Announcement

Board approves 30-month GM contract extension

Wednesday, December 4, 2019

(Dec. 6, 2019) The Ocean Pines Board of Directors on Dec. 5 unanimously approved a two-and-a-half-year contract extension for General Manager John Viola.

Ocean Pines named Viola the temporary general manager in April and, in June, he signed a six-month agreement through Dec. 1. He inked the new deal this week, which runs from Dec. 1, 2019 to June 30, 2022.

The contract is similar to the agreement the Novak Consulting Group developed for the previous general manager, John Bailey, although Viola agreed to waive medical benefits in order to save the Association money.

Viola has been an Ocean Pines homeowner for nine years and before that had vacationed in community for three years.

A New York native, he has an MBA with a specialization in finance and tax management from Pace University in New York and earned an undergraduate degree at Manhattan College. He worked in the private sector as a certified public accountant, including 28 years with Avon, where he finished as the assistant global controller.

In Ocean Pines, Viola served as chairman of the Budget and Finance Advisory Committee for four years, and also served on a volunteer basis as the Association’s chief financial officer, prior to becoming general manager.

In just over six months as general manager, he led an effort that saw the Association turn a corner financially. The latest monthly financial report shows Ocean Pines more than $550,000 ahead of budget for the fiscal year and more than $400,000 ahead of the same period during the previous fiscal year.

Along with overseeing tighter financial controls, Viola has stressed teamwork and nurturing and developing talent among Ocean Pines employees. He has also taken advantage of expertise in the community in the form of more than a dozen workgroups on issues ranging from employee compensation, to construction of a new Golf clubhouse and expanded Police station.

“I enjoy working with the team and I feel we’re getting a lot done,” Viola said. “We hope to continue that momentum and to continue to develop our talent from within, as well as cross train to help our employees both now and in the future.

“I’m looking forward to continue being a part of this team that’s clearly producing for the Association across the board, as we work towards many needed projects and initiatives,” Viola continued. “For Ocean Pines homeowners, we’ll also strive to improve customer service and to keep the assessments reasonable.”

Association President Doug Parks said it was an easy decision to retain Viola, based on his initial success in the general manager role.

“We’ve mutually agreed to terms and we’re very, very happy to have John continue on in his role in Ocean Pines,” Parks said. “We’ve already seen the success of the partnership he’s forged with the Ocean Pines workforce and the Board, and I are very anxious to continue that and maintain not only the progress we’ve already made, but to continue our planning for the future.”

Announcement

Board approves 30-month GM contract extension

Photo: John Viola, on Dec. 5, reacts to the unanimous Board vote to extend his contract through June, 2022.

Member Login