Professional Governance

We Can Expect More—and Deliver It, Too

Big Canoe isn’t a subdivision. It’s a self-contained, amenity-rich, multi-million-dollar community with roads, utilities, emergency services, food and beverage operations, recreational programs, and a workforce. In short—it functions more like a small town or private resort than a traditional neighborhood.

The scale and complexity of Big Canoe demand that we adopt a more professional, systems-based approach to how we govern, manage, and communicate. Property Owners expect transparency. Everyone deserves consistency.

This is not about adding red tape. It’s about getting serious about the responsibilities that come with managing a community of this size and value.

What Does “Professionalism” Actually Look Like?

It means:

Clearly defined and communicated accountabilities for every board, leadership, management and staff position.
Clear performance standards with accountability and follow-through.
Data-informed decisions, not reactive ones based on assumptions, pressure, or noise.
Ongoing education for board members, committee chairs, and POA leadership.
Documented knowledge that lives beyond one person’s term or memory and is freely accessible to Property Owners.

When these systems are in place:

Property Owners feel respected because communication is clear and decisions are explained.
The Board, Leadership, and Management are held acocuntable for accomplishing what is in the best interest of the Property Owners
The community is run with transparency and fiscal responsibility
Volunteers are more effective because they’re given structure and support.
And issues get solved faster because we’re not reinventing the wheel every year.

Raise the Standard. Make It the Baseline.

We can—and should—expect more from our leadership. Not more hours, more emotion, or more effort. But more structure, more clarity, and more professional discipline in how things are done.

This is how thriving communities operate. Not by over-relying on individual personalities, but by building systems that work even as people come and go.

Professionalism needs to be the baseline for everything we do—especially at the Board and POA management levels.

What Can We Do About It?

If you’re a property owner, here’s how you can help raise the standard:

Ask better questions. When new policies or decisions are made, ask what data informed them, what process was followed, and how they’ll be measured.
Support structural improvements. Advocate for better documentation, onboarding processes, staff development, and technology tools that make governance smarter and more consistent.
Encourage transparency. Push for clearer, more proactive communication from the POA—not just reactive updates.
Recognize that good systems serve everyone. Even if you don’t always agree with every decision, a transparent and professional process is far better than one that feels improvised or opaque.

A Community That Works

We don’t need to copy corporate America, but we can learn from what works: Good systems. Clear communication. Data-driven decisions. Respect for time, resources, and people.

That’s not bureaucracy. That’s just what a high-functioning community looks like.

Let’s build one together.

Let’s raise the standard—and make professionalism how Big Canoe operates, not just what we hope for.

Thank you for reading my platform. I hope you found it informative and helpful in understanding my vision for our community.

Have a question or something to say? Send me an email: jcfortheboard@gmail.com

Prefer to talk? Book a time with me.

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J Cornelius — Candidate for the POA Board
jcornelius.com/poa

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Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has. – Margaret Mead