Our Vision
About IDA
IDA Vision
IDA is the essential membership organization for professional place management leaders worldwide.
IDA Mission
IDA connects and empowers place management leaders with knowledge, research and public policies for creating prosperous city centers, commercial neighborhoods and livable urban places for all.
IDA Executive Committee
The IDA Executive Committee acts for the Board of Directors in the interval between Board Meetings and considers items for recommendation to the Board.
Kate Borders, LPM
Chair
Kate Borders has recently relocated to Cleveland to assume the role of President of University Circle, Inc. (UCI). However, Kate has been in the Place Management industry for almost twenty years. She began in Milwaukee, Wisconsin as the Executive Director of East Town Association, then assumed the role as the first CEO of the newly formed Downtown Fresno Partnership, and most recently was the President & CEO for the Downtown Tempe Authority in Tempe, Arizona. In addition, Kate is currently serving as the Board Chair for the International Downtowns Association (IDA). Kate grew up in South Carolina, received her BA in Music from The University of Arizona and a master’s degree in non-profit Arts Management from Columbia College in Downtown Chicago.
Kris Larson, LPM, AICP
Chair Elect
Kris Larson is the President & CEO of Central Houston, Inc. He’s held positions on the public and private sides of community leadership and served as the President & CEO for the downtown organizations in Raleigh, NC, and Grand Rapids, MI, where he led TIF and special-assessment districts. He earned an MPA from NC State University, was a Daniel Rose Fellow through the Rose Center for Public Leadership, and was a Vice Chair of the IDA’s Executive Committee. The IDA has awarded four Pinnacle Awards to his projects in the fields and Leadership, Planning, Advocacy, and Marketing.
Kathleen Rawson, LPM
Immediate Past Chair
Kathleen Rawson has more than 30 years of experience in both Hospitality and Destination Management. Before arriving at The Hollywood Partnership, Rawson served as CEO of Downtown Santa Monica, Inc., expanding the organization’s role within the halls of influence while also tackling new responsibilities that helped shape Downtown Santa Monica into one of the most dynamic and attractive urban districts in the country. Rawson took the helm at DTSM, Inc. (formerly Bayside District Corp.) in 1997, successfully transforming the placemaking organization into the largest property-based assessment district, by budget, in the State of California, with an annual budget of more than $9 million.
Jeremy Waldrup
Treasurer
Jeremy Waldrup is President and CEO of Downtown Pittsburgh Partnership (PDP). Jeremy is responsible for working with the Board of Directors, stakeholders and staff to create and implement a vision that ensures Downtown Pittsburgh remains a vibrant and innovative place to live, work and play. Prior to joining the PDP, he worked to support economic development initiatives with the City of New York serving as Assistant Commissioner of District Development for the Department of Small Business Services. In this role Jeremy was responsible for the oversight and capacity building of the City’s 64 Business Improvement Districts and investing in commercial revitalization projects through an annual grant making program to local economic development organizations.
Kevin Green
Secretary
Kevin Green is CEO of Midtown Alliance in Atlanta – a non-profit, 501(c)3 membership organization formed in 1978. The organization also serves as the sole staff of the Midtown Improvement District created in 2000. The area is a 1.2 square mile walkable, urban district that has seen more than 50 large-scale office, multi-family, hotel and institutional projects delivered since 2010. 2018 revenue from property owners and public grants totaled ~$11M. Kevin holds a law degree from Emory University and is named one of the “100 Most Influential Atlantans” by the Atlanta Business Chronicle. He is married to Karen and has two daughters.
Kate Fenske
Vice Chair
Kate Fenske is the CEO of Downtown Winnipeg BIZ and is recognized as a team builder and collaborator. Kate has a strong background in consistently facilitating a path to common ground in highly complex business scenarios where diverse perspectives and long-standing division of interests existed. Kate also worked as a journalist at major local and national media outlets and then as a communications and public relations advisor for various charities, government and private and public agencies before joining the Downtown Winnipeg BIZ team in 2018.
Jessica Lappin
Vice Chair
Jessica Lappin is the President of the Alliance for Downtown New York. The organization manages New York City’s and the country’s largest Business Improvement District (BID) and works to ensure that Lower Manhattan is a thriving and dynamic community. A lifelong New Yorker, former elected official, and previous Crain’s “40 Under 40” honoree, Ms. Lappin has a distinguished record in civic life and public service. Lappin took the helm of the Alliance in February 2014. She is responsible for providing core sanitation and public safety services that keep the area clean and safe, manages a free bus service, and has made outreach to the street homeless in the area a priority.
Nicole J. Thompson
Vice Chair
Nicole J. Thompson joined Downtown Durham, Inc. as its President & CEO in 2017. Prior to arriving in Durham, Nicole was in Leadville, CO as the Executive Director of the Lake County Economic Development Corporation. However the majority of her economic development career has been in Virginia, her home state, working for the Commonwealth of Virginia and the cities of Norfolk and Portsmouth and King George and Fairfax counties. Nicole began her economic development career almost 25 years ago in Durham, NC working for the North Carolina Institute of Minority Economic Development. She earned an M.A. in City and Regional Planning from UNC-Chapel Hill and a bachelor’s degree in Urban Studies and Political Science from the University of Richmond in Virginia.
David Downey, IOM, CAE, ASSOC. AIA
IDA President
As President & CEO, David is responsible for the overall strategic positioning of IDA as a world leader and champion for vital and livable urban centers. Prior to joining IDA, David served as the Managing Director for the American Institute of Architects’ Urban Design Center and as Executive Director for the Michigan Chapter of the American Planning Association. David has been a city advocate since the 1980s having received his degree in Architecture and Design with a focus on Urban Design. He speaks frequently throughout North America and has delivered talks in the United Kingdom, Italy, Germany, Australia, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, El Salvador and Japan. David has served on numerous not for profit boards over his career including recently for the Golden Triangle Business Improvement District in Washington, DC and the Responsible Hospitality Institute in California. David is currently on the Mobility Innovation District Advisory Board in Southwest Washington, DC.
IDA Board of Directors
View the full board of directors.
2025 Strategic Plan
IDA’s strategic plan outlines organizational goals through 2025.
IDA Bylaws
View IDA’s bylaws.
