If you spend any time at all out and about in the Hidden Links neighborhood of Gateway Greens, chances are you’ve crossed paths with Allen Bova, the President of the Hidden Links Neighborhood Association. And if you haven’t, you probably will. Whether it’s a question about the HOA, a neighborly dilemma, or even a stubborn internet problem, Allen has quietly become the community’s unofficial go‑to resource. And he does it all with a mix of humility, humor, and genuine care that makes leadership feel refreshingly human.
Allen’s journey to Gateway Greens started in Northern New York, where he grew up along the majestic St. Lawrence River – where water skiing, swimming and fishing were simply part of everyday life. He describes himself as a “river rat,” and though he never competed, (he proudly recalls being able to skim his elbow across the water during sharp cuts), his love for the outdoors remains strong.
Before retiring to Florida, Allen spent much of his professional life in upstate New York, including a notable tenure at Cornell University as Director of Risk Management and Insurance. It was a role that made him widely known across campus by students and faculty alike. As Allen tells it, nearly every student initiative had to pass through his office, and while that might sound bureaucratic, students recognized how deeply he cared. So much so that they once put through a citation in his honor. Not bad for the guy tasked with saying “let’s think this through.”
FROM FINANCE TO FRONT PORCH LEADERSHIP
So how does a background in finance and higher‑education risk management lead to becoming HOA President? For Allen, the answer is simple: community service.
After purchasing their home in Hidden Links in 2010 and moving in full‑time in 2011, Allen didn’t rush into leadership. He started as Treasurer, learning the rhythms and personalities of the neighborhood. Over time, his desire to help – combined with a knack for understanding complex structures (Hidden Links Condo members are also members of Hidden Links Neighborhood Association while also members of Gateway Greens Master HOA) – made him a natural fit for the presidency.
“I felt like I could play a positive role,” Allen says, almost casually. But behind that understatement is a leadership philosophy shaped by decades of experience: delegate responsibility, reward good work, and treat every question as an opportunity to educate.
He knows how to laugh at himself, readily admitting to being something of an “absent‑minded professor.” In fact, Allen credits his wife Sue (with a smile) as the person who keeps him on track now that he no longer has a secretary. “She reminds me of everything,” he jokes.
TURNING NEIGHBORS INTO A COMMUNITY
Ask Allen what he likes best about Gateway Greens, and his answer comes without hesitation: the people. These interviews with the different neighborhood associations continue to portray this common theme!
However, that wasn’t always the case. When he first arrived, the neighborhood was dealing with vacant homes, foreclosures, and tensions that made things feel, at times, unsettling. But Allen believes strongly that when people know one another, friendliness replaces friction – and problems often resolve themselves.
Today, he sees a community that’s found its footing, and he’s proud of the role he’s played in that transformation. His faith and involvement with his church fuel his passion for fostering connection, compassion, and collaboration wherever he lives.
LIFE BEYOND THE BOARD
When Allen isn’t working on HOA matters, you’ll likely find him and Sue exploring Florida’s state parks in their small travel trailer. From Oscar Scherer State Park (a favorite close to home) to extended trips back north to New York and Canada, the outdoors remains a central joy. Bike paths, camping, and changing scenery are his idea of a perfect reset.
Travel also feeds Allen’s deep interest in ancestry. He can trace his family line back to early Puritan settlers in 1630s Connecticut – and even to some of the first European women on the North American continent! That love of history explains his excitement about an upcoming Viking River cruise from Zurich to Paris, where he’ll quite literally walk where his ancestors once did.
Despite all this traveling, Allen remains grounded in routine pleasures. Fridays often mean breakfast out with his ROMEO club (Retired Old Men Eating Out—named, he notes, by someone else). Reading comes in spurts, mostly fiction, with authors like Clive Cussler making regular appearances. Music? That’s mostly reserved for car rides.
A LEADER WITH HUMOR HEART
When asked what qualities he admires most in others, Allen answers quickly: intelligence (with a laugh), humility, and faith. Those same traits define how others describe him, along with approachable, thoughtful, and endlessly helpful.
Allen may shy away from calling attention to himself, but there’s no doubt about the impact he’s made. In a role that can sometimes feel thankless, he leads with empathy, patience, and a steady sense of humor. In short, Allen Bova isn’t just the President of the HOA. He’s a neighbor, a teacher, a problem‑solver, and a reminder that strong communities grow best when guided by people who truly care.
