The 2020 Board of Directors for Marietta Main Street stand in front of a mural series installed in 2017 and 2018 through their public art initiatives.
The year 2019 was another year of transition for Marietta Main Street as the Director role changed hands twice and two members of the Board of Directors moved away. But, the Board continued on the path of meeting their goals to increase their capacity to serve the organization and those goals were accomplished wholeheartedly by the end of the year.
“Main Street as an organization manages quite a bit through our five core committees - events like First Fridays, the Wine & Chocolate Walk, and the Holiday Loft Tours - plus programs like Build Up Marietta and Main Street West,” says Cristie Thomas, Interim Executive Director.
“Additionally, we maintain beautification efforts year round with our holiday decor and hanging flower baskets, small business outreach and support, Enrich Marietta downtown planning, public art, and much more,” said Thomas.
Moving into 2020, the Board of Directors adopted a new method of managing the efforts of the organization by further streamlining roles & responsibilities within each core committee. Each committee has under its umbrella a variety of tasks, programs, or efforts that can now be led, managed, or facilitated by Main Street volunteers. For example, the Design Committee currently maintains six hats under its umbrella: Committee Chair, Flags, Flowers, Public Art, Historic Preservation, and Clean Sweeps.
During the 2020 Board Retreat held on Sunday, January 5th, each member of the Board - new and returning - selected an effort to lead within a core committee and charted a plan for the year to accomplish their goals.
“Building on an already strong Board of Directors, we’re looking forward to taking the momentum we saw for Main Street in 2019 and continuing it forward into the new year.”
“By having each board member choose an individual role for the year, whether it’s chairing a committee or serving as point person for one of Main Street’s programs or initiatives, board members are empowered to take more ownership over a piece of the Main Street mission they are most passionate about,” said Sarah Arnold, Past President of the Board of Directors.
“To meet our mission and strategic goals, our organization relies on a diversified approach. We are fortunate to have a variety of skills represented around our table to tackle everything from volunteer management and event planning to fundraising and advocacy,” shared Arnold.
Also during the Board Retreat, the 2020 Board of Directors gathered together for the first time as a new entity with the addition of four new members: Bret Allphin (Development Director, Buckeye Hills Regional Council), Bobby Rosenstock (Owner, JustAJar Design Press), Kasandra Ruscitto Pritchett (Community Relations Manager, The Original Pizza Place) and Nate Shahan (General Manager & Entertainment Director, The Galley/Adelphia/Hackett).
Tim Glover, President of the Main Street Board of Directors, believes the organization has great momentum coming into 2020.
“The addition of Bret, Kasandra, Bobby, and Nate provided us with a new level of diverse skills and a willingness to move forward with our goals. I welcome my new teammates and am excited about the work our board will achieve as a team,” shared Glover.
Aleece Dye, Vice President of the Board of Directors and Main Street President starting in 2021, feels fortunate to have gained four new talented and diverse individuals on the Board.
“Building on an already strong Board of Directors, we're looking forward to taking the momentum we saw for Main Street in 2019 and continuing it forward into the new year. I am truly excited about the energy and passion that this group shows and the good work that we will be able to accomplish in and for our community!” said Dye.
During the January Board Retreat, the new members separated from the returning members for a one-hour orientation to the organization. During the orientation, topics like programs, events, funding sources, accreditation, and the role of the Board of Directors were covered, led by Interim Executive Director Cristie Thomas. During that same time, Past President Sarah Arnold led the returning members of the Board in a conversation about new accreditation standards passed down by Main Street America and the structure of Community Meetings in 2020.
“I often say that Main Street world moves fast, so we make sure to carve out time every year to ensure each new board members feel equipped to fire on all cylinders,” shared Thomas.
Bobby Rosenstock, new member of the Board and owner of JustAJar Design Press on Front Street, has opted to lead Public Art efforts on the Design Committee.
Main Street Board Members discuss events and marketing during a Promotion Committee meeting
“As a small business owner on Front Street, I had a lot of folks visiting their families over the holidays stop by my shop and say, ‘downtown Marietta is so great, it wasn't like this when I was growing up here.’ Well, Marietta Main Street has played a huge role in the revitalization of our downtown and I'm looking forward to serving on the board as our downtown grows and progresses. I especially look forward to my role bringing more public art to downtown and showcasing the many great artists in our area,” said Rosenstock.
Bret Allphin, also a new member of the Board, is the Development Director of Buckeye Hills Regional Council and as such he focuses his efforts on community and economic development strategies across southeast Ohio. Traveling often across the U.S. to various types of communities, he brings a unique perspective to his leadership as board member.
“I’m excited to join the Main Street board to build on the incredible work that’s already been done to improve our downtown district. I view Marietta as the cultural and business hub of our region and I am anxious to work on efforts that add to that competitive advantage. Many communities would love to have the wonderful amenities our community has, and it’s up to us to ensure we maintain those valuable resources,” shared Allphin.
Members of the Main Street Board of Directors meet monthly in committees and every other month for board meetings. The Board sets the strategic direction of the organization and provides oversight of each committee’s efforts, supports fundraising campaigns, and ensures Main Street and downtown continue to grow and progress each year.
