Chelsea Smith Reed

Chelsea Smith Reed is the person leaders call when relationships need to become results. She brings people, institutions, and opportunities together with rare speed and trust, then turns that alignment into action through authentic collaboration, disciplined execution, strategic judgment, and a deep understanding of how business, government, and community priorities intersect.

As Partner and Managing Director of Smith Reed Partners, she helps organizations navigate growth, strengthen operations, build high-performing teams, and cultivate relationships across the business, government, and nonprofit sectors. Chelsea specializes in stakeholder engagement, organizational development, operational excellence, and public-private partnerships.

As a lifelong Palm Beach County resident, leader, and philanthropist, Chelsea has earned significant local, statewide, and national recognition. Notably, she served on the Palm Beach Gardens City Council from 2020 to 2026, including three years as Mayor and one year as Vice Mayor. During her public service, she advanced transportation and infrastructure initiatives, workforce housing, environmental stewardship, fiscal responsibility, and policies designed to strengthen the community’s long-term quality of life.

Honors have included:

• Palm Beach Illustrated‘s “Palm Beach 100,” recognizing Palm Beach County’s most influential business leaders, in 2023-24 and 2024-25.
• 2024 National Outstanding Community Partner of the Year from the Community Transportation Association of America.
• 2024 Local Elected Official of the Year from the Florida Commission for the Transportation Disadvantaged.
• 2023 Distinguished Alumni Award from The Benjamin School.
• Multiple Home Rule Hero Awards from the Florida League of Cities.
• 2022 Leadership Excellence Award for the Public Sector from Leadership Palm Beach County.
• 2022 Complete Streets Champion Award.
• Selection as one of 21 elected officials nationwide for the Smart Growth America Champions Institute.

Chelsea remains deeply engaged in civic, philanthropic, and community leadership. Her current roles include:

• President-Elect, Friends of MacArthur Beach State Park.
• Trustee, Nature Foundation.
• Chair, Network of Elected Women Circle, and Board Member, Women’s Foundation of Florida.
• Board Member, Forum Club of the Palm Beaches.
• Member, Ambassador Council of The Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation & Technology.

Chelsea’s previous leadership positions include Chair of the Palm Beach Metropolitan Planning Organization Governing Board, Chair of the Palm Beach County Transportation Disadvantaged Local Coordinating Board, President of the Palm Beach County League of Cities, Vice Chair of the Southeast Florida Transportation Council, and founding member of the Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce Sustainability Subcommittee.

A graduate of Leadership Florida Cornerstone Class 43 and Leadership Palm Beach County, Chelsea is also a frequent public speaker and panelist. She is passionate about mentorship, leadership development, transportation and mobility, community-building, and helping people and organizations turn relationships into meaningful results.

Beyond her professional and civic leadership, Chelsea enjoys trail and ultra-relay running, adventure travel, and water sports. Her ability to bring people together, recognize opportunities, and translate ideas into action has established her as a trusted advisor and collaborative leader throughout South Florida and beyond.