Ingrid Datica

 Co-owner of Villa Balem Ek and current Vecinos Board Member-at-Large

Multidisciplinary professional with extensive experience in sustainable tourism, property management, media, arts, and environmental initiatives. Co-owner of based businesses and active leader in community and nonprofit organizations. Passionate about ecology, cultural arts, and project coordination in both Mexico and the U.S.

Leadership & Community Roles

• Co-Owner of Villa Balam Ek 
• Co-Owner of the Akumal Dive Shop
• Vice President and Co-Founder, ADMAK (Akumal Property Managers)– (2015- present)
• Property Manager (2007–Present)
• NAS Akumal Norte Security (2017- 2023)
• Government Chair, Board of Vecinos de Akumal Norte (2022–Present)

Rhett Schober

Owner of Akumal Villas and former Vecinos Vice President

I first came to the Yucatan in college to study the Maya Culture. After graduating college, I had a ten-year career in Japan running the international department of a Japanese boarding school.

Upon finishing my career in Japan, I made my way back to my hometown of Vail, Colorado to pursue my passion of fly fishing by helping a friend start an outfitting business. However, I knew and felt my calling back to the Yucatan where my mother and I had made some investments during my time in Japan. That was 21 years ago. 

In Akumal, I run my property management and vacation rental company, Akumal Villas.  Over the years, I have donated to paving the North Akumal Road and the construction of the North Akumal Community Center Building (which currently houses the National Guard), and have donated and raised money for the Akumal Library, The Akumal Arts Festival and construction of the Akumal Pueblo Community Center. I previously served for six years as Vice President of the Vecinos board and was integral to establishing the legal status of Vecinos of North Akumal, working with Henning Bartsch. 

I would like once again to contribute my time, knowledge, and love for our community to Vecinos association. I understand the perspectives of full-time residents and business owners because I am both, and I understand the perspectives of owners who rent to tourists and tourists themselves because they are my clients. My goal is continue to polish the diamond that is Akumal by making Vecinos and its board into an association that all types of owners will support.

Candidates for Secretary

Vote for up to One:

Dan Freeman
Liane Perry

Dan Freeman

Owner of Casa Gatos and former Vecinos President

My Thinking

Let’s set aside political differences and recognize that every member of our community brings unique priorities and values. What truly matters is our shared commitment to building a vibrant, fully functioning community—one with clean, attractive bay fronts and reliable services. Blame and division only hold us back. Instead, let’s focus on solutions: our two associations, EPA and Vecinos, exist to serve us all. EPA safeguards our ocean and bay, while Vecinos ensures our essential services run smoothly. But none of this is possible without your support. As a small group, we face the daunting task of raising substantial funds quickly to meet urgent needs. The more united and efficient we appear, the more likely we are to attract new members and generous donations. Political infighting will never help us reach our goals.

Thoughts for strengthening our association

Imagine the impact of open board meetings, where every member’s voice is heard and directors’ decisions are transparent. This openness builds trust and understanding, empowering you to make informed choices at election time and decide where your contributions will make the greatest difference. Time is often critical—just look at the Community Center. By partnering with Tulum to add a police station, we secured free building permits, but it still took three years of dedicated contributions to complete. Now, our community enjoys its own security service, thanks to collective effort.

Asking for Your Support

I am pleased to submit my candidacy for the position of Secretary of the association and would appreciate your support. Prior to relocating to Akumal, I gained extensive managerial experience as a business owner and served as Director of Sales and Marketing for both the Philadelphia Zoo and the New Jersey State Aquarium. During my eight-year tenure as President of the Vecinos Association, we completed significant projects including the paved road system from the Pluma to Yalku with solar lighting and topes, the construction of the community center, fostering productive partnerships with three consecutive mayors of Tulum and their administrations, and securing the deployment of the Guardia Nacional unit in North Akumal, thereby greatly enhancing our community’s safety.

Following my presidency, I have remained actively involved by serving as the local bank contact with Kapital, working closely with our President and Treasurer to provide daily and monthly financial reports regarding deposits and expenditures. My responsibility is to ensure that all officers have timely access to accurate financial information. I am deeply committed to our community and the associations that serve it, and am prepared to bring my experience and dedication to the role of Secretary. With your support, I will continue striving to advance the association’s mission and success.