Serving on the Board of the Champaign Center Partnership

While employed at the former Orpheum Children’s Science Museum in downtown Champaign, IL, I was elected to serve on the board of director of the Champaign Center Partnership (CCP) in 2018. The CCP is a non-profit 501(c)(6) business association and placemaking association providing marketing, networking, and collaborating opportunities to member businesses, residents, and community leaders.

As a board member I worked closely with other directors and CCP staff to push the organization forward. I served on the Parade of Lights event planning committee in 2018 and 2019, the marketing committee in 2019, and was elected as secretary of the board in 2019. During my time, I worked closely with the executive director to launch a new “industry roundtable” series for businesses in similar industries (e.g. hospitality, non-profit, retail, services) to connect and collaborate. These roundtables helped guide the create of new member and community services spearheaded by the organization.

New staff, new challenges

In 2020, I was given an opportunity to apply for the executive director position at the CCP. My first day on the job was March 3, 2020. By March 21, 2020, IL Governor JB Pritzker put into effect the stay-at-home order. In the position of leading an economic development organization, it was my duty to quickly connect with local and state leaders to learn about small business support and ensure that appropriate, relevant, and accurate information and resources was communicated with our 160 member businesses at the time. In addition, also serving as community organization, we used our online presence to promote all small businesses in our commercial districts and continue to create a sense of place for residents.

One of our major challenges and accomplishments in late 2020 was shifting our major public event and fundraiser, the Parade of Lights, to a virtual event. The Parade, which is considered the largest downstate holiday event in Illinois and attended by over 5,000 people, was not easy to make virtual. One of our member businesses shared the idea of hosting a “shoebox” parade where crafted floats are the size of shoeboxes. 47 small businesses enter shoebox floats, which we pre-recorded with Shatterglass Studios and premiered the event on YouTube during the traditional parade date. Over 4.5k people tuned in to watch the parade.

Recovery and revitalization

By 2021, I worked closely with the businesses and city officials to bring back traditional events in the community and attract people to the city center especially after COVID-19 vaccines were rolling out locally. In late summer, we received a a grant of $35,900 from the City of Champaign to execute a new advertising campaign created and administered in partnership with Clanin Marketing. “The Heart of it All” campaign was a highly visual and digital campaign that was aimed at highlighted the people, places, and culture of the city center community.

By fall of 2021, the CCP board of directors began the process of creating a new 3-year strategic vision, a first for the organization. For six months, CCP directors and staff reviewed historical organizational and city documents and engaged with members to guide the direction of the strategic vision. By May 2022, the board approved the strategic vision, Cultivate Champaign Center. This new vision for the organization took effect July 1, 2022, and aims to increase the organization’s capacity, visibility, member base, and placemaking programming. As a result, the organization has committed to adding a new CRM, launching new promotional campaigns and events, is incrementally working toward the funding of a new non-profit foundation to support the efforts of the organization.

My accomplishments

I’ve always told people that starting a new job is challenging, and it’s extra challenging during a pandemic. Despite this, I survived and the organization is stronger than ever before. Under my leadership, we were able to make improvements and try new things, which I am proud to share. Here are some of my accomplishments during my time at the CCP:

• Launched a new annual $10 & Under Food Menu and advertising campaign reaching students and featuring cheap food options under $10 at member businesses.
• Assisted in the launch of a new event series, the Toast to Taylor Street in 2022.
• Launched a novel e-store that sells member business’ gift cards.
• Successfully led the Parade of Lights in 2020, 2021, and 2022 – an event that brings over 5,000 people to downtown.
• Launched a new winter promotion, Sweets, Treats, & Lattes, that celebrates coffee shops, bakeries, and dessert places.
• In 2023, we took over management of StreetFest, which was formerly ran by the Champaign Park District since 2011, and the event drew in over 2,000 people.