Executive Director Randy Ankeny has resigned after 8 years
FROM THE GRF PRESIDENT
by Susan Hopewell
GRF president
On Nov. 24, the GRF Board of Directors accepted the resignation of GRF Executive Director Randy Ankeny, who is leaving Dec. 3 to pursue a career opportunity closer to his family.
Randy served Leisure World for over eight years. During his tenure, our community received a muchneeded face-lift. He provided valuable leadership to GRF and Mutuals, renovated many LW amenities, created new amenities, began long overdue repairs to infrastructure, and emphasized “Community Unity” as a stabilizing and positive foundation for LW life.
Notable among his many accomplishments was his proactive response to the COVID-19 pandemic. He made sure our at-risk residents would be among the first outside the medical community to receive the vaccinations. More than half the community received free vaccinations at convenient on-site clinics. He made sure the business of the Mutuals and GRF was conducted without interruption by utilizing Zoom and YouTube to ensure meetings could continue and meet legal requirements for access by shareholders.
Randy is known for his astute risk-management focus. He established reporting and safety measures to minimize employee injuries, accidents and community fires. This focus has resulted in favorable rates for the master insurance policies for both GRF and Mutuals in a time of skyrocketing premiums for HOA communities like LW.
Randy and GRF staff from 16 departments guided the complete refurbishment of the Fitness Center, the reconstruction of our landmark LW globe, the Pool Room, GRF offices and clubhouse upgrades.
Due to damaged pipes, bare electrical lines, disintegrating concrete and many other challenges, the scheduled refurbishment of the 1962 pool complex has become a complete rebuild, redesign and expansion. It has taken far longer than any of us wanted, but it will be a beautiful aquatic center and will soon be open.
Randy and his team created a state-of-the-art learning center and a video-equipped demonstration kitchen for community educational classes. Other new amenities include Mission Park, pickleball courts, Veterans Plaza and the newly opened Game Room.
In guiding LW from a first-of-its-kind, mid-20th-century community into a 21st-century active adult community, Randy fulfilled the GRF boards’ ambitious plans to restore, rebuild and improve Leisure World.
The board thanks Randy for his exemplary service to our community and wholeheartedly supports him in his new endeavor.
