Board of Directors

Comprised of downtown residents, our volunteer Board of Directors meets monthly on the 1st Tuesday of each month at 6:00pm. Board meetings are held at the DDA office, 107 S Olive Ave, Suite 200, West Palm Beach, FL 33401. Members are welcome to attend.

President - Sitima Fowler

Originally from Rochester, NY, Sitima Fowler fell in love with downtown West Palm Beach in 2018 and made it her home. As DNA President, she leads with the belief that getting the right people on board and empowering them is key to building strong organizations. Sitima began her career as an engineer at Xerox and later managed the development platform for General Motors fuel cell vehicles before becoming an entrepreneur. She and her husband successfully sold their technology firms, Capstone IT and Iconic IT, earning recognition on Inc. 5000, Rochester Top 100, and as Business Person of the Year. Today, she invests in other companies, consults in the tech industry, and dedicates her time to mentoring and philanthropic work. In her free time, she enjoys walking the Lake Trail, snorkeling the Blue Heron Bridge trail, painting, and cooking with ingredients from the GreenMarket.

Vice President - Mike Schmidt

Long time WPB resident, Mike Schmidt, served on a zoning commission advisory committee in Bratenahl, Ohio 1998-2000. He has lived in downtown WPB since 2002 and owned a pool maintenance company until 2019. Mike’s specialty is attending city commission meetings and reporting to the DNA on matters of interest to downtown residents.

Treasurer - Danilo Freitas, MAcc, CFA, CPA/ABV, CEIV, FMVA, CFE

Danilo Freitas is a part of CohnReznick Advisory Group’s Transaction Advisory Services practice and is based in Miami. Danilo has eight years of advisory experience, including five years of experience in a valuation and transaction advisory capacity. His valuation and transaction experience includes publicly traded and privately held businesses in a range of industries including logistics and transportation, renewable energy, government contracting, software and IT services, technology manufacturing, professional services, retail, construction, and others. Danilo is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Accredited in Business Valuation (ABV), Certified in Entity and Intangibles Valuation (CEIV), and was most recently awarded the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation.

Secretary - Matthew McWatters

Matthew is a non-profit fundraiser with experience in public relations, advocacy, and stakeholder engagement. A fourth-generation Floridian and native to West Palm Beach, he is deeply committed to preserving and protecting the values of Downtown WPB. A longtime advocate for civic engagement and equality, Matthew has served on nonprofit and community boards, such as the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council, the Palm Beach County National Organization for Women, and The McGregor Clinic. A former Zookeeper with the Palm Beach Zoo and Naples Zoo, he advocates for animal welfare and wildlife conservation.

In his spare time, Matthew enjoys attending City Commission meetings, eating at the great restaurants in West Palm Beach, and playing with his cats.

Director - Jannie Matheson Gerds

As a third-generation West Palm Beach native, I am protective of this lovely place we call home. Downtown has changed dramatically since my childhood, and with those improvements have come ever greater interest in capitalizing on our fair city. My goal for working on the DNA board is to help ensure that resident voices are heard as we protect and even improve downtown residents’ quality of life.

My extensive experience serving in a neighborhood association and liaising with city leadership in Atlanta led me to run for Atlanta City Council. Though I lost with 47% of the vote, the experience taught me a great deal. In addition to neighborhood activism, I have a background in marketing at a global level.

My current work as a Realtor at Illustrated Properties provides insight into how development can impact not only the livability but property values of our homes.

Director - Lin Luo

Lin Luo is a licensed attorney in Florida and Washington, D.C., and has proudly called downtown West Palm Beach home since 2005. As a long-time resident and homeowner, Lin loves the vibrant mix of culture, people, and energy that make downtown such a special place to live.

She is the founding partner of Luo & Waters PLLC, a downtown law firm established in 2015 that focuses on business litigation, real estate, and immigration law. Beyond her practice, Lin has devoted her time to supporting local nonprofits and small businesses, including serving as legal counsel for the Florida Asian American Restaurant Alliance. Her passion for community service and helping others has always been at the heart of her work.

When she’s not in the office, Lin enjoys playing the piano and the zither, spending time outdoors, and staying active through tennis and pickleball. She’s excited to bring her experience, enthusiasm, and community spirit to the Downtown Neighborhood Association—working with neighbors and fellow board members to keep downtown West Palm Beach a welcoming and thriving place for everyone.

Director - Marina Careja

Marina is a dedicated professional with 20 years experience in Event Planning, Public Relations, Marketing and Management Projects. Her career spans several industries, including Advertising, Art, Beverage and Services Food, Environment, Fashion, Retail, Music, Sports and Telecommunications. Marina collaborated with Olympic athletes, environmental NGOs and musicians and looks forward to continuing her volunteer work as a Board Member and Events Chair.

Director - Raul Mercader

Raul Mercader is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Solida Health, a healthcare technology company focused on expanding access to mental health and wellness services through innovative, patient-centered solutions. He also serves as a Regional Executive Vice President with Amwins, one of the largest independent wholesale insurance distributors in the world.

As a Downtown West Palm Beach resident, Raul is passionate about fostering a vibrant, inclusive, and thriving urban community. Raul joined the Downtown Neighborhood Association Board of Directors to help strengthen resident engagement, support thoughtful growth, and advocate for the quality of life that makes Downtown West Palm Beach a special place to live, work, and connect.