Board of Directors
Annual Work Plan
For many years, the Downtown Norfolk Council Board and staff have taken a deliberate, disciplined and focused approach to addressing the needs of Downtown and our constituents. Each year, the Board sets the general direction for the staff to follow. The Board also establishes key objectives that allow them to focus their energy and resources on the areas where they feel they truly can make a difference. These objectives are addressed in depth by the Board, and established committees focus entirely on these objectives. And as always, the Board is focused on responsible advocacy for Downtown and its constituents.
Please contact our office if there are any questions, comments or concerns.
Downtown Norfolk Council Board of Directors: FY 2025-2026
The DNC Board of Directors consists of 24 members representing the DID ratepayers and DNC membership. The Mayor and a representative from the City Manager’s office serve as ex-officio representatives to the board. Additionally, the two council members representing Downtown along with representatives from partner organizations and the residential civic league serve as liaisons.
The Board of Directors hold their meetings on a monthly basis on the second Wednesday of the month at 8am. The following is a list of the Board members serving as the governing body of the organization for fiscal year 2025.
Officers
Chair
Mel Price
Principal
Work Program Architects
Vice Chair
Patrick Edwards
Owner
The Stockpot Norfolk
Immediate Past Chair
James Wofford
General Manager
MacArthur Center
Treasurer
Jenny Bonsiewich
Manager
P.B. Mares, LLP
President/Corporate Secretary
Mary Miller
President & CEO
Downtown Norfolk Council
Board of Directors:
Raffaele Allen
Chief Operating Officer
Marathon Development Group, Inc.
Tony Brothers
Owner
Brothers
Scott Campbell
Principal
VIA design architects
Christian Conway
Creative Manager
Dominion Enterprises
Darian Fisher
Vice President
Southern Bank*
Dan Hankin
Director of Marketing
Lawson
Ray King
Counsel
Woods Rogers Vandeventer Black PLC
Tommy Leeman
Partner
Senior Vice President, Wealth Management
Steward Partners Global Advisors
Miles Leon
President
S.L. Nusbaum
Suping Li, AIA
Partner
GARC LLC*
Christy Marron
Owner
Grace O'Malley's Irish Pub & Restaurant
David McGowan
Food & Beverage Director
Norfolk Waterside Marriott
Michelle Nichols
Branch Manager
TowneBank*
Kenneth E. Owen
Director of Development
Breeden Construction
Christina Patel
General Manager
Wyndham Garden Norfolk Downtown
Lacy Peterson
General Manager
Glass Light Hotel & Gallery
Jimmy Schools
Senior Property Manager
Hertz Corporation*
Irving Smith
Vice President & General Manager
ADP
John Stephens
Senior Architect
Work Program Architects
Blair Valdivieso
DT100 Chair
VIA design architects
Eva Wiggins
Director of Marketing
Harvey Lindsay Commercial Real Estate
Ex-Officio:
The Honorable Kenneth C. Alexander
Mayor
City of Norfolk
LaVoris A. Pace
Deputy City Manager
City of Norfolk
Ward Representatives:
The Honorable Courtney Doyle
Councilwoman
City of Norfolk
The Honorable Jeremy McGee
Councilman
City of Norfolk
General Counsel:
Jay Rixey
Principal
Woods Rogers Vandeventer Black PLC