Council Member Bios
Council Member Frank D’Ambra
Seat 1
Term Expires: April 2024
Email
Frank D’Ambra III, has long been an active member of our Village community, currently in his 5th term as a Council Member. He previously served as Mayor, Vice-Mayor, Chairman of the Recreation Center Building Committee, Chairman of the Tequesta Public Safety Pension Board and as a member of the Village of Tequesta Audit Committee.
Mr. D’Ambra was born in Rhode Island and has since lived in virtually every corner of the United States. Frank met his wife Lisa while attending law school at the University of Miami. He has over 30 years of experience in the retirement and financial services industry having held senior executive positions for Horace Mann Educators Corp., Swiss Re/Conning Investors, GE Financial Corporation and then was a founding investor and COO in a local medical device start up, Poiesis Medical.
Frank is a graduate of the University of Miami –“Go Canes”. He and his wife have resided in Tequesta since 2003 and are the proud parents of three grown children and have been blessed with four grandchildren.
Favorite Quote: “He who would trade his freedom for security shall have neither.” Benjamin Franklin
Mayor Molly Young
Seat 2
Term Expires: April 2025
Email
Molly Young grew up in the Jupiter-Tequesta area, relocated to Seattle for 11 years, and returned to Tequesta in 2017 with her husband and daughter. She is a graduate from Florida State University where she received a B.S. in Economics and Environmental Studies. She also received a certificate in Construction Management from the University of Washington.
In 2021, Molly was elected to Village of Tequesta Council Seat 2 and is currently serving her second term. In March 2022, she was elected by her fellow Councilmembers to serve as the Mayor. Prior to being elected to Council, Molly served as an Alternate on the Village Planning and Zoning Board. She has a passion to serve her community and tirelessly upholds her duties to the Village.
When Molly is not serving her community, she is a Senior Project Manager professional with 20 years of construction management experience in the Commercial, Mixed-use, and Marine sectors. She is responsible for advising and supporting clients from project inception through construction completion.
In both roles, Molly has the proven ability to lead utilizing her expansive knowledge of planning & programming, financial budgeting & forecasting, negotiating contracts, scheduling, research & analysis, quality control, safety, and operations. She has served on several professional committees, advisory teams, national networks, and is currently on the Board of Directors for Palm Beach County League of Cities.
Vice Mayor Laurie Brandon
Seat 3
Term Expires: April 2024
Email
Laurie Brandon, a Native Floridian, grew up in South Florida spending most of her time at the dance studio, on stage, or climbing trees. Laurie studied art design, commercial marketing and business operations and has management experience in business and human resources. She is an engaged member of the community, serving on the social committee for the Tequesta Country Club HOA, and is an active volunteer in the local schools.
Laurie started ballet & tap at the age of three. Over those next 23 years, she absorbed the world of dance by studying ballet, tap, lyrical, modern, musical theatre, hip-hop, voice, and performing in local productions. Taking advantage of any dance opportunity she could, she completed many Master Classes from choreographers passing through town, Miami Heat Dance Team clinics, competing at StarPower competitions & workshops, performing in commercials for art schools, and performing at Walt Disney World.
She enjoyed growing up around music, dance, photography, and visual arts. With her love of music from a young age, she started playing music at age 8 and has spent her life enjoying music from every genre & generation!
Laurie very much enjoys spending time with her three children and husband. Gardening, crafts, outdoor recreational, and traveling are just a few of their favorite activities to do together.
Council Member Patrick Painter
Seat 4
Term Expires: April 2025
Email
Patrick, a third generation Palm Beach County native, is a graduate of the University of Florida College of Design, Construction and Planning and the University of Florida Levin College of Law. He is a licensed Florida attorney and real estate sales associate.
Patrick is the Vice President of Business and Legal Affairs for Hedrick Brothers Construction, where he has worked since 2015. In this role, he manages all legal and general business matters for the company.
He is a graduate of the Village’s inaugural Resident’s Academy and served on the Village’s Charrette Host Committee in 2022. Patrick enjoys giving back to the community and is a Member of the Board of Directors of the Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches and Board of Directors of the YMCA of the Palm Beaches. He is also an active Member of the Forum Club of the Palm Beaches, Historical Society of Palm Beach County, Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), Florida East Coast Chapter, and volunteers as a Mentor for Xcel, a non-profit focused on mentoring young people in soft skills, job skills and trade skills. Patrick and his family are honored to call Tequesta home.
Council Member Rick Sartory
Seat 5
Term Expires: April 2024
Email
Born and raised in West Palm Beach and Lake Worth, Rick has lived in northern Palm Beach County since 1988, moving to Tequesta in 2021. Immediately upon moving in to the Village, he was appointed to the Public Safety Pension Board, and is a graduate of the Village’s inaugural Resident’s Academy. With a Financial Management degree from Clemson University, Rick had a 27-year career in the banking & finance industries, and currently works as a Community Affairs Coordinator in the Homeland Security Division of the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office.
A graduate of Leadership Palm Beach County, Rick has served on several boards and public committees such as the Health & Human Services Board of Palm Beach County, the Health Care District of Palm Beach County Finance & Audit Committee, the Palm Beach Children’s Hospital at St. Mary’s Medical Center Community Advisory Board, and the Board of Directors for Meals On Wheels of the Palm Beaches.
Rick and his wife Maura, along with Maura’s two children, are honored to call Tequesta home. Rick has two adult children that live in Denver, CO and they return home to visit as often as possible. When he is not engaged with the Village, you can find Rick and Maura enjoying the outdoors, especially on our amazing waterways.