Events
Join us for IDA + CDA Place Matters in Long Beach, CA hosted by the International Downtown Association in partnership with the California Downtown Association and Downtown Long Beach Alliance on March 10 – 12, 2026.
The 2026 event program will explore economic development strategies, operations and placemaking best practices, communication initiatives and the use of technology in urban place management. Come prepared to network with peers and engage in meaningful dialogue to support the development of downtown and neighborhood districts. Be inspired by industry experts, visionary strategies, transformative discussions and practical insights that will empower you to drive positive change in your district.
Downtown Long Beach Alliance (DTLB Alliance) is a nonprofit, community-based organization whose mission is to cultivate, preserve and promote a healthy, safe and prosperous downtown. They’re focused on creating a lively, welcoming community where residents, businesses and visitors come together to enjoy a beautiful and thriving downtown. Through strong partnerships and shared passion, they’re turning ideas into action—building a downtown everyone can be proud to call their own.
Together, they help manage Downtown Long Beach (DTLB), where the opposite of ordinary lives. DTLB is a place where petting sharks festivals after dark, swan boats and IndyCars, bar crawls and art walks just make sense. Welcome to Downtown Long Beach!
IDA and CDA are excited to announce that our in-person spring forum, formerly the West Coast Urban District Forum, has a new name – IDA + CDA Place Matters. This event will still feature the same great content and experiences you have come to expect from our yearly spring forum.
Master Talks & Keynotes
Molly Alexander
Founder & CEO, ITP Consulting Molly Alexander is a longtime leader in downtown revitalization and economic development with more than three decades of experience across the public and private sectors. She spent 20 years with the Downtown Austin Alliance, where she helped drive a new era of growth as Executive Vice President of Economic Development and later as Executive Director of the Downtown Austin Alliance Foundation. Throughout her career, Molly has also led two Central Texas Main Street programs, served as a Chamber of Commerce and Convention & Visitors Bureau executive, worked as a policy aide for a Dallas City Council Member and directed a historic preservation nonprofit. Today, she leads Imagine The Possibilities (ITP) Consulting, advising communities nationwide on retail revitalization, redevelopment and business strategy.
Father Gregory Boyle
Founder, Homeboy IndustriesFather Gregory Boyle is a Jesuit priest and founder of Homeboy Industries in Los Angeles, CA — the world’s largest gang-intervention, rehabilitation and re-entry program. Beginning as pastor of Dolores Mission during the “decade of death,” he and community partners advanced a then-radical approach centered on dignity and compassion. Today, Homeboy Industries serves thousands each year through training, employment and essential support services, and is recognized internationally as a model for restorative public safety and second-chance pathways. The organization received the 2020 Hilton Humanitarian Prize, and in 2024 Father Boyle was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He brings deep insight on healing, connection and community strength — offering a powerful perspective for anyone working to support thriving downtowns and the people who call them home.
Ryan Harter
Principal and CO-Head Development, CIM GroupRyan Harter is a Principal and Co-Head of Development at CIM Group, overseeing development management and sales brokerage across the firm’s platforms. He serves on CIM’s Investment, Credit and ESG Committees and brings more than 20 years of experience leading over $10 billion in development projects across major U.S. and Latin American markets. Earlier in his career, Ryan worked on CIM’s Hollywood portfolio and served on the boards of the Hollywood Business Improvement District and the Sunset & Vine Business Improvement District. He began his career in multifamily and office development in San Francisco and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Middlebury College.
Devon M. Kurtz
Public Safety Policy Director, Cicero InstituteDevon Kurtz leads public safety and homelessness research and policy development at the Cicero Institute. His work has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, National Public Radio and The Economist. Devon holds a BA in Classical Studies from Dartmouth College and an M.St. in Criminology from the University of Cambridge. He is also the author of Sketches from Behind Prison Walls, a collection of poetry and portraits created in collaboration with inmates at a Vermont prison.
