City Commission

Term: 2024-2026 Phone: (561) 822-1390 Email: cward@wpb.org

Palm Beach County native and resident of West Palm Beach's north end, Cathleen Ward was sworn into office as West Palm Beach City Commissioner for District 1 on March 31st, 2022. Ward is also a partner at Ward Damon in West Palm Beach where she concentrates her legal practice in the areas of commercial lending, mergers and acquisitions, real estate, contracts and general corporate law.

Prior to becoming Commissioner, Ward served on the West Palm Beach Planning Board, and has served on the Board of Northend Coalition of Neighborhoods, Inc., Neighborhood Renaissance, Inc., and Community Alliance of Palm Beach County. She was also a member of the Emerging Leaders of the Economic Council of Palm Beach County. Most recently, she was appointed by the Palm Beach County Commission to serve as a board member of the Health Care District of Palm Beach County.

"As a resident and mother, I am driven to create positive change in my community, and now even more so as a commissioner, I recognize the immense responsibility residents have placed in me to implement and influence policy that further establishes West Palm Beach as one of the best cities in the country," shared Ward, who was born in Jupiter. "We need safer streets, affordable homes, and thriving businesses to ensure we are a vibrant, safe city that offers its residents the best quality of life."

Ward also brings dynamic professional experience to her new role. Recognized as an advocate and tough negotiator for her clients, she represents financial institutions and business owners, with an adept skill at understanding complex and complicated materials and providing sound guidance on best corporate practices. Ward's diverse government and legal experience underscore her commitment to public service and community engagement.

Ward earned her Juris Doctorate from St. Thomas University School of Law in Miami Gardens, and her Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from Rollins College in Winter Park, Fla.

Term: 2023-2025 Phone: (561) 822-1390 Email: swarren@wpb.org

Shalonda Warren was sworn into office as West Palm Beach City Commissioner for District 2 on April 6, 2023 to begin her second term. She was elected Commission President by her peers. Shalonda is a mother, public servant, business leader, CEO, and proven advocate.

Shalonda is the CEO of the Sickle Cell Foundation of Palm Beach County and Treasure Coast. In this role, she has the honor to continue the incredible legacy of Founder Eva Mack, who also served as the city's first Black City Commissioner in 1978 and then the first Black Mayor in 1982.

Shalonda oversees staff, manages a budget in excess of a million dollars, directs programs, and implements long-term strategic goals in the organization's five-county service area.

Shalonda spent decades in the private sector working as a Business Development Officer, Banking Center Manager, Regional Sales and Service Manager, and Patient Support Services Manager. She opened a consulting firm in West Palm Beach that focused on helping small businesses and prioritizing community issues, such as improving lighting, security, public transit, and access to food in some of our city's underserved neighborhoods.

Shalonda is a public servant who has volunteered thousands of hours over the years to make an impactful difference throughout West Palm Beach. She is a former member of the following organizations:

• West Palm Beach's Art Life Committee, Board Member

• The School District of Palm Beach County Construction Oversight Review Committee, County Commissioner Appointee

• Black Village Voice, Founder and Member

• Coalition for Black Student Achievement, Member

• Unify, Member

• National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Member

• Police Athletic League, Member

• League of Women Voters, Susan B. Anthony Member

• National Coalition of Black Civic Participation

Shalonda is a proven leader focused on West Palm Beach's priorities. She has championed policies in West Palm Beach that create jobs, support public safety and prioritize infrastructure needs.

Term: 2024 - 2026 Phone: (561) 822-1390 Email: cfox@wpb.org

Christy Fox was born and raised in Palm Beach County. As a native, Christy has a sincere love of West Palm Beach. She has watched its transformation to a world class city and is excited to continue working with the Mayor and fellow commissioners on thoughtful planning that moves the city forward, opens doors for everyone, and ensures opportunities for all.

