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.
Kathleen Rawson
Chair
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.
Kate Borders
Chair Elect
Kate assumed the leadership position of the downtown Tempe enhanced services district in 2014. Her vision for Downtown Tempe is to strengthen the voice of the organization and promote the district as the most urban destination in the Phoenix Valley. Through collaborations with the downtown merchants, property owners, City leaders and ASU representatives, she is working to stimulate a renewal in the attention to Downtown Tempe. She relocated to Tempe from Fresno, CA where she was the President/CEO for the Downtown Fresno Partnership, a similarly structured business improvement district that is working to revitalize Downtown Fresno. Before joining the Downtown Fresno Partnership, Kate spent 7 years in Milwaukee, Wisconsin as the Executive Director of East Town Association, a membership-based organization that produces large-scale events that have transformed the local economy and stimulated the residential relocation to Downtown Milwaukee.
Tami Door
Immediate Past 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.
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.
Christian Martin
Secretary
Christian Martin is the founding Executive Director of the Lower Polk Community Benefit District (CBD). Prior to joining the Lower Polk CBD, he served as the Executive Director of the Trenton Downtown Association in Trenton, NJ. In addition, Christian has extensive experience in the executive and legislative branches of New Jersey State government. In San Francisco, Christian has developed innovative programs to address homelessness and quality of life issues in the Lower Polk neighborhood.
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.
Kevin Green
Vice Chair
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.
Samantha Jackson
Vice Chair
Samantha has worked in place management for more than a decade. Today, she oversees an operations team with initiatives in hospitality, safety, placemaking, mobility and homelessness. In 2016, she learned a new concept, “topophilia”, which is love of place. Samantha’s mission is to develop topophilia in a rising downtown Phoenix.
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 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.