Michael Menjivar
Director of Community Relations, LA28Michael Menjivar is the Director of Community Relations for LA28, the organizing committee for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. Prior, he was Vice President of Government Relations for Southern California at Strategies 360. He brings over a decade of experience in campaigns, fundraising, advocacy and community relations from grassroots to statewide levels. With strong experience in issues related to education, housing and labor, Michael has developed a strong reputation for building relationships across interests – aligning people and causes. A Bruin through and through, Michael excitedly supports all UCLA athletics, the Los Angeles Lakers and Dodgers, the Chicago Bears, and is an avid concert-goer. He lives in North Hollywood with his wife and their COVID rescue dog, Duke.
Ana Urzúa
Executive Director, Cooperación Santa AnaAna Urzúa is the founding director of Cooperación Santa Ana, a cooperative business development program that builds community wealth through ownership, policy change and solidarity in Orange County, CA. She previously led sustainability efforts for Santa Ana Building Healthy Communities and organized with OCCORD and El Centro Cultural de Mexico to advance community-driven development. Ana serves on several local boards and has published on urban planning, gentrification and economic development. Born in Colima, Mexico, she holds a degree from the University of California, Irvine and integrates healing arts into movement spaces to support collective transformation.
Conference Details
2026 IDA + CDA Place Matters will be held at The Westin Long Beach, located at 333 E Ocean Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90802 and at various locations throughout downtown Long Beach.
Discover downtown Long Beach’s seven unique neighborhoods – each with its own vibe, character and experience. Check out the map to find must-see spots!
Get social! What questions will you come ready to ask? Share them on social media using #IDACDAPM26 and #IDAPlaceMatters.
Registration is now open for the 2026 IDA + CDA Place Matters. In order to register for the event, you need to either have an account in IDA’s database or you must create one. If you previously registered for an event in the past, you should have an account in the database. All below prices are USD.
- On-site Registration Rate available Tuesday, March 10, 2026: $495 Member | $595 Nonmember
Daily rates are available for Wednesday:
- On-site Rate (Wednesday only) until Tuesday, March 10, 2026: $360
Daily rates are also available for Thursday:
- On-site Rate (Thursday only) until Tuesday, March 10, 2026: $310
Daily registration includes access to sessions, meals and/or receptions scheduled for the day of your attendance. Daily registrants are not eligible to attend activities outside their selected day. Session-only registrants are eligible to attend their session only.
CDA Members: If you are logged into the system and are not able to see the member pricing as noted above, please contact registration@downtown.org for assistance before proceeding with your event registration.
Cancellation Policy: Written notice of cancellation is required. Cancellations received via email by February 18, 2026, will receive a refund less a $100 processing fee. Cancellations received via email after February 18, 2026, will not be refunded. If a tour cancellation is received via email by February 18, 2026, there will be no penalty. Tour cancellations received via email after February 18, 2026, will not receive a refund. Refunds will be processed approximately 30 days after the event. Please email the cancellation notification to the International Downtown Association at registration@downtown.org.
Substitutions: Substitutions of complete registrations (including tours and/or workshops) are gladly accepted prior to the event start date. Please submit a written request to registration@downtown.org before Friday, March 6, 2026, at 3 pm ET to complete your substitution. Only one substitution is permitted per original registrant and must be transferred to an individual in your organization. The individual submitting the substitution request is responsible for all financial obligations (any balance due) associated with that substitution.
Adding a Pre-Conference Tour/Pre-Conference Workshop/Mobile Tour: Pre-conference workshop, pre-conference tours and/or mobile tours sell out quickly. Therefore, it is advisable to add these items at the time of your registration. If you are registering for someone else or a group, please find out their selection prior to registering them. Although each person within the group can purchase a tour after they have been registered, they run the risk of the tour no longer being available.
Payment Methods: For your convenience, payments may be made by Visa, MasterCard or American Express. Should you need to pay by check, you will not be able to complete registration online. Please email registration@downtown.org for assistance.
Outstanding Balance: Please note, if you have an outstanding balance for this event and/or tour(s), you will not receive your badge on-site or be allowed to attend tours until payment is received. The deadline for outstanding balances is Monday, February 23, 2026. Please contact registration@downtown.org prior to your arrival on-site to pay your outstanding balance.
