DDA recommends Barna, Woodson for board

Two new faces could be joining the Oxford Downtown Development Authority (DDA) board.

Last week, the board voted unanimously to recommend the appointment of Sam Barna and Regina Woodson to four-year terms along with current board member Rod Charles.

The recommendations must now be approved by the village council.

 

Barna
Barna

Barna, a resident of Orion Township, has served as the assistant superintendent of business and operations for the Oxford school district since August 2015.

“I love downtown Oxford, even though I don’t live here,” he said. “I’m a patron of the businesses here. I love the ambience of downtown Oxford.”

Woodson lives in Rochester Hills and is the owner/operator of the Woodson Family Insurance Agency, located at 14 N. Washington St. This licensed AAA agent opened her business in October 2014.

“I’m very invested in this community,” she said.

If appointed by council, the pair will replace DDA members Ed Hunwick and Jerry Cremin, who have agreed to leave with the expiration of their terms this month.

“My position is if a business owner wants to be part of the board, I have no problem with stepping down,” Hunwick said. “Do I want to stay on the board? Sure, I’ll stay. But I think a business owner should have priority over (me).”

Cremin, who owns and operates Sullivan’s Public House, was absent from the meeting, but according to DDA member Sue Bossardet, based on her last conversation with him, he was willing to step aside as well.

“He’s really busy,” she said.

Woodson is looking forward to putting her skills and knowledge to use for the betterment of the downtown.

“I’m very, very much interested in preserving the historic feel of Oxford,” she said.

She has a bachelor’s degree in business administration with an emphasis on accounting.

Prior to owning an insurance agency, Woodson spent seven years as the assistant director of administration for a nonprofit organization. She oversaw the operations of a 110-acre campus.

Before that, she spent 10 years with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.

Woodson
Woodson

Barna told DDA board members he believes he can “assist” them in “striking that . . . delicate balance between historical preservation” and community growth.

“I think I can lend some good thought to that and hopefully, (take downtown Oxford) to the next step, whatever that may be,” he said.

Barna has a bachelor’s degree and an MBA in finance and marketing from Michigan State University.

He previously worked for General Motors, DTE Energy, Beaumont Hospitals and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.

Prior to being hired by Oxford Schools, the largest employer in the community, Barna worked for Dearborn Public Schools, which has an annual budget of $185 million.

“I have a lot of years in both nonprofit as well as for-profit financial analysis and leadership,” he said. “I’m used to working with large numbers, as well as smaller numbers.”

Barna noted he has experience as both a leader and “a team member,” so he knows how to get along with others and look at both sides of a decision.

In addition to his financial background, he’s a state-licensed residential builder.

“I have done some home remodeling on the side and I love architecture,” Barna said. “I have an appreciation for it.”

DDA member Bill Dunn, supervisor of Oxford Township, noted he’s “really impressed” with the board candidates.

“It really helps that they know how to count beans,” he said. “This board got in a little trouble a couple years ago (for) kind of running out of money. (Since then,) we’ve been taking extra time to make sure that the money we spend is going to the right place at the right time. So, it’s nice to have bean counters – and I mean that affectionately.”

 

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