We won! Thank you community, we did this together ❤️

COMMUNITY IN ACTION:

RESTORING INTEGRITY TO ISLANDS AT DORAL

I s s u e s a n d s o l u t i o n s

Everything you need to know about the current issues we are facing with the Master's Association/ Clubhouse and the key actions we are taking to restitute transparency to our community

We won! Thank you community ❤️

We are thrilled to announce that the proposed candidates have officially been elected to serve on the new Board of Directors of Islands at Doral Master Association. This is a victory for all of us — a community united in purpose and hope for a better tomorrow.

Meet your new Board:

Brent McNab – President (Corsica)
Gisell Aleman – Vice President (Galapagos II)
Maria F. Villamizar – Secretary (Windward)
Jorge Merchan – Treasurer (Menorca)
Belkis Acuña – Director (Promenade)
Julian A. Castro – Director (Corsica)
Luis Lopez – Director (Mediterranean)

We received an incredible 1,463 votes — a true testament to what we can accomplish when we come together.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who made this possible: the dedicated volunteers, the neighbors who participated, and the entire community that came together behind a shared vision.

A very special recognition goes to Stephanie Rivera for her outstanding leadership and commitment throughout this process.

And finally, a huge thank you to Brent McNab, whose passion and dedication were key to making this happen. Without him, we wouldn't be here today. Thank you for giving your all for the community.

This is just the beginning. United, we can achieve anything. From now on, only great things await.

Thank you!

What's the main problem?

The core problem in our community governance

Our community faces an urgent crisis rooted in the governance practices of the HOA board. Since its inception, the board has never been elected by the homeowners; instead, its members were initially appointed, and positions have since been reassigned. The lack of a real community representation undermines its credibility and raises serious concerns about its accountability to the 2,896 homeowners in our community.

Moreover, the board has consistently demonstrated poor management and decision-making, including:

Approving excessive fees based on questionable budgets without adequate justification.
Writing off $521,000 as "tax mistakes" despite evidence that taxes had already been accounted for correctly.
Mismanaging vendor contracts, such as payments for non-operational fountains and unmaintained landscaping.
Displaying alarming discrepancies in the clubhouse's budget, including inflated salaries during its closure during the pandemic and unexplained reserve fund allocations.

To make matters even worse, the clubhouse is in no condition and unsuitable for the $4 million annual expense budget allocated to it. Yes, you read it right $4,000,000! With an annual budget like that, we should have a state-of-the-art Clubhouse and not the same one since it was built. Besides that its capacity is nowhere near sufficient to meet the needs of the 2,896 homeowners, making it very clear that resources aren’t being managed effectively.

This combination of unaccountability, financial irresponsibility, and mismanagement has created frustration throughout the community. We need leaders who prioritize transparency, fairness, and accountability to rebuild trust and bring our community back together!

The solution

Since the current board was never elected by homeowners and has only reassigned positions, it’s critical to have —for the first time in our community—a fair election process. Achieving this requires active participation from you and every homeowner. Legitimate elections will give us the opportunity to select leaders who truly prioritize the needs and interests of our community.

So, here’s the plan:

Achieve quorum: we need at least 1,000 signed proxies (30% participation) from our 2,896 homeowners to hold elections for a new board committed to financial transparency and accountability.
Replace the board: elect leaders who prioritize fair governance, community accountability, transparency, and responsible management of funds.
Ensure oversight: push for forensic audits to investigate misuse of funds, demand better vendor management, pursue legal action for fraudulent activities, and ensure fair management moving forward.

And what we need from you:

Contact your subdivision volunteer: each subdivision has a volunteer responsible for collecting signed proxies for owners who can't make it to the meeting. If you're not sure who your volunteer is, reach out to Stephanie (787) 637-5352 or download the full list with all proxy volunteer leaders here.
Sign your proxy: as soon as proxies are available, sign and return yours to your subdivision volunteer.
Spread the word: share this information with your neighbors and encourage them to sign their proxies.
Volunteer: join the effort to collect proxies and raise awareness in your subdivision. Contact your neighborhood volunteer for guidance.

Together, we have the power to reclaim trust in our governance, hold leaders accountable, and secure a better future for our community. Every signature matters. Every voice counts. Let’s unite and make change happen!

Discover each section below

and get to know the details about the situation and how you can help

Chronology of events and news

2010

The board is formed by appointed property owners, including Elizabeth Canchola and Carlos Pino, who continue to serve as active members.

