Creating Community

Houston is a big city, with a crime rate to match that of most big cities. Violent crimes occur daily. On this particular day, Matt Wakefield, a young HPD Robbery Investigator was dispatched to a robbery by firearms at a convenience store, with added info of "Shots Fired!" A two-time ex-con had attempted a carjacking. Matt arrived after the victim was rushed to a hospital by a Houston Fire Department ambulance. There, he learned Alice Renfro was DOA, and met her husband, Jim. Capital Murder charges would now take precedence over robbery charges. A suspect, identified by a witness, was arrested blocks from the scene. Jim was stunned at the loss of his beloved wife. Matt tried to comfort the devastated man, staying with him until the Coroner's Office sent a Unit to transport her to the County Morgue. He attended her funeral and kept Jim apprised of progress on the case. The suspect was indicted, tried, found guilty of Capital Murder and sentenced to death. Typically, execution didn't occur for 15 years or more, due to repeated appeals, on the taxpayers' dime, and support from Anti-Death Penalty groups. The convicted murderer was placed on Death Row at the Polunsky Unit in East Texas to await death. But Alice didn't get an extra 15 years. Jim met grief-stricken Celia Gomez at a Victims' Support Group; her husband had also been murdered by a hijacker. Seeking justice, they changed identities, becoming employees of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Institutional Division. After almost 4 years, they worked on Death Row, on the night shift, with the required jobs. They were patient and smuggled pistols on to "The Row"; one foggy night the time was right. Their revenge would not be denied. They escaped to Mexico, but Matt was coming after them.

Michael Pierson began his career in resort and community association management in 1985 and has worked in Washington State (Orcas Island), Hawaii (Maui), and California (Santa Barbara, Orange County and the Coachella Valley). He is a past recipient of Village Resorts' Managing At Peak Performance Award while at The Whaler on Kaanapali Beach; Radisson Hotel International's Manager of the Quarter while at Palm Springs Radisson Resort Hotel; the California Association of Community Managers (CACM) Outstanding Service Award after serving as Chairman of their Public Relations Committee; and Action Property Management's Spirit Award while supervisor of their Coachella Valley Office. He served two stints as Editor the Coachella Valley Chapter of the Community Associations Institute (CAI) newsletter, The Quorum, and in 1993 was named the Coachella Valley CAI Chapter's Outstanding Member of the Year. Michael Pierson is President of Community Association Publishing Services and MyHOA.com and is the author of "Taking Control: Time Management and Communication Tools for Community Association Management" Michael is interviewed regularly by industry publications throughout the country because of his experience in communication tools and community building and enjoys speaking at industry-related events and meetings. He holds a degree in Psychology from St. Martin's University and lives in Bermuda Dunes, California with his wife, two cats and an old, blind, deaf dog.