By registering you are agreeing to IDA’s Non-Discrimination, Anti-Harassment and Complaint Policy, Event Agreement and Code of Conduct and IDA Attendee Assumption of Risk, Waiver and Release Form.
Online registration is now closed for the 2026 IDA + CDA Place Matters. You may register on–site, March 10-12, 2026, at The Westin Long Beach, Centennial Ballroom Foyer, 3rd floor, located at 333 E Ocean Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90802.
On-site registration times and rates:
- Tuesday, March 10: noon-5 pm
- Wednesday, March 11: 7:30 am-5:00 pm
- Thursday, March 12: 8:00 am-12:00 pm
- On-site Registration Rate: $495 Member | $595 Nonmember
- On-site Registration Rate for Wednesday, March 11 only: $360
- On-site Registration Rate for Thursday, March 12 only: $310
The IDA hotel booking link is now closed for The Westin Long Beach (333 E Ocean Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90802). Please call the hotel directly at 562-436-3000 and referencing group code IDAIDAB to confirm availability. Please note special room rate may not be guaranteed.
About The Westin Long Beach Hotel
Located in the thriving downtown district, steps from the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center, the hotel in Long Beach, California, is designed to maximize your potential. Take time to explore the local area, as the Queen Mary and the Catalina Express are just steps away.
Don’t be Scammed by Third Party Housing Companies
The official hotel is listed above. Please beware of other companies soliciting hotel room “deals” over the dates of the event. Third party housing companies typically offer a higher rate than the official block rate. These companies’ cancellation policies are often harsh and unforgiving. IDA is not working with any third parties to offer attendees accommodation! If you receive a solicitation and are unsure whether or not it is legitimate, please contact Lul Teklit at Lul@downtown.org.
Airport Information
Long Beach Airport (LGB) is approximately 20 minutes (6.1 miles) from The Westin Long Beach. Taxi/Uber/Lyft is approximately $30-50 USD one-way, based on time of day. Long Beach Transit (LBT) is approximately 40 minutes, and available one-way for $1.25 USD. Depart from the LGB Airport, head towards Lot A and take the 111 Bus (LKWD-BDWY to Downtown) to 1st & Long Beach Blvd Ne. Then, walk approximately 2-minutes (0.1 miles) to the hotel. For more information on the LBT, please click here.
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is approximately 40 minutes (21.7 miles) from The Westin Long Beach. Taxi/Uber/Lyft is approximately $70 USD one-way, based on time of day.
John Wayne Airport (SNA) is approximately 40 minutes (25 miles) from The Westin Long Beach. Taxi/Uber/Lyft is approximately $75 USD one-way, based on time of day.
IDA is committed to making our educational sessions accessible to everyone, regardless of ability, and to reasonably accommodating the assistive needs of our members, attendees and partners. We are actively working to increase the accessibility of our offerings. In so doing, we strive to comply with the available standards and guidelines under the Americans with Disabilities Act and related laws to the greatest extent possible. If you are having trouble accessing an IDA offering, or have a question regarding session accessibility features, please contact IDA at registration@downtown.org for assistance.
By attending the 2026 IDA + CDA Place Matters, certified Leaders in Place Management will earn 8 credit hours toward the renewal of their LPM certification. Please visit downtown.org/certification to learn more about becoming certified or recording continuing education units.
IDA is an AICP credit provider. AICP members can earn Certification Maintenance (CM) credits for sessions. When CM credits are available, they are noted in the program. IDA’s 2026 sessions provide an easy way for AICP certified planners to earn their CM credits.
Preview the agenda below. To see the full description, click on the down arrow next to the title. Filter the program by domain or session type and start curating your personalized experience. All times listed are Pacific Time and all prices are in USD. Note, this program is subject to change.
For decades, urban place management professionals have acted as leaders of their communities by undertaking the strategic and visionary work of city building. IDA has developed seven official knowledge domains, recognizing the distinct areas of professional practice used to shape vibrant urban districts which anchor the well-being of towns, cities and regions around the world. Content for IDA’s events and conferences is organized around this framework. For more information about each domain, visit the Career Center.
