Committees
Our standing committees address a variety of issues that affect downtown businesses and the health of the local economy. They meet once each month and usually on the same day of each month. The public is always welcome and encouraged to participate in any of DSMA’s committees or public meetings. Our committees produce annual work-plans to guide each meeting’s discussion and help achieve our goals. We are always open to suggestions to improve or expand our volunteer activities and we welcome new participants.
Marketing Committee
Meets: 4th Wednesday of each month at 10:30 a.m. at the DSMA office.
Committee Chair: Nancy Bush
nancybush@unitedamericanbank.com
Promotion of our downtown takes many forms, but the goal is to create a positive image that will boost community pride and improve consumer and investor confidence in our commercial district. Advertising, retail promotions, special events, and marketing campaigns help sell the image and promise of our downtown to consumers. Promotions communicate our commercial district’s unique business establishments, characteristics, and activities to shoppers, investors, potential business and property owners, and visitors.
Events Committee
Meets: 2nd Wednesday of each month at 8:30 a.m. at the DSMA office.
Committee Co-Chairs: Liz DePrimo & Liz Mayta
liz@juniorgym.com & lizmayta@yahoo.com
The Events Committee’s primary responsibility is to organize and execute fundraising events. We also work with the city to help bring in and promote all events located in the downtown. The event specific tasks (hire photographer, purchase decor, create ideas for additional income generation, follow up on sponsor solicitations, etc.) are assigned at team meetings and tasks are delegated/taken on by volunteers depending on their interest. The time Commitment: Monthly Events Committee Meetings, 5-10 hours/week for the month leading up to the event (variable).
Beautification & Enhancement Committee
Meets: 1st Thursday of each month at 8 a.m. at the DSMA office.
Committee Chair: Susan Uzunoglu
susan.skincare@sbcglobal.net
Our Beautification Committee means getting downtown into top physical shape and creating a safe, inviting environment for shoppers, workers, and visitors. It leverages the visual opportunities inherent in our commercial district by directing attention to all of its physical elements: parking areas, street furniture, public art, public and private buildings, storefronts, signs, public spaces, landscaping, merchandising, window displays, and promotional materials. An appealing atmosphere, created through attention to all of these visual elements, conveys a positive message about our downtown and what it has to offer. Design activities also include instilling good maintenance practices in the commercial district’s businesses and landlords, enhancing the district’s physical appearance through the rehabilitation of historic buildings, encouraging appropriate new construction, developing sensitive design management systems, educating business and property owners about design quality, and long-term planning.
Business Development Committee
Meets: 3rd Tuesday of each month at 8:30 a.m. at the DSMA office.
Committee Chair: Kris Cesena
kris@automedics.com
Business development and the economic restructuring that allows our downtown to compete regionally, despite ever-changing retail trends, results from strengthening our existing economic assets while diversifying our economic base. This is accomplished by retaining and expanding successful businesses to provide a balanced commercial mix, sharpening the competitiveness and merchandising skills of business owners, and attracting new businesses that the local market can support. Converting unused or underused commercial space into economically productive property boosts the profitability of the district. The goal is to build a commercial district that responds to the needs of today’s consumers.
Parking & Safety Committee
Meets: 2nd Tuesday of each month at 9 a.m. at the DSMA office.
Committee Chair: TBD
info@dsma.org
This committee addresses parking management issues and the cleanliness and safety of our parking environment. The police and public works departments of the City play a major role in this committee as we review crime stats, parking and traffic issues, and any others issues our business and property owners want addressed.
Organization Committee (Executive & Finance)
Meets: Last Tuesday of the month. DSMA board officers and executive director only.
kris@automedics.com or info@dsma.org
By getting everyone working toward the same goal, our association can provide effective, ongoing management and advocacy for our downtown business district. The Executive/Organization Committee establishes consensus and cooperation by building partnerships among the various groups that have a stake in our downtown. This committee ensures that our governing board of directors and standing committees are running smoothly. All our DSMA volunteers are coordinated and supported by our executive director. And the executive committee, in turn, ensures all board members are supporting our executive director to lead us in the most effective and efficient manner. This structure not only divides the workload and delineates responsibilities, but also builds consensus and cooperation among the various stakeholders.