President - Sitima Fowler

Originally from Rochester, NY, Sitima Fowler visited downtown West Palm Beach in 2018 and never looked back. She has made downtown her home and loves showing off all that our area has to offer to those who might be vacationing, working or just passing through. Besides being a founder and investor in Integris IT, she is a consultant to the technology industry and the owner of a hospitality vacation rental business, Bliss Villas. She began her career as an engineer working for Xerox and then managing the development platform for General Motors fuel cell vehicles before becoming an entrepreneur. Sitima and her company has won many awards including being listed on Inc 5000, Rochester Top 100, and the Business Person of the Year. Besides work, she enjoys mentoring others and investing time and resources on community building initiatives. She enjoys walking the Lake Trail, snorkeling the Blue Heron Bridge trail, painting, and cooking with ingredients from the Greenmarket. She is grateful she gets to live where others vacation.

Vice President - Rick Rose

A second-generation local native, Rick graduated from FSU with a degree in Hospitality Management and worked for major hotel groups for 20 years, based both in the USA and Europe. After leaving the international hotel business in 2004, Rick co-owned and operated the highly rated Grandview Gardens Bed & Breakfast in West Palm Beach for 16 years and is still the co-owner and operator of Palm Beach Vacation Rentals®. With the help of the late,  legendary Florida historian Jim Ponce, he put together a tour for B & B guests so they could learn about local history and see the most important points of interest. Rick eventually became the historian for the Worth Avenue Association and now leads weekly walking tours during Season. Today, an active member of the Historical Society of Palm Beach County, the Flagler Museum and the Palm Beach Preservation Foundation, Rick also serves on the Board of Directors of Discover the Palm Beaches, Palm Beach County’s destination marketing organization, having been appointed by the Palm Beach County Board of Commissioners. In February of 2022, Rick released the 2nd edition of his popular book, “Palm Beach: The Essential Guide to America’s Legendary Resort Town”.  In May 2023, Rick was awarded the prestigious Judge James R. Knott Award by the Historical Society of Palm Beach County, which bestows the award each year to an individual or organization that has contributed to the preservation, promotion, or enrichment of Palm Beach County history.

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 - Stacy Blum

Stacy is a proud West Palm Beach native of West Palm Beach, deeply rooted  in the community, where she was born and raised. For over a decade, she has called the vibrant downtown neighborhood home, immersing herself in its dynamic culture and witnessing its remarkable growth firsthand. With 23 years of experience in the mortgage industry, Stacy is a seasoned professional known for her extensive expertise and unwavering dedication to helping individuals and families achieve their dreams of homeownership. Beyond her professional achievements, Stacy is a passionate advocate for the growth and well-being of West Palm Beach. Her commitment to community development is evident through her service as a board member of the Downtown Neighborhood Association, where she played an active role in enhancing the quality of life in the area and fostering a more cohesive, engaged community. Stacy’s deep love for West Palm Beach drives her ongoing efforts to contribute meaningfully to its future. Whether through her professional endeavors or her personal advocacy, she remains a steadfast force in shaping the city she is proud to call home.

Director - 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.

Director - Marina Careja

Marina is a dedicated professional with 20 years experience in Event Planning, Public Relations, Marketing and Management Projects. His 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 Event Chair.

Director - Lin Luo

Lin is a licensed attorney in both Florida and Washington D.C., residing in downtown West Palm since 2005 where she is a proud homeowner.  Lin’s law firm, Luo & Waters PLCC, has been based in downtown West Palm Beach since 2015 providing legal expertise for business litigation, real estate, and immigration. “Throughout the years, I've had the privilege of serving as legal counsel for numerous non-profit organizations in South Florida, with a notable example being the Florida Asian American Restaurant Alliance. As for my personal interests, I have a deep passion for music, particularly enjoying playing both the piano and zither. Additionally, I find great joy in sports, with tennis being a long-time favorite, and more recently, I've taken up pickleball. I’m eager to bring my skills, experiences, and passion for community development to the association.... working collaboratively with fellow board members to address the needs and aspirations of our neighborhood.