Conference Program
- Tuesday 10 Mar 2026
- Wednesday 11 Mar 2026
- Thursday 12 Mar 2026
Tuesday 10 Mar 2026
- Centennial Ballroom Foyer, 3rd Floor
- Registration is sponsored by Datafy
- $35
- Lobby Level, The Westin Long Beach
- Public Space Management and Operations
- Join the Downtown Long Beach Alliance (DTLB Alliance) for an inside look at how strategic partnerships and on-the-ground operations shape a thriving urban district. This tour begins at the Alliance’s Operations Facility, where attendees will explore clean and safe initiatives in action during a 45-minute walk through downtown. Learn how the Alliance’s Clean Team addresses maintenance challenges and elevates the public realm.
- The group will then visit the Alliance’s main office to meet representatives from the Long Beach Police Department (LBPD). Together, they’ll share how a strong collaboration between the Alliance’s Safety Ambassadors and the LBPD Bike Patrol has strengthened trust, enhanced responsiveness and improved perceptions of safety among business owners. The session concludes with an open Q&A to discuss practical takeaways for building successful partnerships in your own district.
- This tour includes walking indoors/outdoors; please plan accordingly. Wear comfortable shoes and sun protection.
- $60
- Lobby Level, The Westin Long Beach
- Economic Development; Planning, Design and Infrastructure
- Discover how collaboration across business districts can strengthen a city’s economic and community fabric. In Long Beach, CA, 10 unique business improvement districts work together through the Coalition of Business Associations (COBA), a network that meets regularly to share strategies, align advocacy efforts and support one another’s success. This tour highlights the power of regional partnership as participants visit three neighboring BIDs, meet their leaders and local business owners and learn about each district’s distinct challenges and opportunities.
- Travelling aboard a Long Beach Transit bus – one of the city’s key community partners – participants will see how cooperation between districts, public agencies and businesses creates a more resilient, vibrant and connected urban ecosystem. This experience offers valuable insight into how shared learning, collaboration and messaging can elevate place management outcomes citywide.
- This tour includes transportation and walking indoors/outdoors; please plan accordingly. Wear comfortable shoes and sun protection.
- HALO Rooftop, 210 E Ocean Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90802
- Located in the Fairmont Breakers Long Beach hotel and appropriately named for its location, Halo is an indoor-outdoor lounge with 360-degree panoramic views of Downtown Long Beach. Join us for drinks, bites and a view! The reception will be held indoors and outdoors.
- HALO is .02 miles/5-minute walk from the host hotel, The Westin Long Beach.
- All attendees MUST wear their name badges to enter receptions, meal functions, plenary sessions and panels.
- Opening Reception sponsored by Uncommon Bridges.
Wednesday 11 Mar 2026
- Centennial Ballroom Foyer, 3rd Floor
- Registration is sponsored by Datafy
- Centennial Ballroom Foyer, 3rd Floor
- Centennial AB, 3rd Floor
- Michael Menjivar, Director of Community Relations, LA28
- Ryan Harter, Principal and CO-Head Development, CIM Group
- Devon M. Kurtz, Public Safety Policy Director, Cicero Institute
- Ana Urzúa, Executive Director, Cooperación Santa Ana
- Centennial Ballroom Foyer, 3rd Floor
- Visit exhibiting sponsors to learn how they can enhance your district!
- Centennial – Salon C Room
- Organizational Management
- Join this open discussion forum and share your experiences to gain insight into everyday challenges you are facing. This session will be facilitated by your peers.
- Emilie Cameron, LPM, President & CEO, Downtown Spokane Partnership, Spokane (WA)
- Trevor Abarzua, President & Executive Director, Waikiki BID, Honolulu (HI)
- Centennial – Salon D Room
- Economic Development
- Join this open discussion forum and share your experiences to gain insight into everyday challenges you are facing. This session will be facilitated by your peers.
- Cole Judge, LPM, Research and Development Manager, The Hollywood Partnership (CA)
- Scott Hulme, Business Development Manager, Downtown Everett Association, Everett (WA)
- Centennial AB, 3rd Floor
- Marketing, Communications and Events
- Join this open discussion forum and share your experiences to gain insight into everyday challenges you are facing. This session will be facilitated by your peers.