April 16, 2024

In this last annual election meeting, a quorum of owners was not reached, so the current Board of Directors stayed in place. This led to frustration among many owners, who then created a community chat to express their concerns, stay informed, and organize collectively.

May 15, 2024

A Clubhouse committee was created.

July 16, 2024

The Clubhouse Committee recommends Lisa Magill from Kaye, Bender & Rembaum to review all HOA documents—contracts, declarations, financials, etc.—to understand the current agreement with the Clubhouse, determine whether the charges are legal, and explore any options to terminate this one-sided arrangement.

September 18, 2025

BOD agrees to hire attorney Lisa Magil.

September 24, 2025

Brent McNab, on behalf of the ownership, sent a letter to the Board of Directors (BOD) informing them that there are seven owners willing to replace the current Board.

December 24, 2025

A petition was sent to BOD to remove Carlos Pino- President- and Liliana Mancilla -Treasurer- from the BOD for failure to perform fiduciary duties. Also, Brent creates a GoFundMe for the community owners to hire SoFlo Property Owners (HOA financial investigators).

January 2025

The agreement with SoFlo Property Owners Investigators is signed.

February, 2025

BOD receives Attorney Lisa Magil's opinion.

March 19, 2025

Members discussed the scheduling of the budget approval meeting but noted the HOA had failed to provide the proposed budget for review. There was widespread frustration about the lack of transparency.

March 20, 2025

Brent MacNab shares an email from Mayor Christi Fraga addressing HOA governance and legislative measures including bills SB 120, HB 137, SB 368, and HB 1203. The email also highlights the upcoming HOA and Condo Fair as a community resource.
The 2025 budget meeting was held at 6 PM. During the meeting:
- Concerns arose about the clubhouse fees, increased HOA fees, and the lack of accountability.
- Attendees criticized board members for their indifference, unprofessional behavior, and refusal to disclose critical budget details like operational expenses.
- The monthly HOA fee was revealed to increase from $122 to $132 starting April 1st, 2025.

March 21, 2025

Brent McNab raised significant concerns, pointing out discrepancies in the association's financials and the board's mismanagement. He noted a questionable write-off of $521,000 in clubhouse debt, supposedly related to tax errors. Brent emphasized the need for a forensic audit.
Brent follows up with an email formally requesting detailed financial budgets and records to ensure transparency, citing legal obligations under Florida statutes.

March 26, 2025

Brent McNab emails property managers regarding non-operational fountains near Antilles and Corsica, questioning why the $220 monthly service per fountain has not been fulfilled.
Sends another follow-up email urging clarity on discrepancies in maintenance services and requesting updates on budgets and vendor contracts.

March 30, 2025

Brent McNab highlighted issues with vendor contracts, specifically with My Lawn Service and fountain maintenance. He questioned the validity of unsigned contracts and noted unfulfilled services.

April 1, 2025

Residents discovered that they were charged $122 instead of the new amount of the approved budget of $132, making them pay extra fees to cover the error they made. This caused widespread confusion and outrage among community members.
Brent MacNab secures seven years of official budgets from the HOA (2019-2025), identifying discrepancies, such as inflated payroll costs and unexplained reserve allocations. He shares these documents with the group and the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office.
Brent McNab criticizes the board for ignoring legal avenues to dispute clubhouse fee hikes, asserting their negligence in protecting community finances.

April 2, 2025

Brent MacNab compiled evidence of improper use of reserve funds, inconsistent financial reporting, and possible fraud within the association's accounts. He shared this information with Miami-Dade investigators, urging a deeper investigation. Later during this day he also;
- Submits additional evidence to law enforcement, citing reserve fund mismanagement and payroll discrepancies during the pandemic.
- Highlights the HOA's failure to justify inflated $521,000 payments to the clubhouse and urges more proactive financial oversight.
- Questioned property managers about lack of vendor accountability, criticizing ongoing payments to contractors despite incomplete services

April 4, 2025

Residents discovered retroactive charges of $10 per month for January, February, and March—totaling $40 per homeowner. This caused once again a lot of confusion and outrage since the HOA had previously stated the fee increase would begin on April 1st, 2025. Since then the HOA has not released an official statement communicating the error to the homeowners.

April 6, 2025

Brent McNab provides a detailed spreadsheet recapping HOA budgets over seven years. Shares findings with the Sheriff's Office and underlines potential financial fraud involving reserve fund allocations and overpayments to the clubhouse.

April 10, 2025

Community leaders emphasized the urgency of collecting 1,000 signed proxies to achieve quorum for elections to replace the board. Volunteers were encouraged to connect with homeowners and stay organized.

