Chris is a managing partner with the Southern Group. Chris values the unique history of downtown and its opportunity to be a vibrant destination.

As CEO of Capital Association Management, Patty is part of a team that works to implement custom driven solutions to all communities CAM manages. The vice chair of the Board, she is proud to serve an organization dedicated to making downtown Tallahassee a place to live, work, and play.

Christian Caban was elected to the Leon County Commission to represent District 2 in 2022 and currently serves as 2024-2025 Vice Chairman. He is most passionate about serving the best interests of District 2 by prioritizing public infrastructure, economic development, community safety, youth services, and environmental issues. He attended Tallahassee Community College and Florida State University - after college, Christian worked his way up in the hospitality industry, eventually launching multiple hospitality businesses in Leon County. Today, Christian is still responsible for the strategic oversight of these companies and brings his practical business mindset to his role on the County Commission.

Personally and professionally invested in downtown, Gus works to improve our downtown. He wants to see it grow to the full potential he knows it is capable of, believing it should rival any other state capital in beauty, functionality, and coolness factor. His vision, energy, and proactive voice helps champion the ongoing resurgence of new and revitalized businesses coming into downtown. As Senior Director of Government Law and Policy with Greenburg Taurig, he’s worked downtown for the majority of his professional career.

A board member for 20 years, Bill offers a historical perspective on downtown’s development. Bill believes that downtown captures the pulse of the city and that there is potential in downtown. Outside of his role with the TDIA, Bill serves as the president of the Capital City Trust Company and as the president of Capital City Investments.

For over a decade Mike has worked on behalf of local governments to help advocate for their local needs, achieve quality of life improvements, promote economic development, and implement transformational infrastructure improvements. In his role as Director of the Tallahassee-Leon County Planning Department, Mike brings a strong background in community engagement and collaborative governance to bear, to help move his hometown Capital Community forward.

Nic Gavalas is a Tallahassee native and third-generation Downtown business owner dedicated to the vitality of the city’s urban core. As a representative of Nic’s Toggery at 212 S. Monroe Street—Downtown’s oldest retailer, serving the community for more than 75 years—Nic brings years of hands-on retail experience to his leadership. His deep understanding of small business operations and customer trends makes him an invaluable member of the DIA Board, where he helps shape policies that strengthen and expand Downtown’s retail and hospitality base.

Raised on Tallahassee’s south side with a passion for the public good, Commissioner Jeremy Matlow believes that citizens and neighborhoods should drive the priorities of City Hall. By bringing more people into the political process and advocating for the concerns of everyday people, Jeremy is committed to building a city that works for everyone through dedicated public service.

Teresa is a Tallahassee native who attended FAMU where she obtained a BA in Accounting and an MA in Applied Social Sciences with a concentration in Public Administration. She spent 25+ years working as an accountant and auditor with the State of Florida and non-profit organizations. In 2014, she and her husband opened their catering business which is now JoEllen’s Restaurant located on Kleman Plaza.

Bob has served as Chief Financial officer of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association since 2002, with responsibility for the financial stewardship of the more than 20,000-member association, its educational foundation, its three political action committees, and its Regulatory Compliance Services (RCS). Bob has been a strong supporter of the DIA’s goal to encourage new restaurants and retail in downtown and has assisted with beautification efforts along Adams Street.

Grow it.

Interested in making Downtown work better? Click the link below to learn more about working with us.

Our Board members are required to be property owners, managers, or lease holders within our district. We have appointees from City Commission, County Commission and the Planning Department.