- Please come prepared to share your experiences, lessons learned, and specific scenarios where you’re leveraging AI—or considering how to. Your real-world examples will help shape a dynamic discussion, and practical takeaways!
- Melissa White, Senior Communications Manager, SODO BIA, Seattle (WA)
- Laken Gudzak, Director of Marketing & Communications, Downtown Vision, Jacksonville (FL)
- Centennial AB, 3rd Floor
- Molly Alexander, Founder & CEO, ITP Consulting
- Lunch & Keynote Address is sponsored by Block By Block
- $60
- Lobby Level, The Westin Long Beach
- Economic Development; Planning, Design and Infrastructure
- Experience how public art transforms downtown spaces and strengthens community identity in this immersive bike tour through downtown Long Beach. The tour begins with a visit to Intertrend and its nonprofit partner, Creative Class Collective, producers of Long Beach Walls – an annual mural festival that brings artists from around the world to create dozens of large-scale works throughout the city. Attendees will learn how collaboration between event organizers, the Downtown Long Beach (DTLB) Alliance, the Convention Center and local property owners makes this citywide art activation possible. Guided by DTLB Alliance staff and Pedal Movement, participants will then hop on bikes to explore the murals firsthand and see how art, mobility and place management intersect. This tour showcases how creative partnerships can energize public spaces, celebrate local culture and foster a stronger sense of connection between people and place.
- This tour includes transportation and walking indoors/outdoors; please plan accordingly. Wear comfortable, close-toed shoes and sun protection.
- $60
- Lobby Level, The Westin Long Beach
- Economic Development; Planning, Design and Infrastructure
- Discover how visionary planning and waterfront development have shaped downtown Long Beach’s identity and economy. This two-part tour begins with a guided walk along the Promenade, led by the Downtown Long Beach (DTLB) Alliance and planners from Studio One Eleven. Participants will explore how this public investment – first envisioned nearly two decades ago – connects the urban core to the coastal district, bridging distinct areas of downtown and expanding economic vitality across the city.
- The second half takes place on the water as attendees board a harbor boat tour and learn how the waterfront drives tourism, supports business growth and anchors major destinations such as the Queen Mary and the new 12,000-seat amphitheater. This tour offers a comprehensive view of how urban design, the port and place management intersect to sustain a thriving downtown.
- This tour includes water transportation and walking indoors/outdoors; please plan accordingly. Wear comfortable, close-toed shoes and sun protection.
- Centennial – Salon C Room
- Policy and Advocacy
- Homelessness is among the most visible crises for cities today. In urban regions, many worry about simply pushing those experiencing homelessness around from one jurisdiction to another as one district or another declares a clean and safe emergency. Regional approaches, in which multiple jurisdictions collaborate, pool resources, share information or deploy joint programs have gained support in recent years with mixed results. Three professionals on the front lines of these efforts will share their experiences with regional and coalition-based approaches to homelessness in Pierce County, Washington and Hollywood and Los Angeles, California.
- Understand the advantages and challenges of cross-jurisdictional approaches to homelessness.
- Comprehend new trends in addressing homelessness happening in complex metro regions – and what the data shows works.
- Gain insight to some of the political challenges of regional and coalition-based approaches to homelessness, and what business districts can learn from these approaches.
- Brian Scott, Founding Partner, Uncommon Bridges (Seattle, WA)
- Kathleen Rawson, LPM, President & CEO, The Hollywood Partnership (CA)
- Sarah Solon, Senior Principal, HR&A Advisors (Los Angeles, CA)
- Brittney Weissman, Executive Director, Hollywood 4WRD (CA)
- Centennial AB, 3rd Floor
- Marketing, Communications and Events
- In today’s urban environment, attention is fleeting – and downtown organizations must fight for relevance. This session examines the Downtown Long Beach Alliance’s (DTLB) strategic evolution in elevating Downtown Long Beach’s image over the past three years. Beginning with authentic, community-focused storytelling, DTLB Alliance shifted its approach – from internal organizational updates to vibrant content that spotlighted local life and experiences across downtown’s neighborhoods. Most recently, this groundwork culminated in the launch of the “Opposite of Ordinary” destination campaign, which cast Downtown Long Beach as a mosaic of eclectic neighborhoods where the mishmash just makes sense. Through candid storytelling, bold branding and multimedia reach, DTLB Alliance reshaped public perception and drove renewed engagement across diverse audiences.