April 16, 2025

Brent shared additional budget analyses (2024–2025) with the community.

April 22-23, 2025

Brent McNab organized and led a meeting with the volunteers from the community who are helping to collect proxies.
During the meeting, Brent explained that the current Board of Directors is intentionally delaying the election process.
Why?
Brent revealed that one of the board members (in a private comment) admitted that they are delaying because they believe the owners will get tired, give up, and not gather enough proxies to force an election.
Brent motivated the volunteers not to get discouraged and emphasized that this tactic is a deliberate strategy by the Board to stay in power.

He encouraged everyone to continue pushing hard, stay consistent, and accelerate proxy collection efforts despite the frustration and obstacles.

Brent emailed the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office, congratulating them on an HOA-related arrest, and invited them to a community meeting.

Who's working with us?

1. Law Enforcement

The community has reached out to local law enforcement agencies to report potential financial fraud and mismanagement within the HOA. Brent McNab and his team have also collaborated with retired police economic crimes investigators from South Florida Property Owners Consulting, a team with over 97 years of combined experience in investigating HOA-related financial irregularities. These investigators analyze financial documents, vendor contracts, and payments to identify discrepancies.

2. Investigators

The retired police investigators Brent hired specialize in economic crimes. They work alongside accounting professionals to scrutinize HOA budgets, reserve funds, and vendor payments. Their goal is to uncover any fraudulent activities or mismanagement. This team has been instrumental in providing detailed reports and evidence to support Brent's claims.

3. Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR)

The DBPR plays a regulatory role in overseeing certain aspects of homeowners' associations in Florida. While their jurisdiction over HOAs is limited compared to condominiums, they can investigate specific complaints related to:

Financial reporting
Reserve fund management
Board member conduct.

Recent legislative changes have expanded the DBPR's authority, allowing them to enforce compliance more effectively.

What Happened with the DBPR?

Brent has filed complaints with the DBPR, citing issues such as reserve fund mismanagement and lack of transparency in financial reporting. The DBPR has the authority to:

Investigate these complaints.
Impose fines or penalties if violations are confirmed.
Mandate corrective actions to ensure compliance with Florida statutes.

The results:

The outcome of Brent's complaints with the DBPR was unsuccessful. Their involvement underscores the seriousness of the allegations and the potential for regulatory action against the HOA.

The importance of voting

Participating in the upcoming vote is crucial for every homeowner in Islands at Doral, and here’s why:

Reclaim our community: this election is our chance to replace the current board with representatives who prioritize transparency, fiscal responsibility, and fairness. The board’s repeated lack of accountability has allowed questionable expenses, hidden charges, and financial mismanagement to go unchecked. The vote empowers us to take control of these decisions and ensure our hard-earned money is spent wisely.
End the cycle of neglect: mismanagement has been the norm for too long, with issues like retroactive fees, improper vendor oversight, and a lack of meaningful communication with homeowners. A new board can introduce fresh leadership and demand changes to benefit everyone.
Unite and make a statement: by participating, we demonstrate to the current board and outside authorities that the residents of Islands at Doral are engaged, informed, and committed to change. Our collective voice is our strength—and every vote counts toward achieving quorum, which is essential to proceed.
A rare opportunity: elections don’t happen often, and missing this opportunity could mean enduring another year of the same unacceptable conditions. This vote is our chance to reshape the future of our community.

Action to take:

Sign your proxy: ensure it’s completed accurately and handed to your neighborhood volunteer as soon as they're distributed. These proxies are essential to meet the quorum required for the vote.
Spread the word: inform neighbors who might not be aware. The more homeowners involved, the greater our impact.
Show up: if you can attend the election meeting, please do so. Your presence will reinforce the demand for change.

This is about safeguarding our community, our homes, and our financial future. Together, let’s make the vote count!

Meet the new proposed board

Volunteers for the new Board of Directors:

Brent Mcnab - Corsica
Belkis Acuna - Promenade
Julian A. Castro - Corsica
Jorge Merchan - Menorca
Luis Lopez - Mediterranean
Gisell Alemán - Galapagos II
Maria F. Villamizar - Windward

Meet Bren McNab: our visionary community leader

Brent McNab stands at the heart of our community, serving as both a guiding compass and a driving force for positive change. With a remarkable ability to uncover insights, identify opportunities, and mobilize action, Brent has been the spark behind many initiatives that have helped shape the community we are proud to call home today.

Brent has served as a Board Member for Corsica for approximately five years. With over 35 years of experience in the cruise industry and now as a small business owner, he brings a wealth of leadership, operational, and organizational expertise to every effort he undertakes.

