The Downtown Improvement Board replenished its brain trust earlier this month, electing a new slate of officers and welcoming new board member Sara Papantonio.

An attorney with the law firm Levin Papantonio, she replaces former board member and restaurant owner Jean Pierre N’Dione who served the DIB for the past six years.

“It’s hard to say goodbye to ’JP,’ who has been a board member during my entire tenure as DIB executive director,” said Walker Wilson. “His insights as a downtown restaurateur and business owner have been invaluable to the DIB as we navigated through the COVID-19 crisis and more.” 

Wilson adds that Papantonio "... will be a great asset to our board, especially as she is both a property owner and resident of the DIB district. We are looking forward to working with her to further our mission of making Downtown Pensacola a great place to live, work and play."

Papantonio will be serving on a board chaired by Chris McKean, owner of the Handlebar, a well-known live music venue and lounge in the DIB district.  

Vice Chair is Nathan Holler, co-owner of The Doghouse, a landmark Palafox restaurant and gathering place.

William Merrill, an executive with the Merrill Land Company, is the new board treasurer. 

And rounding out the new DIB board is downtown business and property owner Raf Simpson.

The board also is assisted by ex officio members Allison Patton, a Pensacola City Council member; Escambia County Commissioner Mike Kohler; and Gregg Harding, City of Pensacola Assistant Planning & Zoning Division Manager.