- Leveraging on-the-ground stories and neighborhood snapshots to build authentic brand equity.
- Evolving from internal communications to inclusive destination storytelling.
- Crafting a unifying campaign slogan and visual identity that embodies a place’s spirit.
- Asia Morris, Communications & Marketing Manager, Downtown Long Beach Alliance (CA)
- James Ahumada, Sr. Vice President & Deputy CEO, Downtown Long Beach Alliance (CA)
- Amanda Barrera, Digital Media Coordinator, Downtown Long Beach Alliance (CA)
- Ryan La Rosa, Co-Founder & CEO, Commune Communication (Long Beach, CA)
- Centennial – Salon D Room
- Economic Development
- 1
- With funding sources disappearing and vacant storefronts plaguing downtowns nationwide, Main Street leaders need fresh strategies to attract businesses that can survive – and thrive – regardless of foot traffic levels. This session introduces small-scale manufacturing and maker businesses as game-changing solutions for downtowns.
- Drawing on proven approaches from three experts across real estate, business education and entrepreneurial ecosystem building, this workshop helps participants transform struggling main streets into agile and resilient economic centers.
- This deep dive session equips participants with foundational knowledge, technical language and specific tools to identify, support and successfully place maker businesses in their communities. You'll leave with assessment tools, a clear understanding of how to speak the language of makers and property owners and confidence to identify aligned funding opportunities. Whether you're dealing with persistent vacancies, struggling small businesses or limited traditional funding options, this session provides a practical pathway that builds on existing assets while creating sustainable economic development.
- Discover what maker businesses need to succeed and thrive on main street.
- Learn to identify the real estate and business development assets in the community and how to build on them.
- Gain the technical language and skills needed to implement this work in their own communities.
- Ilana Preuss, Founder, Recast City (Washington, DC)
- Terrand Smith, Founder & CEO, 37 Oaks (Chicago, IL)
- Ari Takata-Vasquez, Founder, Viscera Studio LLC (Oakland, CA)
- Centennial Ballroom Foyer, 3rd Floor
- Visit exhibiting sponsors to learn about solutions!
- Centennial – Salon C Room
- Organizational Management
- What are the skills every place management leader needs to keep the board aligned, productive and strategic? An effective board can be your district’s greatest asset – or your biggest challenge. This interactive session equips leaders with the tools to navigate the complex relationship between staff and board, keep governance on track and maintain strategic focus. Participants will learn how to set clear boundaries, address role confusion before it derails progress, design meetings that inspire and engage, and manage difficult personalities without burning bridges. Real-world case studies and role-play scenarios will provide practical strategies attendees can implement immediately.
- Create clear roles and boundaries between board, committees and staff.
- Learn about useful tools to improve communication and accountability.
- Identify and address board behaviors that signal role confusion.
- Kris Larson, LPM, President & CEO, Central Houston, Inc. (TX)
- Rena Leddy, LPM, Vice President, Urban Place Consulting Group (Long Beach, CA)
- Bri Maughan, Executive Director, Fisherman's Wharf Community Benefit District (San Francisco, CA)
- Centennial AB, 3rd Floor
- Marketing, Communications and Events
- How do you build community in transitioning districts where the majority of residents are new to the neighborhood? Large-scale events like festivals and farmers markets can be costly and difficult to pull off. Many districts are focusing on micro events – small gatherings designed to introduce neighbors to one another and build a sense of community bit by bit.
- What are some proven techniques to produce small events that engage your residents?
- How can you target a hyper-local market when promoting your events?
- How can you engage the business community with a new residential base in a meaningful way?
