MEET THE DDMA BOARD

Originally from the City of Chicago, Jack Bataoel attended Lincoln College and Illinois State University. An entrepreneur at heart, Jack has owned many businesses for over 20-years.  Jack has spent over 18 years on various non-profit boards.  He currently serves on the Board of Directors as the President of Downtown Dunedin Merchants Association (DDMA). 

In addition, he served as the President for the West Bloomington Revitalization Project and the Downtown Bloomington Association. He was a board member of the Friends Council for GLT at Illinois State University, Bloomington Bar Owners Association, Bloomington Normal Home Builder Association and was a Liquor Commissioner for the City of Bloomington.  His dedication and passion for his community is never ending.  

Jack is a Commercial Real Estate Agent with Bata Commercial Group at KW Commercial

Contact: President@DunedinMerchants.com

Kristina Garcia, I am your DDMA, Treasurer. 

I am now the Director of Operations for the Bata Commercial Group at KW Commercial.  I also serve on: Pinellas County Council PTSA, as the president, President for East Lake High PTSA, is the Treasurer for Dunedin High School PTSA.  Kristina serves on the DMAC committee (District Monitoring Advisory Committee). She is the Treasurer for the Downtown Dunedin Merchants Association, the Secretary for Dunedin Cares Food Pantry; and serves on the Board of Directors for the Greater Palm Harbor Chamber of Commerce, and Pinellas Education Foundation. 

I just want to reach out to them no matter what, everything I commit to comes from the heart. 

I moved to Dunedin, FL in 2006 but, I have been visiting since the early 1980’s when my parents moved here.  I got active with the happenings of Dunedin when I joined City Commission Committees (PRAAC & Dunedin Causeway & Coastal Waterway Committee).  I joined the Dunedin Chamber in 2013 and the DDMA in 2014.  I joined the Board of Directors in March of 2020 and was asked to be the Secretary of the Board. 

I became a “Community Music Activist” when I joined GoTonight.com in November 2013.  The goal at GoTonight.com is to help people find live music in their area every day.  We think music is fun, brings people together, and is important to the vitality of the community.  The next time you ask “Where will we go tonight?”, let us help you.  Our viewing area is Dade City to Cape Coral to Lakeland, and we are growing every day.  Let GoTonight.com help you find great local live music!!!!

Dena Leigh is the Executive Chef and co-owner of Corvo Bianco Wood Fired Cookery in Dunedin Florida located on the Pinellas trail. They are an ingredient and method driven company. They pride themselves on offering the best quality personally sourced ingredients and preparing them in a manner that helps to give their customers a truly intoxicating eating experience. 

Dena has been cooking for 25+ years. Starting her career as a teenager in a wood fired pizza restaurant, attending the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY, and furthering her career by working and cooking in Italy, New York, Rhode Island and Florida.  She fell in love with and moved to Dunedin, Florida 8 years ago with her husband and business partner Joshua, who is a Dunedin native. They joined the Downtown Merchants Association upon opening their business and she joined the board soon after. She has a love for her town and bringing other people in to enjoy its beauty, culture and food and beverage scene. 

I am proud to join the exciting, creative team of DDMA BOD! My position is stay united with all goals the DDMA plans and sets into motion! I am a community voice and also the voice that keeps Attorney Andrew Stinnette informed of what is happening in Dunedin. 

Attorney Andrew Stinnette opened his office on 597 Main Street in 1997  after purchasing another long time building housing THE DUNEDIN FLORIST SHOP. This end of town was, at the time, sleepy and quiet. 

It is an honor and so fun to be on the DDMA BOD

Co-owner of Blur Nightclub,  325 Main St.

I am on the DDMA  board of directors, and have enjoyed many years of working with our Dunedin Community. 

Heather Steele, EA, CAA – current partner with Coastal Tax Partners – born and raised in southern California, I started out in the hospitality/hotel industry as a controller. Started Steele Tax Inc., in 2004 in CA.  I now have clients all over the world from small companies to businesses with over 400 employees.  As a current resident, and business owner, I look forward to working with the DDMA, and helping Dunedin thrive!

An electrical engineer by trade, John has evolved and grown a career from IT support to running his own website development company to Silicon Valley startup sales engineering manager. Over the years he has had the fortune to learn from some of the smartest network and security engineers at some of the largest corporations in the country. Building teams and growing sales have been challenges met with success. 

John has always been involved wherever he has been. He has served on two HOA boards managing millions of dollars to resurrecting the Tampa Bay chapter of the Cloud Security Alliance. He currently works with his wife building a successful gift shop in beautiful Dunedin. He fills his spare time with consulting work for several firms in the Tampa Bay Area. 

But he does balance his work life with swimming, jogging, biking and golf. 

Angela Bittaker, General Manager at the Beso Del Sol Resort- Dunedin. I am such a fan of Dunedin, FL. How can you not be?!  I am originally born and raised in upstate NY, moving to Florida in 2007.  I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to work on Honeymoon Island, and that is when I was first introduced to Dunedin and when I knew how special Dunedin is. With over 23 years in the hospitality industry and I am looking forward to seeing Dunedin continue to flourish as a prominent community in Pinellas County. I love the family feel that Dunedin fosters having three wonderful children, two bonus (equally wonderful) children, an amazing husband and many fur babies to love.  I look forward to meeting you and working with you and your businesses to build those connections that will spur ideas and help us to spread the word that Dunedin is the place to be!!  

Bio Coming

Currently: Owner Lane’s Lemonade.   Prior to moving to the wonderful town of Dunedin I lived in Morristown, NJ.  I spent 15 years with the same company, Komar Brands, as their VP of Sales and Licensing.    I have a passion for brands and brand development and I’m excited to see what Lane’s can grow into.