Owners Advisory Council

 

Dating back to 1988, the Byrnes clan has enjoyed multi-generational history with the Becksteads as Palm Island stakeholders; owning properties at PIV I & II, Pinpoa, Bay Villas and Seaside. 

 

As former Chairman & CEO of Oswald Companies/Unison Risk Advisors, ranked among the largest 50 insurance consultative brokers in the country, Marc’s firm served to protect and preserve the Beckstead’s legacy and benefit fellow owners.       

 

Marc is past Chairman of The United Way of Greater Cleveland, The Cleveland Leadership Center and the city’s leading business society, The 50 Club. He also served on the boards of University School and The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame; and led the bond issues for both Cleveland’s Metropolitan Schools, Metroparks and a member of Cuyahoga County’s Economic Commission. Furthermore, he led the strategic planning initiatives for numerous privately-held companies as a member of their diverse advisory boards.                                                    

 

Today, he is President of Palm Island’s Civic Association working collaboratively with HOA chairs and management to restore the beauty of our special island resort post several major hurricanes in the last three years.                                                            

 

Marc and Viki’s three sons and daughter in-laws and 7 Coconuts ice cream eating grandkids love Palm Island, Redbeard, Koom’s egg rolls & conch fritters and are 1,000% committed to the resort’s long- term success.

 

Lance Edwards and his wife, Kim Fox, are full-time residents of Palm Island - having lived here since 2017, following their marriage on Stump Pass in 2016. They own property in PINPOA, Beach Villas, and Sabal Palm.  (Kim's family have owned a condo in PIV II since 1995.)   

 

Lance spent 20 years in engineering and now 20 years in apartments, where his company has been recognized three times as one of the fastest growing businesses in the U.S. Lance is a 7th generation Floridian and author of As It Should Be: Tales of Old Florida, a book that was inspired by and written on Palm Island. 

 

Bill Seelbach and his wife, Nancy, currently own LEC 15, which they bought in the summer of 2020.

 

They first came to Palm Island on a seaplane from Useppa with Gar Beckstead in 1984 and soon thereafter bought a PIV II unit.  They developed a close relationship with Gar and Dean and enjoyed many years at Palm Island as their two sons were growing up.  During this time they moved from PIV II to LEC 30 (the unit now owned by the Morrises) and also owned a Seaside lot.

 

Bill and Nancy reside in Cleveland, where they were born and raised, and they are both currently retired, but very active in the Cleveland community with nonprofit organizations and volunteer work. Bill also serves on the Advisory Boards of two privately held companies.

 

Before retiring, Bill was a partner with McKinsey &Co, started his own PE firm, was the COO of a publicly traded company, the CEO of a nonprofit organization and most recently an Operating Partner at a PE firm, where he is still a senior advisor.

 

Loral Blinde 

Loral and his wife Jane purchased their unit in PIV1 (1713) in the fall of 2019. Loral joined the PIV1 Board in 2021 and has served as the Association President since 2023.

Jane and Loral grew up in Iowa, met in Des Moines and later moved to Minneapolis for 15 years.  After a brief (but good) 2 years in Madison, WI, the Blindes relocated to their current home in Orlando, FL in 1999.

 

Loral’s career in Labor Relations, Human Resources and Administration began in state government, transitioned to private sector manufacturing and continued through some 30+ years in leadership positions with Northwest Airlines, AirTran and Southwest before retiring from American Airlines as head of global Human Resources.  

Loral continues to consult part time on employment and organizational matters. He has served as President of a private sector board and is a member or advisor to other boards.

 

Carla Nix is the Broker/Owner of the Nix Team at Coldwell Banker Sunstar Realty. After a successful career in commercial sales and real estate sales management with the largest family-owned pest control company in the U.S., she moved to Punta Gorda, FL 14 years ago, and transitioned into real estate with husband, Danny Nix who is now our Florida House Representative for District 75.

 

Together they built and sold a thriving real estate and property management company, that continues to stay active in the market—selling both residential and commercial real estate, flipping homes, and participating in a REIT. They have owned on Palm Island since 2020 and truly enjoy the peace, privacy, and natural beauty of island life. When not working, you’ll find Carla outside walking the island trails—logging 5 to 10 miles a day and soaking it all in. They love Palm Island Resort and look forward to being involved in the community and bringing others here to enjoy the beauty in the years to come!