New Faces Join The CAMS Network
Courtesy: California Main Street
Todd Anderson, Owner of Switchfoot Creative, Elected to CAMS Board
Courtesy: Todd Anderson
Please help us welcome our newest CAMS Advisory Board Member, Todd Anderson who joined the Board at our September meeting.
Todd is the owner of Switchfoot Creative ootcreative.com, a full-service graphic design studio in north San Diego that specializes in developing brand identities, graphics, and visual campaigns for businesses that offer quality products and services for their customers. He’s been in the graphic design space for over 20 years, often collaborating with local government agencies on public-facing design and placemaking projects.
Most recently, he was selected to design the wayfinding signage for Downtown Encinitas. Todd holds a Bachelor of Arts in Urban Design and Planning from UC San Diego. He’s excited to lend his expertise and design eye to CAMS projects and looks forward to working with our members.
Brooke Fox joins #teamCAMS!
As the Marketing and Communications Consultant for California Main Street, Brooke’s role is to develop and edit content, support CAMS’ digital media strategy, and assist with the planning and implementation of special projects and campaigns. She works to connect member programs across the state to the latest Main Street America and California Main Street resources, external opportunities, and best practices.
Courtesy: Brooke Fox
Brooke’s Main Street journey began in 2017 as Executive Director of the Downtown Vacaville Business Improvement District. During her four years at the BID, Brooke instituted major operational improvements, managed an annual calendar of 35+ special events, negotiated a higher baseline for City funding and co-hosted Vacaville’s first-ever Pride and Black History events. Brooke guided the organization through the COVID19 pandemic by achieving City, State, and Federal grant assistance, creating alternative outdoor events, reclaiming full management of the Farmers’ Market, and channeling community efforts to rally around local businesses. She also invited fellow Main Street Managers in Solano & Yolo Counties for quarterly virtual meetups as a way to navigate the pandemic together. Brooke studied the Main Street Approach and attended CAMS and Main Street Now Conferences in Kansas City and Seattle, as well as virtually in 2021. She left Downtown Vacaville BID in early 2022 to launch her own consulting company Uptown Fox, focusing on community-driven events and marketing strategies.
A Northern California native, Brooke’s early life was hyper-focused on the performing arts. She earned a Bachelor's Degree in Songwriting from Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA. Brooke worked in a Nashville recording studio, toured the US and Europe as a singer/songwriter, relocated to New York City where she met her husband (also a musician), wrote an off-broadway musical and settled into a successful career in NonProfit Arts Administration before returning home to Vacaville to raise a family.
As a person with Albinism, Brooke is also passionate about disability inclusion. She helped organize the first-ever Disability Pride Parade in New York City and served on several nonprofit boards supporting the blindness/low vision community.
Brooke is excited to continue her Main Street journey and she looks forward to helping California communities thrive.
She can be reached by email or by phone at 917-586-4064.
Bridget Karl Selected as new Executive Director of Pleasanton Downtown Association
Courtesy: Bridget Karl
Reposted from Pleasanton Downtown Association Facebook:
The Board of Directors of the Pleasanton Downtown Association is excited to welcome their new Executive Director, Bridget Karl. Bridget assumed the position on Monday, October 24 and has hit the ground running!
Bridget comes to the PDA with a wealth of experience and knowledge in both the non-profit and retail sectors. She served as the CEO of the Calabasas Chamber of Commerce for many years where she successfully grew the organization, developed and executed numerous events, worked closely with civic leaders and supported the members through networking and community events. She has a passion for community and economic development, for supporting small businesses and for seeing a community thrive.
Additionally, Bridget led one of the most successful host towns for the 2015 Special Olympics World Games and has also been active in fundraising for causes near and dear to her such as The Avon Walk, Cancer Support Community, and Maria's Birthday Wishes for the Homeless.
“I am honored to be here. I get a small-town feeling every time I walk into a business. The local businesses shape the identity of Pleasanton’s downtown; they reflect the history of this beautiful city and create relationships with the community, with local government, and are essential to the economy. I look forward to working with the PDA members and continuing their great work, making downtown a richly rewarding place to visit and shop”, stated Bridget.
PDA Board President, Bryan Bowers stated, “We are so happy to welcome Bridget and look forward to her leading the PDA. She brings with her a very strong background of non-profit leadership and a great understanding of fundraising, special events and much more. We are excited for our members to get to know Bridget and for all the great things to come for the PDA!”
Welcome, Bridget!