Our Vision
About IDA
IDA Vision
The International Downtown Association is a world leader and champion for vital and livable urban centers. Through its network of diverse practitioners, its rich body of knowledge, and its unique capacity to nurture community-building partnerships, IDA provides tools, intelligence and strategies for creating healthy and dynamic centers that anchor the well-being of towns, cities and regions of the world.
IDA Mission
The International Downtown Association connects diverse practitioners who transform cities into healthy and vibrant urban places.
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.
Tami Door
Chair
Tami joined the Downtown Denver Partnership in 2005 as President & CEO after serving as Executive Vice President of the Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce, the nation’s largest regional chamber, and as Vice President of a five-state division of NBD-First Chicago. She is the co-founder of Denver Startup Week and The Commons on Champa. Tami is a recognized leader for her innovative approach to convening, collaborating and innovating to build a strong city. She is also the Chairman of the International Downtown Association.
Kathleen Rawson
Chair Elect
Kathleen Rawson has more than 25 years of experience in both Hospitality and Destination Management. For the past 20 years, Kathleen has served as the CEO of Downtown Santa Monica, Inc., a private/nonprofit company contracted with the City of Santa Monica to manage programs to enhance the vitality of the District. During her tenure, Kathleen has successfully transformed Downtown Santa Monica into the largest property based assessment district, by budget, in the State of California. With an annual budget of nearly $8 million, Downtown Santa Monica, Inc. provides Ambassador and Enhanced Maintenance programs as well as a comprehensive marketing program and annual event series. Kathleen is currently the Chair Elect of IDA, is immediate past chair of the Santa Monica Malibu Education Foundation and just completed her term on the Venice Land Use and Planning Committee for the Venice Neighborhood Council.
Tim Tompkins
Immediate Past Chair
Tim Tompkins has been the President of the Times Square Alliance since 2002. He is a board member of the NYC BID Association and the current Chair of the International Downtown Association. Prior to joining the Alliance, he was the Founder and Director of Partnerships for Parks, and has also worked at New York City’s Economic Development Corporation, The New York City Charter Revision Commission, and was briefly the Nationals Editor at the Mexico City News. He currently teaches “Transforming Cities” and “The Arts and Artist in Urban Revitalization” at the Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service.
Judith Veresuk
Secretary
Judith Veresuk is the Executive Director of the Regina Downtown Business Improvement District, where she is responsible for overseeing BID operations; designing, implementing and managing programs to ensure Downtown Regina is a clean, safe and friendly destination for visitors, residents and businesses. Judith was born and raised in Windsor, Ontario but is proud to now call Regina her home. Judith holds a degree in Urban and Regional Planning from Ryerson University and was previously employed with the Vancouver Olympic Organizing Committee where she worked on signage and wayfinding plans for multiple Olympic venues. Prior to that, she was the Executive Director of the Downtown Windsor Business Improvement Association.
Dewitt Peart
Treasurer
Dewitt (De) Peart leads the Downtown Alliance team in fulfilling its mission to create, preserve, and enhance the value and vitality of downtown Austin. De became the President and CEO of the Downtown Austin Alliance in February 2015. He guides the vision and strategy, supervises staff and ensures the organization’s fiscal health. Prior to taking the helm at the Downtown Alliance, De served as executive vice president, economic development and public affairs at the Allegheny Conference on Community Development, president of the Pittsburgh Regional Alliance (PRA), and president of the Greater Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce – both affiliates of the Allegheny Conference.
Neil Albert
Vice Chair
Neil Albert has been President and CEO of the DowntownDC Business Improvement District since September 2015. Neil’s career includes senior executive service with the District of Columbia Government, serving as City Administrator and Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development and Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services and Director of Parks and Recreation. Neil was named a 2016 Washington Business Journal Minority Business Leader and was selected by the Washington Business Journal as a Power 100 of 2015 “Connector.” Neil chairs the board of commissioners of the District of Columbia Housing Authority, is a member of the executive committee of the DC Policy Center, and a member of the board of IDA. Neil holds an MBA in finance from the New York Institute of Technology and is an avid marathoner.
Eric Goldstein
Vice Chair
Eric is the founding Executive Director of the King of Prussia District in Pennsylvania and, in that role, is helping transform King of Prussia (KOP) into one of America’s great Edge Cities. Eric’s efforts have contributed significantly to the current $1B+ economic development boom in KOP. In 2017, Eric was named to the Philadelphia Business Journal’s Power 100 list, cited as a “Change Agent,” and was named the 2016 Best Visionary by Philadelphia Magazine. Eric proudly serves on the IDA Board as a member of the Executive Committee and as the IDA Awards Committee Chair.
Jennifer Brown
Vice Chair
Jennifer Brown is the Executive Director of the Montclair Center BID, a thriving urban suburb with 400 businesses and cultural attractions, including the Montclair Art Museum, the Wellmont Theater, and Montclair Film. Jennifer spent 20 years in community development in New York City, most recently as the Founding Executive Director of the Flatiron/23rd Street Partnership from 2006 through 2018. She served as Vice President of Community Development and Relations at the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation, and Project Planner in the New York City Mayor’s Office of Operations. Jennifer has a BA from the University of Cincinnati and a MPA from New York University.
David Downey
IDA President
As President and Chief Executive Officer, 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 the 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 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, El Salvador and Japan. David has served on numerous not for profit boards in the past 25 years and is currently serving on the boards of the Golden Triangle BID in Washington, DC and the Responsible Hospitality Institute.
IDA Board of Directors
View the full board of directors.
2020 Strategic Plan
IDA’s strategic plan outlines organizational goals through 2020.
IDA Bylaws
View IDA’s bylaws.
