Forever Your Hometown Mayor

Chelsea Reed, former Mayor of Palm Beach Gardens, is an award-winning leader with a unique blend of professional and public service experience, seamlessly balancing her roles as an elected official on city council, development executive, and consultant. Whether driving organizational success in the private sector or guiding high-impact decisions as an elected official, she is passionate about creating meaningful opportunities, cultivating relationships with key stakeholders, and addressing challenges with innovative solutions.

Chelsea loves the quality of life in her hometown of Palm Beach Gardens and, with her husband of 31 years, Michael, has raised two children and built esteemed careers in Palm Beach County.

Chelsea recently received national recognition, winning the 2024 Community Transportation Association of America (CTAA) Outstanding Community Partner of the Year Award, as well as statewide acknowledgment as the Florida Commission for Transportation Disadvantaged 2024 Local Elected Official of the Year. She was chosen as one of the 2024 and 2023 'Palm Beach 100' Palm Beach County’s Most Influential Business Leaders by Palm Beach Illustrated. She is the President of Palm Beach County League of Cities, recipient of a Home Rule Hero Award in 2024 and 2023 from Florida League of Cities, the 2023 Distinguished Alumni Award recipient from the Benjamin School, the 2022 Leadership Palm Beach County Public Sector Leadership Excellence Award winner, and the 2022 Complete Streets Champion Award winner for Palm Beach County.

For the Palm Beach Transportation Planning Agency, she is Chair of Governing Board, the Disadvantaged Local Coordinating Board, and Vice Chair of the Southeast Florida Transportation Council. Under her leadership as Chair, the Palm Beach County Transportation Disadvantaged Local Coordinating Board was named the 2023 Transportation Disadvantaged Local Coordinating Board of the Year by the Florida Commission for the Transportation Disadvantaged and she was honored to be 1 of 20 nationally chosen elected officials for the 2021-22 Smart Growth America Champions Institute.

Chelsea serves on the National League of Cities Transportation and Infrastructure Services (TIS) Federal Advocacy Committee, Florida League of Cities Board of Directors, Friends of MacArthur Beach Board, Resource Depot Advisory Board, Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council, Florida Metropolitan Planning Organization Advisory Council Governing Board and graduated Leadership Palm Beach County.

Chelsea prides herself on her accessibility, transparent communication, and dedication to her community, supporting a strong economy and healthy business climate for residents, while encouraging sustainably and maintaining Palm Beach Gardens’ 50% greenspace.

Professionally, Chelsea is Managing Director, Corporate Development at Republic Capital Group, and Principal Consultant for Smith Reed Partners. Personally, she enjoys providing professional and student mentorship and is a popular public speaker. In her free time, she is a trail and ultra-relay runner, adventure traveler and water sport athlete.

Chelsea Smith Reed

Professional Experience:

Republic Capital Group, Managing Director Corporate Development (2025 - present)
Smith Reed Partners, Principal Consultant (2022-present)
Palm Beach Spine Institute, Director of Marketing And Business Development/Owner (2016-2018)
North American Spine Foundation, Director of Business Development (2014-2016)
Spine & Sport, Director of Community Outreach/Owner (2004-2011)
Aquatic & Orthopaedic Rehab Specialists, Director Aquatic Therapy/Owner (1994-2000)

Government Experience:

Mayor, City of Palm Beach Gardens (2022-2025), Vice Mayor (2021-2022) Councilmember (2020-present)
Chair, Palm Beach Transportation Planning Agency Governing Board
President, Palm Beach County League of Cities
Chair, Transportation Planning Agency Transportation Disadvantaged Local Coordinating Board
Vice Chair, Southeast Florida Transportation Council (SEFTC)
National League of Cities, 2024 Transportation and Infrastructure Services (TIS) Federal Advocacy Committee
Florida League of Cities, Board of Directors & Development, Code Compliance and Redevelopment Committee
Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council, Appointed Member & Nominating Committee
Florida Metropolitan Planning Organization, Governing Board
Multi-Jurisdictional Issues Coordination Forum Executive Committee
Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce: Government Affairs & Economic Development Committee
Transportation Planning Agency Citizens Advisory Committee, Vice-Chair (2020), District 1 (2018-2020)
City of Palm Beach Gardens Planning, Zoning & Appeals Board, Alternate 1 (2018-2020)

Civic and Community Service:

Chair, Resilient & Connected Region Task Force, Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce
Founder, Sustainability Subcommittee, Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce
Chair, Women's Foundation of Florida: Network of Elected Women Circle & Elected Advisory Board
Ambassador Council, The Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation & Technology
Friends of MacArthur Beach State Park, Board of Directors
Leadership Palm Beach County Class of 2020
Resource Depot, Advisory Board
Forum Club, Member
The Benjamin School Alumni Council
GFWC Palm Beach Gardens Woman’s Club, Member

Education:

University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida – Certificate in Nonprofit Leadership and Management
Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida – Bachelor of Arts
University of South Florida Muma College of Business - Inclusive and Ethical Leadership Certificate & Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Workplace Certificate

Awards, Certifications and Other Service:

2024 Community Transportation Association of America (CTAA) Outstanding Community Partner of the Year
2024 Local Elected Official of the Year for Florida Commission for the Transportation Disadvantaged (CTD)
2024 and 2023 'Palm Beach 100' Palm Beach County’s Most Influential Business Leaders, Palm Beach Illustrated
2024 and 2023 Home Rule Hero Award, Florida League of Cities
2023 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient, The Benjamin School
2023 Transportation Disadvantaged Local Coordinating Board of the Year (Chair)
2022 Leadership Palm Beach County Leadership Excellence Award Winner - Public Sector
2022 Complete Streets Champion - Safe Streets Award Winner Palm Beach County
Champions Institute Leadership Class of 2021-22 Smart Growth America Active People, Healthy Nation℠
2019 Volunteer of the Year Award Winner Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce
Florida Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP): ACES Trajectory – Automated, Connected, Electric & Shared Certificate, Strategies to Alleviate Traffic Congestion Certificate, Environmental Awareness for Highway and Street Maintenance & Basic Highway Plan Reading Certificate, Complete Streets Introduction and Federal/State Perspective Certificate
Center for Urban Transportation Research (CUTR): Shifting Narratives to Prevent Bicyclist & Pedestrian Deaths Certificate
MPOAC (Florida Metropolitan Planning Organization Advisory Council) Institute for Elected Officials Certification