The Kalamazoo Downtown Partnership Board of Directors welcomed seven new board members at its March meetin

“As Downtown Kalamazoo continues to grow, it’s critical that we engage with partner organizations and community stakeholders to align efforts. We are honored to welcome 11 new community leaders to our Board of Directors to guide our programs, services, and initiatives. The variety of experiences and skills each brings to the organization will advance our efforts to cultivate world-class downtown.”

In 2019, the Kalamazoo Downtown Partnership Board was expanded to include representation from the five taxing jurisdictions participating in the newly-created Kalamazoo Downtown Economic Growth Authority: Kalamazoo Public Library, Kalamazoo County, City of Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Valley Community College and Metro Transit. Four at-large members were added, representing local business and residential interests. Additionally, building on efforts to more broadly engage the community, the chair of each Citizen Coalition (People, Place, Experience and Growth) joined the board in March, representing their respective Coalitions and the 76 new members of the downtown leadership network that joined the organization in January.

New members appointed to the Kalamazoo Downtown Partnership Board

  • Martha Todd, Kalsec
  • Elyse Brey, Downtown Resident
  • Andy Wenzel, PlazaCorp
  • Bjorn Green, Tower-Pinkster
  • Lisa Henthorn, Kalamazoo County
  • Sean McBride, Metro Transit
  • Nnamdi Dike, Kalamazoo Public Library

Citizen Coalition chairs new to the Kalamazoo Downtown Partnership Board

  • Margaret Patton, Coalition for People
  • Greg Milliken, Coalition for Place
  • Beth McCann, Coalition for Experience
  • Greg Dobson, Coalition for Growth

Reappointments to the Kalamazoo Downtown Partnership Board

  • Bob Cinabro, community leader
  • Bob Lewis, Millennium Restaurant Group
  • Susan Watts, Bronson Healthcare
  • Clarence Lloyd, Consumers Credit Union
  • Chris Zeigler, MRC Industries
  • Kalamazoo Valley Community College will appoint a representative by the end of 2019.