By Dave Humphrey
Those who know him best say our new Shipyard Board of Directors President is a no-nonsense, “get the job done” leader. Others describe him as a person who tackles a problem with this approach: “get it done, do it right, and within budget”…likely the result of 30 years in the U.S. Navy and the Merchant Marine.
Dennis Foley has been a Shipyard homeowner since 1995, and two-years later, he and wife Pat moved here from Rhode Island. As a member of the Shipyard board, he has headed the Security Committee and was the Board’s secretary/treasurer. Most recently, Mr. Foley and SPOA Vice President Don Manak directed the national search committee for the new Shipyard general manager when Sally Warren retired.
Mr. Manak called Foley “dependable, reliable and well-respected by fellow board members.He is extremely knowledgeable as to what is needed to continue making Shipyard a most desirable place to live.”
Asked his priorities for Shipyard, Foley said he “wants to minimize turn over in employee ranks; work to improve the use of the Beach Club by owners and outside interests; and work with the Finance Committee to develop methods to update and upgrade 15-miles of roads in Shipyard, over a two – or three-year period.”
Foley attended New York State Maritime Academy graduating with the Bachelor of Science in Meteorology and Marine Transportation, a US Coast Guard 3rd Officer’s License, and a Naval Commission. He initially sailed in the Merchant Marine from 1962 through 1963 and then activated his Naval Commission on which he continued to serve until retiring in 1987. Following military retirement, he worked for a research organization as Vice President for Naval Weapon Systems supporting the Naval Underwater Systems Center Newport RI.
Mr. Foley succeeds 10-year president Kevin McMahon who said “Dennis has always shown an interest in Shipyard’s quality of life. With his Navy background, he is objective and thorough looking at all issues.”
The Board re-elected Greens homeowner Don Manak as vice president and Joe Striveri, who represents Residential North, as secretary/treasurer. Elected to the Executive Committee were Karl Sneed and Dave Humphrey, both at-large members, and owners in Residential South and Kathi Blakey, a Beachwalk owner, representing condominium owners. The Board elected Sonesta General Manager Adriaan Radder to represent Shipyard’s commercial partners on the Executive Committee.
ABOUT THE WRITER: Dave Humphrey has owned properties in Shipyard for more than 19 years. He lives in Residential South and is a 7-year member of the Shipyard Board of Directors.
