After 22 years of managing storm recoveries, swimming pool needs, street maintenance, home improvement requests and most anything else you can think of, Carol Wolf is retiring as Lakewood HOA manager.

Carol is closing her company, Carol Wolf Management, effective Oct. 1 to retire after 30 years in the business. Her last day at Lakewood will be Sept. 30. An HOA board subcommittee of board President Lee Rutledge, Director Marty Erhart and homeowner Shawn Jamail led the search for her replacement. They reached out to 10 companies, heard back from eight and took the top three to the full board. The new company will be announced at the monthly board meeting Sept. 14.

“I want to thank the Lakewood homeowners for allowing me to be a part of the neighborhood and feel like one of the owners,” Carol says. “I’ve tried to put myself in everybody else’s shoes and think, ‘This is what I would want and what everyone would want.’”

Board President Lee Rutledge expressed thanks for Carol’s work for Lakewood. “Carol’s knowledge of HOA law in Texas, her institutional memory and her connections with contractors have served our community well,” Lee said. She noted that Carol’s company had other clients, but “she always put Lakewood first.”

Carol says she’s enjoyed getting to know HOA board members and working with them. She also expressed special gratitude for Lori Penrose, her longtime assistant, who recently stepped down for another job.

A San Antonio native who moved here in the late 1980s, Carol started her property management career 30 years ago when working for a real estate company that managed an HOA. She handled the front desk and moved up the ladder.

So what does Carol consider Lakewood’s major accomplishments or challenges in her time here?

“Getting all that cleanup done from the snow and ice,” Carol recalls of Winter Storm Uri in 2021 and the ice storm in 2023. Uri in particular left many people across Austin without power for days, hobbled mobility, caused structural damage and brought emotional trauma for many. “That was a lot on everybody.”

But for now, Carol’s to-do list includes taking it easier, hanging out with family and being “grateful for the many opportunities and support I’ve received.”

Candidates for Texas House District 47 and U.S. Congressional District 10 have been invited to a candidate forum for the public from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 13 at the Lakewood HOA Clubhouse at 7317 Lakewood Drive. Democrat Pooja Sethi and Republican Jennifer Mushtaler are seeking the Texas House seat. Democrat Caitlin Rourk and Republican Chris Gobert are running for the U.S. House. The Texas House candidates are scheduled to speak from 3 to 4 p.m., followed by the U.S. candidates from 4 to 5 p.m. Organizers said the Republican candidates have not responded to the invitation to speak after several attempts to reach them.

August 14, 2026
Dear Lakewood homeowners:
After 22 years with the Lakewood Homeowners Association and 30 years in the property management business, I have told the Lakewood HOA Board of Directors of my decision to retire. I am closing Carol Wolf Management effective October 1, 2026.

It’s been my privilege to know the people of Lakewood, and I will miss all of you. I am particularly grateful to your dedicated HOA board members, who volunteer their time to keep their community a place you are proud to call home.

I’m also sincerely grateful for the many opportunities, experiences and support I have received over 30 years in this business.

Lori, my assistant, has accepted a wonderful new job elsewhere. She has been a dedicated employee for 10 years, and I know she will be missed by all.

My last day will be September 30. This will allow the board two months to choose a replacement management company. I told the board I am committed to ensuring a smooth transition and will assist in any way possible during my remaining time. They also know to call me if they need my help or have questions in the future.

Thank you again for the opportunity to be a part of your community.

Sincerely,

Carol Wolf

Manager, Lakewood Homeowners Association

There were three key takeaways from the recent information meeting about wildfires for Lakewood and Jester Estates residents.

First, sign up for a free Structural Ignition Zone Evaluation (or SIZE) to assess the wildfire risk to your home, sign up for alerts at warncentraltexas.org, and know how to find Temporary Assembly Points (TAP) signs in an evacuation.

During a SIZE evaluation, an Austin wildfire advisor will meet you at your home to walk the exterior and explain how to strengthen your property against wildfire risk. It’s important because embers from wildfires can travel more than 1.5 miles. Learn more here.

Second, sign up for alerts of all emergency types at warncentraltexas.org. You can decide which alerts you want and how you want to receive them.

And third, know where to look for TAP signs and directions when leaving our neighborhood if it’s ordered to evacuate. The signs are typically located away from the neighborhood to ease traffic. Scan the sign’s QR code to complete a form telling emergency responders that folks in your home are accounted for. There’s more in the presentation shown at the recent meeting here.

Lakewood is a participating site in NFPA – Firewise USA®, a nationwide designation for communities working to reduce wildfire risks. The meeting was held at St. Thomas More Catholic Church.