Over the past year, Brent has diligently researched our HOA’s documents, working tirelessly to uncover and clarify discrepancies that concerned many of our residents. Beyond research, he has taken direct action — becoming our community’s primary point of contact with investigators, law enforcement, city officials, and state legislators, all in pursuit of greater transparency, accountability, and fairness for all homeowners.

Brent believes that HOAs are not inherently complicated—they simply require leaders who genuinely care about their community and their neighbors.
His tireless efforts have united us, transforming ideas into action and potential into real progress. Brent is not just a leader; he is the cornerstone of our shared journey and an invaluable part of the Islands at Doral story.

Belkys Acuna

She has been a Promenade Board Member since 2024 and is deeply rooted in our Doral community through her work as a project inspector, political advisor, and realtor. Her diverse professional background gives her a unique perspective on what it takes to build and sustain a thriving community.

Driven by a genuine passion for service, she is committed to ensuring that our community is managed with transparency, efficiency, and care. Her dedication, experience, and forward-thinking vision make her a strong advocate for a better future for all residents.

Julian A. Castro

He has served as a Corsica Board Member for nearly three years. As a licensed Realtor and owner of a property management company, he brings valuable professional experience and a deep understanding of what it takes to manage a community effectively. His hands-on knowledge of real estate and property operations gives him a strong foundation to help guide responsible decision-making.

Motivated by a commitment to protect and enhance the quality of life for all residents, he is seeking a seat on the Master Board with a clear focus: to ensure that community finances are properly managed and allocated in the best interest of all homeowners.

Jorge Merchan

He has proudly served as a Menorca Board Member since 2008, bringing with him extensive experience gained through holding multiple leadership roles over the years. His deep understanding of community governance and long-standing commitment equip him to effectively address the challenges facing the Master Board.

With his knowledge, dedication, and steady leadership, he is ready to contribute meaningfully to the success and progress of our community.

Luis E. Lopez

Luis E. Lopez brings over 25 years of management experience and more than 8 years as a successful entrepreneur. He has proudly served as President of the Mediterranean HOA for six consecutive years, leading with transparency, accountability, and a firm commitment to community improvement.

Beyond his work in the neighborhood, Luis has been actively involved in nonprofit organizations, consistently showing his dedication to service and civic engagement. Now, as a candidate for the Master HOA Board, he is ready to bring his experience, leadership, and integrity to serve the broader Islands at Doral community.

Gisell Alemán

She has served as a Galapagos II Board Member for the past year and has dedicated over a decade as a volunteer working with youth at her local church. Her genuine desire to contribute to the well-being and growth of our community shines through in everything she does.

With strong organizational skills, a deep foundation in service and leadership, and a steadfast commitment to transparency, she is a passionate advocate for responsible and effective governance.
Her professional background in finance further strengthens her ability to make sound, informed decisions.

Together, these qualities make her a well-rounded and highly capable candidate for the Master Board of Directors.

Maria F. Villamizar

Information about Maria F. Villamizar from Windward will be updated soon.

How you can help

These are the key steps you can take NOW to take back our community:

📞 Contact your subdivision volunteer: each subdivision has a volunteer responsible for collecting signed proxies for owners who can't make it to the meeting. If you're not sure who your volunteer is, reach out to Stephanie (787) 637-5352 or download the full list with all volunteer leaders here.
✍️ Sign your proxy: sign and return yours to your subdivision volunteer. Elections are going to be on May 22, 2025.
📣 Spread the word: share this information with your neighbors and encourage them to sign their proxies.
🔔 Stay informed and alert: joining the community chat is essential to keep up with the latest news, updates about our progress and the election process. You can join the chat here.
🙋‍♀️ Volunteer: join the effort to collect proxies and raise awareness in your subdivision. Contact your neighborhood volunteer for guidance. You can find more information about volunteering here.

Join the chat and stay updated

Stay Connected with Our Community! 🌟

We invite you to join our WhatsApp group, where we share important updates, discuss key issues, and work together to keep everyone informed. This is your go-to space to stay in the loop and make your voice heard.

🗨️ Why Join?

Stay updated on the latest news and events.
Connect with neighbors and build a stronger community.
Share your concerns and ideas for positive change.

Click here to join: Club House Issue Only Chat

Together, we can make a difference! Let's keep the conversation going and ensure our community thrives.

Want to help shape the future of your community?

You can do so by volunteering in your subdivision. Find more information on how you can help your community here.

Still need help?

If you have any questions or any other comments, please contact us here. Thank you!

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