Upcoming – SSHCA Board Elections for 2023-24 Term
Every two years the South Seminole Heights Civic Association conducts board elections in an effort to allow neighbors a way to get involved in the community and make a positive impact on the neighborhood we love to live and work in. Positions on the board include President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, and three Delegates at Large positions. Duties for each position are outlined in our by-laws section of the website.
Elections were last held in December 2022 for the 2023-24 term. Our next election will be held in late 2024. Our current board members are listed below.
President
Sharlene Hartford: Sharlene moved to South Seminole Heights five years ago and has been active on the board and in the community since. She originally held the role of Secretary and later, Vice President of SSHCA. You may recognize Sharlene from the many SSHCA events, but she has also helped or organized many volunteer events with Broward Elementary, including the recent “Soles4LilSouis” sneaker drive for disadvantaged children, the OSHNA Home Tour, and weekly reading to children.
Vice President
Emily Perkins: Emily first joined the SSHCA board in 2021 as Beautification Chair. She has since completed many projects to benefit our neighborhood, including a brand new SSHCA Interactive Art Map. She has pleasantly volunteered to lend a hand to many other projects and help out on our short-handed board of volunteers, and has been a very valuable addition to our board. As of 2023, Emily has stepped into the role of Vice President.
Treasurer
Shannon Leigh: Shannon Leigh is a consultant with over 18 years of experience within the financial services, automotive wholesaling, and professional services industries. She directly supported external and internal clients in leadership roles in talent acquisition, training, and development, and business-to-business sales; including specialized account, project, and operational management roles. She is also a professional artist with specializations in drawing, oil painting, watercolor, calligraphy, letterpress, lithography, intaglio printmaking, and casting sculpture.
Shannon has lived in the Tampa Bay area for 20 years and has lived in the South Seminole Heights neighborhood for 4 years. She holds extensive volunteer experience and involvement in the Tampa Bay community. She has previously held volunteer and fundraising roles supporting the Humane Society of Tampa Bay, Metropolitan Ministries, Junior Achievement USA, and Paint Your Heart Out, Tampa.
Currently, she co-leads the garden ministry and supports the historical society at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Tampa, acts as a volunteer judge for the national SIFMA Foundation’s InvestWrite Competitions, volunteers with the Hillsborough County Homeless Outreach Program, and works on home builds and remodeling projects with Habitat for Humanity.
Shannon recently joined the SSHCA Board in August 2022 to fill the prior vacancy of Treasurer. She looks forward to supporting the Board and South Seminole Heights community residents in her role as Treasurer.
Secretary:
Stephanie Taylor: Stephanie is a Seminole Heights, Tampa native. She graduated from USF and teaches Kindergarten. Stephanie joined the South Seminole Heights Civic Association to be active in our neighborhood. Her community interests include public safety, a healthy environment, and social equity.
Delegate at Large:
Stephanie Smith: Stephanie Smith is a longtime Florida resident and has resided in SWF for nearly 3 decades. She is a Family Nurse Practitioner and received both her undergraduate and graduate degrees here in Tampa at the University of South Florida. She lives in South Seminole Heights and recently founded Heightened Aesthetics, a small facial aesthetics practice, in the neighborhood.
When Stephanie is not injecting, she enjoys spending time in the backyard of her Seminole Heights’ bungalow, gardening, walking in the neighborhood, and working on various home projects. Stephanie is also an avid paddle boarder and loves nature, and when time allows, she loves to explore state parks, Florida springs, and new beaches. She has one son, who lives in Venice, Florida, and is following in his mom’s footsteps by pursuing a career in Nursing.
Stephanie has a strong sense of community and has been a member of the South Seminole Heights Civic Association since 2021. She is very excited to serve as an at-large board member to serve the community she lives in and loves!
Michelle Rice: Michelle Rice was born and raised in Tampa and moved to South Seminole Heights nearly 3 years ago with her husband and four boys. Prior to that, they lived just across the river in Wellswood for 11 years. However, she did live in South Seminole Heights years ago prior to meeting her husband as well. Michelle is a local realtor with eXp Realty and loves showing off our amazing local businesses to newcomers. She is passionate about helping people find their dream home in our beautiful neighborhood.
Michelle has served on many PTA boards in various positions for all her boys’ schools throughout the years and is an active advocate for children and teachers. Her father is now retired but worked as a teacher and basketball coach for Hillsborough County for over 30 years. She is currently the VP of the After School Enrichment programs for her twin’s school, serves on the auction committee for her youngest son’s preschool, and is on the banquet committee for Hillsborough High School’s Crew team, which is her oldest son’s school.
When Michelle is not busy working or running her kids around, she enjoys gardening, working on home improvement projects, and cheering on the Bucs, Lightning, and Rays. Her happy place is the beach, so she also escapes there any chance she can get. Michelle loves the warm Florida sunshine and just being outside and feels truly blessed to call this community home. This proud Tampa native is excited to serve as an at-large delegate board member this year and help continue improving our community for the enjoyment of us all!
Jim Kallaher:
Questions? Reach out to [email protected] for more information