I'm back working for my hometown in downtown Lansing. The Downtown Lansing Inc. team is dedicated to cultivating community, building passion and pride for the place that our residents and local businesses call home.

Serving as Director and C.O.O. it is my pleasure to perform a variety of supervisory, administrative, and professional work to support the Downtown Development Authority and the nationally accredited Howell Main Street Inc. 501(c)3 program. Recently led the planning and application process which resulted in securing Howell Main Street Inc.’s 501(c)3 status. Led the application, management and promotion of Howell’s cultural transformation resulting in Howell being named the 2018 Great American Main Street winner. Regular duties as director of both organizations include managing a variety of arts and cultural programs throughout the year, developing and maintaining donor, business and stakeholder relationships, plan annual fundraising activities, oversee 400 volunteers, manage multiple cooperative district activities including 10 events per year, educating businesses about programs and educational opportunities, “selling” the downtown to investors, innovative programming and volunteer empowerment activities, serving as a listener, collaborator, clearinghouse, visionary, facilitator and coordinator of volunteers, staff, Board, and other stakeholders. Key focuses for the past two years included: Implementing multiple community crowd-funded public spaces, leading city-wide transformational strategies for future development of the downtown while marketing the Howell community as a destination for residents as well as visitors, establishing broad-based community relationships, and increasing fundraising efforts by 600% for the program. With Howell being named a top downtown in the U.S., led the restructuring of the DDA Board of directors and educating them in their roles, establishing a 501(c)3 Board of directors, facilitating conversations between City Council and DDA Board, promoting public awareness of the program and acting as liaison to other government and community organizations, as well as mentoring other new downtown directors state-wide.

Communications & Marketing Manager at Downtown Lansing Inc. Serving the businesses in the principal shopping area of downtown Lansing. Social media, press releases, marketing design, and distribution of all communication materials. Partnership and promotions organization.

Develop and manage the Clean Commute Options program, coordinate ride-matching for over 1200 commuters traveling into, or within, the Tri-County Area, manage and administer the Emergency Ride Home service for carpoolers and vanpoolers, develop and implement annual marketing strategies, update company website wording and graphics, build business relationships, budgeting and annual revisions of grant applications, build partnerships with local organizations, schools, and community groups, write and design monthly newsletter, manage federal charter guidelines and ensure all CATA activities adhere to these rules, organize annual action event, public education on air quality issues, lead quarterly meetings with Clean Commute Advisory Committee and other rideshare offices, professional writing, design, layout, and editing of documents and presentations, and other duties as assigned.

Developed and produced the monthly branch newsletter. Assist the marketing representative, design event flyers for company events, assist in all accounting department duties, license and cancel agents and agencies, create databases and spreadsheets, assisted in implementation of paperless office system.

Assisted with all aspects of the planning for Festival of the Sun. Created press releases, monthly newsletters, and assisted with brochures. Worked with the media to develop print ads, schedule interviews, and supply festival information. Worked with and organized volunteers, worked with board members and other local businesses to improve the Old Town area.