Dear Caribe Resort Owners,
The 24th Annual Caribe Resort Homeowners Association Meeting will take place on Saturday, March 15th, 2025, at 1:00pm in the D100 Meeting Space. Lunch will be served starting at 12pm.
On Friday, March 14th, 2025, from 5pm-7pm a welcome reception will be held at the newly renovated lazy river deck (weather permitting).
We anticipate the meeting will have full capacity, however, we will also be live streaming the meeting on the owner website. A full notification by mail was sent out on February 26th, 2025. The mail-out will include an official meeting notice, 2025 proposed budget, full agenda, board member and candidate biographies and a proxy form.
The current board members are Larry Wireman, Rick Legendre, Lester Boihem and John Evans. Joe Mendola has resigned. We currently have three candidates running for the Board including Michael Waldheim, Mark Taupeka and Jimmy McClain.
If you have any questions for the Board, please submit them to ownerrelations@cariberesort.
The Board strongly urges you to send your proxies in so that we can establish a 51% voting quorum. Each year, we struggle and expense immense effort and time to collect these in advance. If you send your proxy in but attend the meeting, your proxy will be given back to you upon entering the meeting.
See Below for the Current Board Member and Candidate Biographies:
Larry Wireman ᐧ Current Board Member ᐧ
I am married to Judy Wireman and have three beautiful daughters, Tess, Tori, and Tina. We lived at Caribe for 16 years and currently own 27 condominiums and 8 commercial units here at Caribe. We own Cobalt Restaurant, Caribe Marina, Caribe Realty, the boat slips, and the two parking lots that surround the property which I allow owners and guests to use.
I started my career working on a corn farm in Kentucky. From there I did surveying, pile driving, painting, and welding. Eventually, I started an HVAC company and then a welding company. I did that for roughly 20 years and worked on large scale projects like the Alaskan Pipeline. In 1989, I bought the future site of Caribe. We worked through red tape for a decade to make Caribe a reality, and I’m proud of the community it has become.
Over the past 22 years, Caribe has been through 3 major hurricanes, an oil spill, and the 2008 recession. Undoubtedly, there are many challenges ahead. One of the most significant will be insuring the property at a reasonable rate with the market-wide disruption caused by a series of recent gulf storms along with steep inflation. Another will be navigating the tight labor market which is even more pronounced in Baldwin County. Nevertheless, the Board at Caribe has an unparalleled track record of limiting dues increases and assessments. I want to continue that as best we can.
Since Hurricane Sally, a tremendous amount of work has been done, and since the conclusion of the insurance claim, one of the most visible is the lazy river deck and our miniature golf area. We all have a significant investment at Caribe, and I will do my best along with the other board members to make sure our property appreciates in value. This place has special meaning to me as my first, big project in Orange Beach. I spend a lot of my time working at the offices here on property. If you ever have a problem or suggestion, my number is 251-989-3055. I will be happy to meet with you. The owners, guests, and staff that make Caribe unlike any other and feel like a family to me. I appreciate all of you.
John Evans ᐧ Current Board Member ᐧ
I am 81 years young and the owner of CPH04. I’m a graduate of Sewanee Military Academy and LSU with a BA Degree. As a former farmer, I spent 45 years raising cattle, corn, soybeans and sugarcane in addition to serving as board member of the local farm Co-Op for 35 years and as President for 15 years. I served as Vice President of the board of SF Services, a regional farm Co-Op for 10 years and as At-Large Board member of Farmland Industries until a merger with Land-O-Lakes.
In addition, I served as President of Louisiana Cattlemen’s Association and on several committees of the National Cattlemen’s Association. I was a Board Member of Louisiana Land Bank for 10 years and President of the Board for 5 years.
I was a certified Lay Speaker in the Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church for 37 years. 32nd degree mason for 56 years, now serving as District Deputy Grand Master of the 13th Masonic District of the Grand Lodge of Louisiana. I’m currently co-owner of JRE, LLC, an industrial roofing and fabrication company serving the petrochemical industry in the Baton Rouge – New Orleans industrial corridor.
My daughter is my business partner and I’ve been a Caribe owner for 8 years and a Board Member for 4 years.
Lester Boihem ᐧ Current Board Member ᐧ
I would like to take this opportunity to tell you a little about myself and my Caribe Resort background. For the new owners whom I have not had the pleasure to meet, I have served on the board for several years and have firsthand experience in participating in the board’s decisions. I am a hands-on board member and as a semi-retired individual, I am easily available and on the property bi-weekly. I have the opportunity to work closely with the employees and help in the day-to-day problem solving. I have an extensive background in technology and would assure that Caribe stays up to date in the latest technological advances.
My experience, knowledge of the daily operations and my accessibility, I feel, allows me to be the best advocate for the Caribe Resort owners. Therefore, I would appreciate your vote for board member.
Rick Legendre ᐧ Current Board Member ᐧ
I have extensive governmental experience having served in all three levels of government: local, state, and federal. I’ve served under two Louisiana Congressman; Representatives Bob Livingston and Steve Scalise. I also have experience in the private sector as a founding partner in the Livingston Group, a government relations and consulting firm representing both national and international clients.
