Roots & Wings Online

LARMAC's goal is to maintain Ladera Ranch as a premier master-planned community while protecting its design integrity while promoting strong home values. 

Meet three LARMAC staff members who are crucial in keeping Ladera on the move. You may get to know them on a first-name basis. They are among the industry’s best and brightest, and each has a passion for helping residents – from getting connected and building their dream home to keeping their property looking great.

Megan Otte
Member Services Manager

Megan leads the Member Services team, which is responsible for fielding all resident inquiries, issuing access cards to residents, answering hundreds of questions, and much more.

In her role, Megan actively supports the Ladera Ranch Maintenance Corporation (LARMAC) community vision and philosophies and FirstService Residential’s commitment to delivering exemplary client and resident service. She ensures excellent customer service and prompt and accurate responses to resident inquiries that come through the Member Services desk.

The Member Services team assists residents in completing their clubhouse and picnic shelter reservations, processing payments, and securing insurance and vendor information, which is important in protecting the association and, ultimately, homeowners.

Megan enjoys meeting new families when they come in to pick up their access cards. Families want to know everything there is to do in Ladera - and the best time is during the winter holidays when it’s most magical. “Seeing the smiles and the children’s excitement on their faces never gets old,” she says. Megan loves having good old-fashioned conversations. It’s an opportunity to establish a connection with our residents.

“The LARMAC team loves this community and the values it was founded on. Each one of us has a special part in ensuring Ladera Ranch continues to be a successful and sustainable master-planned community while fostering the small-town feel that Ladera is known for,” Megan continues. Most residents who meet Megan are surprised that she’s an old soul. She is a fan of older sitcoms that include I Love Lucy, Golden Girls, and The Dick Van Dyke Show. She admits that she has a bucket list goal of playing a game of bingo at a real bingo hall.

When asked what she wished every resident knew about LARMAC, she replied, “That we genuinely enjoy every aspect of what we do for our residents. Whether it is welcoming new residents to the neighborhood, creating their access cards, answering questions about their reservation, or offering assistance when a resident shares a concern or issue, we genuinely care and love our role in the community.”

Two Truths and a Lie: Megan
See if you can guess which is which (the answers are at the end of the article).

1. Megan never learned to ride a bike.
2. She has a deeply rooted fear of reptiles.
3. Her favorite thing to eat is Thai curry (any color).

Mikaile Brown
Custom Lot Coordinator

Covenant Hills has a total of 173 custom homes with 6 lots to be built. As Ladera Ranch’s Custom Lot Coordinator, Mikaile facilitates the Custom Home Design Review process for all developed and undeveloped custom homes. She also facilitates special projects and ensures compliance for all custom home builds, which keeps Mikaile busy.

Mikaile is considered one of FirstService Residential’s top associates who leads by example and lives out her values at work. Her even-keel demeanor helps calm homeowners who experience the excitement of building a custom home. Mikaile has been recognized by her industry and her peers as having impeccable attention to detail and for her passion for the process of building a new home. Mikaile says, “I totally nerd out on the process of building a home.

I love seeing a dirt lot turn into a beautiful home. It’s exciting to see families enjoy their homes after months, sometimes years, of designing and constructing their dream homes.”

When asked how she remains focused and calm while doing such a demanding job, she said, “I read.” On weekends, Mikaile can be found curled up with her cat, LouLou, as she works through her never-ending TBR (to be read) list.

Two Truths and a Lie: Mikaile
See if you can guess which is which (answers are at the end of the article).

1. Mikaile was born in Michigan and is loyal to her team, the Wolverines.
2. She has a pet tarantula named Billy Bob Thorton.
3. Mikaile loves classical music.

Kristy Pennington
Aesthetics Review Coordinator

As the liaison between homeowners and the Aesthetics Review Committee (ARC), Kristy facilitates the Aesthetics Review process for the production homes within Ladera Ranch. She guides homeowners through the plan submittal process from start to finish.

The Aesthetics Review Committee must approve all plans for architectural or landscaping modifications before the modifications can be made.

Kristy notes, “The Home Improvements section on LaderaLife has a wealth of information related to the Aesthetics Review process and has the most up-to-date information.” Her Ladera Pro Tip for obtaining approvals on the first submittal is reviewing LARMAC’s Aesthetic Standards and sharing them with your contractor and designer before starting and submitting the plan. 

Kristy’s favorite part of her job is contacting homeowners to inform them that the Aesthetics Review Committee approved their plan.

Two Truths and a Lie: Kristy
See if you can guess which is which.

1. Kristy raised her niece and two nephews for nine years, which has taught her patience.
2. Kristy loves a double-double with extra pickles from In-N-Out and can’t resist the paper hats.
3. Kristy loves 80s and 90s hip-hop and R&B and is playing Pandora’s Hip-Hop BBQ right now.

Answers to 2 Truths and a Lie:

Megan: Megan was restricted from most activities after surgery for brain cancer at age 8. The doctor made the mistake of allowing young Meg to choose between continuing to ride horses or riding a bike. Although at age 37 she can’t ride a bike, her half-sleeve tattoo of her horse reflects her passion. Also, Megan keeps a 4-foot-long mangrove monitor lizard named Dahui as a pet. She loves spicy Thai food and Thai iced tea.
Mikaile: Mikaile is a big fan! However, she is not fond of wolverines or big spiders; rather, she is a fan of classical music. Lindsey Stirling is one of her favorite artists.
Kristy: Although the paper hats are cute, #2 is false, or the 'lie'. Kristy is a vegan and hasn’t eaten meat in 32 years, but she will take the pickles! Kristy's thing IS fashionable eyewear, oh yes! She owns over 30 pairs of eyeglasses!

This article was originally printed in the winter 2023 issue of Roots and Wings magazine. 

Related articles: 
The Purpose of Home Improvement Enforcement
Meet Manny: Ambassador for Strong Property Values in Ladera