Christy Fox was initially sworn into office for as West Palm Beach City Commissioner for District 3, on April 9, 2020, the first ceremony in the City's history to take place virtually, due to the Coronavirus. Christy served as the Leader for the City's Covid-19 Response Team for Food, Water, and Medicine. Through a partnership with the USDA, her team distributed nearly 47,000 Farm-to-Family boxes during weekly food distribution events held between June 3-Sepember 20, 2020.

In 2022, she was elected President of the City Commission. Also, she was selected as one of 15 elected officials nationwide to participate in the Smart Growth America "Champions Institute", an initiative providing comprehensive training on equity-based principles that lead to accessible, complete, and safe streets for all users. For her final project she created the "Adopt-A-Block" initiative in the Historic Northwest District, a community-based outreach program focused on building long term partnerships with community members in an effort to reduce crime, clean and beautify streets, improve overall quality of life, and create pride in the neighborhood, one block at a time.

In 2023, she was the recipient of the "Champion of Change" award from the "Grow Lit Project", a local non-profit dedicated to improving literacy skills in marginalized and under-resourced communities.

Christy is an accomplished marketing and public relations executive with a diverse track record. Her experience includes nearly 10 years serving as Executive Vice President for the Monuments Men Foundation for the Preservation of Art, a non-profit created in 2007 to complete the mission of the WWII Monuments Men by illuminating the path home for still missing cultural items. She was involved in all aspects of book preparation, from inception to publication, for two New York Times Bestsellers, including The Monuments Men, the basis for the 2014 film starring George Clooney. Christy also spearheaded a successful effort to award the "Monuments Men" with the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian honor given by the United States Congress. She currently works as a marketing and public relations consultant.

Christy received her Bachelor of Science degree from the Boston University College of Communication. On behalf of the City of West Palm Beach, she serves on the Executive Board of the Palm Beach County Transportation Planning Agency, as well as the Advisory Boards of the Salvation Army Northwest Community Center and the Mandel Public Library.

Christy's experience, combined with her passion for West Palm Beach, make her a natural leader for the city. In her free time, Christy can be found taking a yoga class downtown, walking her dog Mary Ann, or spending time with her twin nieces, Izzy and Darcy.

Term: 2023 - 2025 Phone: (561) 822-1390 Email: jpeduzzi@wpb.org

Joe Peduzzi was initially sworn into office on April 4, 2019, by the Honorable Sarah Willis, Circuit Judge. He was re-elected in 2021 and again in 2023.

Joe's district, the largest in terms of land mass, includes the beautiful Grassy Waters Everglades Preserve, 23 square miles of pristine wetlands; an ecosystem of native wildlife and the source of fresh water for the City of West Palm Beach and the Towns of Palm Beach and South Palm Beach.

In addition to his commitment to protect our valuable natural resources, Joe has demonstrated a life-long commitment to public service. He cares deeply about the City, and he is moved by the concerns of his constituents. He has pledged to find solutions to violent crime and homelessness. He envisions a City where everyone feels safe in every neighborhood.

Prior to holding elective office, Joe was a former member of the City's Affordable Housing Advisory Committee, Vice Chair of the Criminal Justice Advisory Committee, and Chair of the Nuisance Abatement Board.

Joe currently serves as the City's representative to the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council, the Palm Beach Transportation Planning Agency, and is the Commission Liaison to the City's Criminal Justice Advisory Committee. As the District 4 Commissioner, he is also an Honorary Member of the Grassy Waters Conservancy.

Professionally, Joe is a personal injury lawyer. His office is located on Palm Beach Lakes Boulevard, where Joe serves as President of his office condominium association. Joe has has been awarded the prestigious "AV" Rating from Martindale Hubble, the highest rating possible for legal ability and ethics, and is Life Member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum.

In addition to his professional accomplishments, Joe has served on numerous other charitable and civic boards, including Secretary of the Ibis Property Owners Association, President of the North Palm Beach Volunteer Fire Dept., Inc., and as a board member of both an animal rescue and an adolescent substance abuse treatment facility.

