New Places, New Faces Join the CAMS Network
Perkins Street Mural in Ukiah by Artist Anthony Ortega.
By: Brooke Fox, Marketing and Communications Consultant
We are so excited to announce that our California Main Street network is growing. Join us in welcoming new communities to the network, new board members, and a new local leader!
Three Communities Join the CAMS Network
A village of 2,000 residents, San Juan Bautista is alive with old west history dating back to 1787. It’s located in San Benito County, near Monterey Bay. Its Main Street district features shops selling unique treasures old and new. The merchants are utilizing the Main Street Approach as a method to help preserve their community’s historic character while growing tourism sustainably to help support the local economy. We’re excited to welcome them into the CAMS and Main Street America network.
Located in Mendocino county with a population of 16,600, Ukiah became a charter Main Street City in 1987 with initial support from the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Main Street Office.
In 2019, Ukiah Main Street merged with the Chamber of Commerce and local Visitors Bureau, and their CAMS Membership lapsed briefly. Welcome back, Ukiah Main Street!
As a city nestled between the Bay Area and Sacramento Valley with a population of over 110,000, Vacaville is perhaps best known for the iconic Nut Tree road stop. A short detour off the highway reveals Vacaville’s Downtown District – home to over 400 small businesses and historic Main Street architecture that preserves its small town feel. The BID was chartered in 2001 and has been a Main Street America Affiliate community and CAMSA Member in the past. Welcome back, Vacaville!
CAMS Board Elects Two New Members at April Meeting
Karla Robles-Puig began her tenure as Executive Director of Coronado MainStreet in the Fall of 2021 and has already made an impact on the island community.
Karla is an entrepreneur and proven leader with 20+ years of senior management experience, with ten of those years in the non-profit sector.
Her long list of business expertise includes bachelor's degree in marketing and experience in fund development, real estate, public relations, and social media. Most recently, she oversaw the design and launch of Coronado MainStreet’s custom smartphone app built to help visitors find businesses and event information.
She’s looking forward to contributing to the CAMS Board and helping the organization grow.
Andrea Portillo-Knowles is a proud veteran, working mother, and military spouse who is passionate about community-led urban revitalization. Andrea joined Richmond Main Street Initiative as its Executive Director in the Fall of 2021. She previously served as the Bay Area District Director for the Boy Scouts of America.
Andrea holds degrees from the Community College of the Air Force, Middle Georgia State University, and a Master of Science in Industrial-Organizational Psychology from Walden University.
As a member of the U.S. Air Force, she completed two tours in the Middle East. Andrea currently serves as a Board Member of the Solano Community Foundation and on the Advisory Council for Women in Leadership for Executives at Chico State University.
She is excited to bring her skillset to the CAMS Board at this exciting time in the organization’s development.
Taylor McDonald Selected as New Executive Director of Downtown Vacaville BID
The Downtown Vacaville BID Board of Directors welcomed Taylor McDonald as its new Executive Director in January of this year. McDonald, who has extensive experience in working with local businesses and communities in San Diego County, relocated to Vacaville to take the position.
As he told the Vacaville Reporter Newspaper: “Vacaville being a smaller town really interested me of being able to help a smaller community in between two major metropolitan areas: San Francisco Bay Area and Sacramento,” he said. “The unique location, along with being a smaller community was definitely a draw.”
His work in the Main Street world began with volunteering. He helped start the Cherokee Point Neighborhood Association in City Heights before serving as the chair of the City Heights Town Council. He began studying at San Diego State for a master’s degree in city planning with a personal focus on economic development and BIDs. He went on to work for North Park Main Street, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more >