I’ve served on numerous boards including the Louisiana State Police Commission, the board of the West Jefferson Medical Center, Jefferson Parish Chamber of Commerce, and the Delgado Community College Foundation Board. In 1989, I was appointed by the Bush Administration to the U.S. Presidential Rank Awards Board. I currently serve as a board member for the Caribe COA. My wife Karen and I, are retired and reside in Covington, Louisiana and we’ve been owners at Caribe for the past 17 years.
Michael Waldheim ᐧ Candidateᐧ
I am Michael Waldheim, AIA, NCARB, an architect with over 35 years of experience and the owner of my own firm in Birmingham, Alabama. Over the years, I have owned four units at Caribe Resort, and was involved during the early stages of the resort’s development. I served as President of the Homeowners Association at Dolphin Harbor, where I gained valuable experience in community management. Starting in 2025, I plan to spend more time at my unit at Caribe, and I am eager to contribute to the resort’s continued success by serving on the Board of Directors. With my background as a businessman and architect, I believe I can offer meaningful insights and support in maintaining the resort’s unique blend of privacy and public spaces, which has made it a premier destination in Orange Beach. Having enjoyed the resort for over 25 years with my family, I feel it is time to give back. I am confident that my experience and commitment will allow me to serve the owners and resort well.
Mark Taupeka ᐧ Candidateᐧ
Mark H. Taupeka was born July 29, 1967 in South Weymouth, Massachusetts. He grew up in a New Jersey suburb of New York City where his father worked on Wall Street in New York City. He moved to Fairhope, Alabama in the first grade when his father purchased Emperor Clock Company, at the time the world’s largest manufacturer of grandfather clock kits. Mark attended Bayside Academy
preparatory school in Daphne, Alabama until he transferred to St. Paul’s Episcopal School in Mobile, Alabama where he graduated valedictorian in 1985. Mark received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Florida where he graduated with High Honors in 1989.
Mark began his career with Andersen Consulting, which later became Accenture, in Tampa, Florida. After three years, he attended law school at the University of Alabama where he attained his Juris Doctor degree in 1995. He was admitted to the Alabama State Bar later that year. Mark accepted employment in Atlanta, Georgia with the public accounting firm of Arthur Andersen LLP where he was a multi-state corporate tax advisor. Mark was admitted to the State Bar of Georgia in 1997. After a quick promotion to Manager, Mark joined KPMG LLP’s Atlanta office in 2002 where he was promoted to Senior Manager. In 2004, Mark and his family, wife and two young sons, moved to Mobile Bay’s eastern shore where Mark worked in his family’s real estate business. Mark remains a Director, Vice President and General Counsel for Taupeka & Co., Inc. In 2007, Mark joined what was then Blackburn & Conner, P.C. After five years, he became a partner, and the firm name changed to Blackburn, Conner & Taupeka, P.C. In 2015, Mark opened his solo practice Taupeka Law, LLC. He also co-founded Orange Beach Title, LLC. Both are located in Orange Beach, Alabama. Today Orange Beach Title, LLC is owned by Mark and his wife Kathleen.
Mark is licensed to practice in all state courts in Alabama, as well as the United States District and Bankruptcy Courts in Mobile. Mark has extensive trial experience involving real estate matters, particularly condominiums. In addition to court appearances, Mark has represented clients in scores of arbitrations. Mark has extensive transactional experience, assisting clients in negotiation, due diligence, document preparation and review, and ultimately closing. Mark helps clients form companies and navigate processes in probate court and with the Alabama Secretary of State. Mark holds a real estate sales person’s license with the Alabama Real Estate Commission and has represented brokers and agents before the Commission. Mark also holds a title insurance agent’s license with the Alabama Department of Insurance. Mark is certified in general civil and appellate mediation. He is on the Alabama Center for Dispute Resolution (the administrative arm of the Alabama Supreme Court Commission on Dispute Resolution) Roster of Mediators and Arbitrators.
When Mark is not serving the legal services needs of his beloved Baldwin County, he enjoys spending time with his family and simply being outdoors, particularly boating on our local waterways. Mark has run 4 marathons (New York, Chicago and twice San Diego). Mark and his family attend 3 Circle Church in Fairhope, Alabama.
Jimmy McClain ᐧ Candidateᐧ
I recently retired from my business, McClain Industrial Technologies, that I started 30 years ago. My son has taken over the business and I consult with him as needed. Prior to that, I was a manager at US Steel for 8 years in Fairfield, Alabama. I served as a City Council Member for the City of Alabaster, Alabama for 12 years, 8yrs of which I was the Council President. Between the two positions, I have learned a great deal about money management and running a meeting following Robert’s Rule of Order and the Sunshine Laws of the State of Alabama.
We have stayed at the Caribe many times throughout the years and loved its location and layout. I’m a fisherman and love the convenience of the docks here at Caribe and the close proximity to the Gulf. With 8 grand kids they love the pools and lazy river thus making our life much easier when they are with us. Security is a big plus in my mind with the Caribe.
I want to be on the Board to be involved in the decision making on how our money is spent and be transparent with what is happening with our investments, our condos. I have a simple rule & quote “If you’re not willing to step up and serve, don’t complain.”
