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. The key objectives for the DNC Board for FY2019 have been consolidated into Strategic Initiatives and are as follows:

• Nurture a vibrant urban environment attractive to retail and business
• Reinforce authenticity and innovation, enhance connectivity, and create unique and inviting places that value pedestrians
• Publicly and privately steward the NEON District towards a safe, creative, and always attractive environment for artists, cultural organizations, businesses and residents

A more detailed description of our FY19 Strategic Initiatives can be viewed here. 

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 2018-2019

The 30-member DNC Board of Directors, per our bylaws, represents 16 property owners located in the Downtown Improvement District and 14 of our DNC Members.  Additionally, liaisons to the Board are selected each year, and the Mayor serves as ex-officio member with two council persons representing the two council wards encompassing Downtown..

The Board of Directors hold their meetings on a monthly basis on the second Wednesday of the month at 8:00 am. The following is a list of the Board members serving as the governing body of the organization for fiscal year 2018. 

Officers

Chairperson
Melodi Albert
Vice President Management Development
Dominion Enterprises *

1st Vice Chair

Drew Ungvarsky
CEO and Executive Creative Director
Grow  *

2nd Vice Chair
Tommy Leeman
First Vice President-Investments
Wells Fargo Advisors

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
Director of Assets
Marathon Development Group, Inc.  *
Drucker and Falk, LLC

Hugh Cohen
President
Cohen Investment Group  *

Kathy Ferebee
​Senior Vice President/Commercial
TowneBank  *

Mike Fowler
Financial Advisor
Merrill Lynch

Perry Frazer
Sr. Vice President
CBRE | Hampton Roadst

Nancy Howard
Agent
Nancy Chandler Associates

Panos Kokkinos
Manager Energy & Facilities Service
Norfolk Southern  *

Vineet Lal
Hair of the Dog
Moliar Hospitality Group *

Miles Leon
President
S.L. Nusbaum  *

Ray Mattes
President & CEO
Retail Alliance  *

Kevin Murphy
Basketball Products International *

Richard Ottinger
Attorney
Vandeventer Black

Matt Paddock
Vice President, Human Resources
Trader Interactive

Sarah Pishko
Owner
Prince Books

John Porter
Owner
Handsome Biscuit

Ellis H. Pretlow
Attorney
Kaufman & Canoles *

Mel Price
Principal
Work Program Architects

Mary Robbins
Property Manager
CBRE | Hampton Roads

Missy Schmidt
Marketing Director
xTuple  *

Chris Stuart
General Manager
Top Guard Security

Deborah Thorpe
Assistant Director
Governor's School for the Arts  *

Kevin Thorstenton
Managing Director
Hilton Norfolk The Main

James W. Vallos
Managing Director, Asset Management
Harbor Group International

Eva Wiggins
Director of Marketing
Harvey Lindsay Commercial Real Estate

Ex-Officio:

The Honorable Kenneth C. Alexander
Mayor
City of Norfolk

Ward Representatives:

The Honorable Courtney Doyle
Councilwoman
City of Norfolk

The Honorable Andria McClellan
Councilwoman
City of Norfolk

General Counsel:

Dean T. Buckius
Attorney
Vandeventer Black LLP

* - Representing the Downtown Improvement District