my daughter lives in Orlando and my son in Fort Lauderdale—it’s just Beau, my Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, and me. I finally have the time to give back and support the neighborhood that supported me and my family all these years. My children were active in sports and school-related activities, and this was a safe, amazing place to raise them. I want Country Place to continue being that kind of neighborhood for everyone.

I’ve really appreciated the direction I’ve seen with the new additions to our HOA Board. They’ve been instrumental in organizing potlucks and movies at the park, bringing our community together. I believe these efforts—and more—should continue. Until recently, I felt my only responsibility was to pay my HOA dues and hope I didn’t receive a violation letter!

After attending several HOA meetings, I was surprised to learn that our property management company, not the HOA Board, runs the meetings. Personally, I believe our HOA Board should lead with input from residents. While I understand and am familiar with Zoom meetings from my career, I believe the format needs to be more inclusive and better facilitate resident feedback.

I look forward to the opportunity to serve on the board, to meet more of our Country Place neighbors, and to share ideas that will help keep our community one we’re proud to call home.

Lisa Crespo

Six years ago, my husband and I found our retirement home here in Country Place. I’ve met many incredible people and neighbors in this community—people I’m proud to call friends. Like many others have shared with me, I would love to see improvements in our community’s environment so that we can all feel proud of where we live.

I understand there will always be differing opinions on various topics, and those issues need to be approached with open minds. Decisions should be made by setting aside personal views and focusing on what’s best for the entire community. I believe that whoever serves on the HOA Board of Directors must act on behalf of all Country Place households. We should always strive to create a better living experience for everyone in our subdivision.

With that in mind, I would be honored to have the opportunity to serve on the HOA and help enhance our little piece of the world here in Country Place.

Matt Banas

I’m excited to put my name forward to serve on our HOA Board. Many of you know me as a committed member of our community who brings both a hands-on mindset and strategic thinking to the table.

I currently serve as Vice President of the Maintenance Board, where I’ve worked closely with vendors, the board, and residents to keep our neighborhood running smoothly—improving response times for repairs, advocating for long-term cost savings, and ensuring our common areas reflect the pride we all have in our homes.

Professionally, I’m a Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt with years of experience in leadership, process improvement, and project management. I’m known for bringing people together, solving tough problems with logic and fairness, and making sure every voice is heard.

Whether it’s budgeting, contract negotiation, or improving communication between the board and residents, I have the skills—and the passion—to make our community better, stronger, and more connected.

I’m running for the HOA Board because I believe in protecting property values, promoting transparency, and making decisions with integrity. I want to be your voice on the board—to advocate for the things that matter to all of us: safety, maintenance, fairness in enforcement, and a strong, welcoming community.

I believe in smart budgeting, proactive upkeep, and real communication. No hidden agendas, no wasted time—just solid leadership and a commitment to helping our neighborhood thrive.

Let’s keep our community beautiful, organized, and moving forward—together. I’d be honored to have your vote.

Sean Phelps

My wife Ashlyn and I have lived in Country Place since early 2021. Since moving in, we’ve had two children and adopted a dog. We’re avid walkers—my wife, kids, and dog explore the neighborhood daily, and I join as often as possible. Over time, I’ve become more engaged with HOA meetings and updates, which led me to want to contribute directly to improving our community.

I’ve met hundreds of neighbors through events, walks, and conversations, and I’ve learned that while our neighborhood is large, it's filled with friendly people and unique stories. I want to help foster transparency, inclusiveness, and open communication. Some goals I’d like to focus on:

• Equal representation for all sections, including 3A and 6

• Solutions that support, not punish, neighbors

• More in-person HOA meetings

• Giving residents a voice—not silencing them

• And more, driven by community feedback

About Me

I’m a graduate of USF (2017) with a Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering, and minors in Biomedical Engineering and Biomedical Physics. I began my career at Lockheed Martin after an internship, where I led the site's transition from paper to electronic manufacturing systems (MES). I supported major programs like the C-130, F-16, and F-35, and led engineering and tooling design teams that brought key production work to Pinellas.

Now, I work in IT at Lockheed Martin as a software project manager, business analyst, and scrum master—depending on the product. My daily decisions impact multi-million-dollar programs like the Black Hawk (UH-60), King Stallion (CH-53), VH-92 Marine One, and others across U.S. and international production lines.

Tania Figueredo

My name is Tania Figueredo, and I have been a resident of Country Place since 2012. I moved to Tampa in 2005 after completing a Surgical Technologist program and have worked in several major area hospitals over the past 20 years. I have a life partner of 18 years, and together we have a 13-year-old son. When I’m not working at the hospital, you’ll definitely find me working in my yard—my family says I put more hours into it than my actual job! Otherwise, we try to get our newly minted teenager out of the house for kayaking, biking, fishing, or anything that gets us outdoors.

I am running for a position on the Homeowners Association board because I believe that an actively engaged leadership style will benefit the Country Place community. I intend to support the board in enforcing HOA rules but will vote for exceptions in cases of demonstrated hardship. I hope to create a bridge between those residents and others who can donate time, or even students seeking volunteer hours. I’d also like to establish a process for residents to submit HOA rule infraction notices they believe are frivolous for board review.

I believe we have a strong sense of community and pride in our neighborhood. When natural disasters occur, I will actively work to engage residents in helping one another. I will encourage residents to support local businesses owned by fellow neighbors who provide quality service. I will also vote for the board to explore all options to reduce or eliminate door-to-door sales.

I believe I can help make the board more responsive to residents and support a culture of community-led solutions. I hope you will seriously consider my candidacy for a position on the board. I look forward to the opportunity to serve you.