Joe is particularly proud of his volunteer work in the field of public safety. For almost 20 years, Joe served the Village of North Palm Beach as a Volunteer Firefighter/EMT, and a Reserve Police Officer. A Life Member of his department, Joe was promoted through the ranks of Lieutenant, Captain and ultimately the top volunteer position of Deputy Fire Chief & Chief of Volunteers, prior to retirement from active duty. Joe has received numerous awards and commendations, including the Larry Joyce Award for Outstanding & Devoted Service, and has received both the Firefighter of the Year and Police Officer of the Month awards.

Joe graduated from Cardinal Newman High School in West Palm Beach, and received his undergraduate degree in Political Science from Loyola University in New Orleans where he was a member of the Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity. He attended law school at Nova Southeastern University, graduating with a Juris Doctorate where he was a member of the Moot Court Honor Society. He is a member of the Florida Bar, in good standing.

Joe lives in Ibis with his wife, Erin, a lawyer and former teacher, and his daughters Julia, and Alexa.

Term: 2024 - 2026 Phone: (561) 822-1390 Email: clambert@wpb.org

Christina Lambert is the City Commissioner for District 5 in West Palm Beach, a position she has held since her election in 2018. In this role, Christina works closely with community stakeholders to champion policies focused on job creation, affordable housing, public safety, tax relief, and transportation.

In addition to her duties as a City Commissioner, where she oversees a budget of more than $700 million, Christina has been an active advocate for West Palm Beach through her service on various boards and committees. These include the Tourist Development Council, the Transportation Planning Agency, the Palm Beach County League of Cities, the West Palm Beach Internal Audit Committee, the WPB Sustainability Committee, the WPB Education Advisory Committee, and the Palm Beach County School District Superintendent's Advisory Board.

Christina is known by her peers as an innovative and dynamic leader, driven by a passion for public service. Her commitment to the community is reflected in her work to advance local education, champion women's and children's issues, and support leadership development programs. Her dedication to fostering positive change has made a lasting impact in these areas.

Raised in a blended family, Christina learned early the value of hard work, family, and teamwork. Her great grandparents, whose parents immigrated to the U.S. from Mexico, instilled in her a deep sense of civic duty and the importance of serving others—principles that have guided her throughout her career.

Christina’s professional journey reflects these core values. Christina has served an executive leader throughout her professional career. As Executive Director of Leadership Palm Beach County, she brought together community leaders to address local challenges such as economic development, education, homelessness, and public safety. Recognizing that collaboration was key to success, Christina worked tirelessly to re-engage alumni and expand the program’s reach. Under her leadership, Leadership Palm Beach County’s revenues increased, new partnerships were formed, and the organization flourished. Today, Leadership Palm Beach County is widely regarded as the premier leadership program in Palm Beach County.

Building on her success at Leadership Palm Beach County, Christina was recruited by the Education Foundation of Palm Beach County to serve as President and CEO. The Foundation is the primary philanthropic organization supporting the Palm Beach County School District, the 11th largest school district in the nation. In this role, Christina managed a multi-million-dollar budget, overseeing day-to-day operations and shaping the Foundation’s long-term strategy. During her tenure, Christina significantly boosted private funding for local schools and launched initiatives like Red Apple Supplies, one of the Foundation’s most successful public-private partnerships. Her efforts have left a lasting legacy, with strong partnerships still in place today, helping teachers and students across the district.

Currently, Christina serves as the Chief Administrative Officer at the law firm of Gordon & Partners. As part of the firm’s Executive Leadership Team, she oversees the day-to-day operations of the firm, which employs more than 130 people. She focuses on improving business practices, enhancing operational efficiencies, and streamlining internal processes to ensure the firm’s continued success.

In addition to her professional and City Commission responsibilities, Christina is an active volunteer with organizations and causes throughout our community. She is a guest speaker and presenter for local business, trade, and industry focused organizations as well as local K-12 schools and higher education institutions.                                                            

Christina graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Public Relations and Business with High Honors from the University of Florida and has a Master of Arts in Corporate Communication and Technology from Rollins College.

Christina, her husband Monte, and daughter Brianna live in the Southend of West Palm Beach. Their son, Noah, is attending college in Tallahassee.