Cheers, Best Wishes & Welcome!

Alicia Gallo posing with a pleasant pig sculpture in Seattle, WA (left), accompanied by photo of Downtown Richmond’s signature light pole banner (right). Photo credit: Alicia Gallo, Richmond Main Street Initiative (respectively)

CAMSA Quarterly | Fall 2021
By: Amanda Elliott, Senior Program Officer and Director of California Programs, Main Street America

It is with true gratitude and some sadness that we say “good-bye” to long-time Richmond Main Street staffer, Alicia Gallo. I had the great pleasure to work with Alicia for nearly 10 years as the former Executive Director of Richmond Main Street. She came to the program through a partnership with Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) AmeriCorps Vista program. It was apparent to me from the very first few days and weeks working with Alicia that she was a keeper. Alicia exhibits all the qualities that make our Main Street staff the absolute best: dedication, hard work, ingenuity, and true commitment to community. I can say that hiring Alicia was one of the very best decisions I made as director. It is rare to find staff who care so deeply for the work and are willing to go that “extra mile” to ensure the very best outcome for projects, programs, and events.

Alicia developed our Neighborhood Safety Ambassador program, which was a critical initiative that helped us make the case to district stakeholders for the implementation of our Property Business Improvement District (PBID) in 2012 and its renewal in 2017. She also was an integral part of developing our community events and small business technical assistance programs, managing volunteers, and building lasting relationships with a wide array of stakeholders. Her marketing, promotion, and social media skills are exceptional and helped highlight Richmond Main Street and the California Main Street network.

We are also grateful for her service on the California Main Street (CAMS) board of directors from August 2020 - October 2021. And we are very excited to continue working with her as the CAMS Marketing and Communications Consultant. On that note: please help us welcome Alicia to her new role at CAMS! Send your neat newsworthy nuggets, spectacular spotlight suggestions, and website wishes to agallo@savingplaces.org.