One of the North Bay’s Largest Cities Rejoins the CAMS Network
Courtesy of Vallejo Main Street.
CAMS Connection | Holiday 2023
By: Brooke Fox, Marketing and Communications Consultant
We welcome Vallejo back to CAMS and share updates on two communities under new leadership.
Vallejo Rejoins the CAMS Network
Vallejo Main Street is a 501(C)(3) nonprofit organization committed to revitalizing and preserving Vallejo’s historic downtown. This city of 126,000, which calls itself the “Soul of the Bay,” is located in Solano County on the shores of the San Pablo Bay.
Vallejo originally joined CAMS in 2000, but after the city declared bankruptcy in 2008, funding for the Main Street program and community events evaporated. Efforts continued on a grassroots level for the next several years. In 2018, they partnered with Central Core Restoration Corporation to provide cleanup services for the district. Four years later, with the board dwindling and the organization on the verge of dissolving, Vallejo’s business owners and government leaders came together to reboot efforts. The revived Vallejo Main Street program presented the highly anticipated return of the August Summer Concert Series and began planning new initiatives for the coming year. With renewed support from the Vallejo city council and re-energized board of directors, the momentum for positive change is building.
We are pleased to welcome Vallejo Main Street back to the CAMS network!
Thank You, Bettina. Welcome, Adrienne!
Adrienne Harris (Courtesy Downtown SLO)
After five successful years as CEO of Downtown SLO, Bettina Swigger recently announced her departure from the organization. She is taking on a new, exciting position as CEO of the Downtown Boulder Partnership in Boulder, Colorado. During Bettina’s tenure, several SLO programs and events saw expansion and growth including their popular and nationally recognized farmers market, holiday light installations, and the addition of Clean & Safe team members. Read more >
Taking on the role of interim CEO will be Adrienne Harris. Adrienne has worked as a consultant and grant writer for local government entities and nonprofits in San Luis Obispo and beyond.
New Leadership in Vacaville
Leslie Silver (Courtesy Downtown Vacaville)
After serving as the executive director of Downtown Vacaville for just under a year, Taylor McDonald has returned to the San Diego area to focus on new business ventures. During his tenure, he streamlined the Vacaville Farmers Market, unlocked additional city funding, and forged new partnerships on behalf of the organization.
Vice President of the Board Leslie Silver will be stepping into the executive director role on an interim basis. Leslie is a small business leader who owns and operates School of Rock Vacaville. She’s looking forward to working with her fellow downtown businesses to further the Main Street mission in Vacaville.