- Devin Strecker, Executive Director, River District (Sacramento, CA)
- Cristina Navarro, Program Manager, River District (Sacramento, CA)
- Rich Sarian, Vice President, Strategic Initiatives, The Social District (Los Angeles, CA)
- Centennial – Salon D Room
- Economic Development
- 1
- Creativity drives downtown vitality, but rising real estate costs are pushing artists and makers out. This session introduces Creative Land Trusts as a tool to preserve affordable cultural spaces, stabilize creative communities and anchor long-term economic growth. Panelists will highlight breakthrough models, lessons learned and actionable approaches cities can replicate to safeguard their creative future.
- Explain the role of Creative Land Trusts in strengthening downtown economies and creative ecosystems.
- Ability to analyze case studies where land trusts secured long-term affordability for creative spaces.
- dentify strategies to apply Creative Land Trust models to their own downtown development challenges.
- Abra Allan, Founder/CEO, Big Creative Consulting (San Francisco, CA)
- Carolyn Choy, Managing Director of Real Estate, Community Arts Stabilization Trust (San Francisco, CA)
- Liz O’Malley, Director, Arts Strategy & Ventures, Kenneth Rainin Foundation (Oakland, CA)
- Julie Phelps, Artistic & Executive Director emeritus, CounterPulse (San Francisco, CA)
- Centennial Ballroom Foyer, 3rd Floor
- Description: Enjoy a selection of appetizers and drinks while you catch up with colleagues and forge new connections! The reception will be held indoors and outdoors.
- Networking Mixer sponsored by Uncommon Bridges.
Thursday 12 Mar 2026
- Centennial Ballroom Foyer, 3rd Floor
- Grab your morning coffee and pastries before sessions start. Breakfast service will be available in Centennial Ballroom Foyer starting at 8:00 a.m.
- Registration is sponsored by Datafy
- $35
- Lobby Level, The Westin Long Beach
- Economic Development
- Explore how downtown Long Beach is redefining its historic core through strategic reinvestment and adaptive reuse. Led by the Downtown Long Beach Alliance’s economic development team, this walking tour visits three landmark properties that showcase the city’s evolution – from early 20th-century architecture to vibrant, modern destinations. Stops include the Breakers, a 1920s icon reborn as a five-star Fairmont Hotel, a 1930s-era building now transformed into upscale apartments and a former Nordstrom department store reimagined as a thriving architecture and design hub.
- At each location, participants will meet developers, architects and partners who will share insights from concept to completion – discussing the opportunities, challenges and policy tools that shaped each project. This tour highlights how preservation, innovation and partnership can breathe new life into aging infrastructure, creating spaces that honor history while supporting a thriving urban future.
- This tour includes walking indoors/outdoors; please plan accordingly. Wear comfortable shoes and sun protection.
- Centennial – Salon C Room
- Economic Development
- 1
- The Innovation Adoption Lifecycle describes the process by which new products or innovations move from early adopters to broad mass-market acceptance. This same model can be applied to urban places to understand how districts reemerge and regain popularity. It also helps UPMOs identify where their districts fall within the lifecycle, informing more realistic aspirations and strategies in marketing, messaging, placemaking, economic development, retail mix, stakeholder engagement and other areas. In this paradigm-shifting session, a retail specialist and two BID practitioners will explore its nuanced application to different types of districts at various stages in their evolution.
- Understand the Innovation Adoption Lifecycle and why it is relevant to the work of place management organizations.
- Determine where your respective district currently finds itself in the lifecycle, which audiences should be prioritized in the near term and how others can be kept bought in for the long haul.
- Grasp how to apply this tool to specific areas like marketing, messaging, stakeholder engagement, economic development and retail strategy.
- Michael Berne, President, MJB Consulting (Berkeley, CA / New York, NY)
- Claude Imbault, Vice President of Planning & Economic Development, Downtown SF Partnership (San Francisco, CA)
- Savlan Hauser, Executive Director, Jack London Improvement District (Oakland, CA)
- Centennial – Salon D Room
- Public Space Management and Operations
- The failure of municipalities to effectively and compassionately address the needs of both communities and troubled people living on the streets is both a moral and political problem. Facile silver-bullet solutions come from the far left and the far right – either do nothing until we build enough housing or bring in the National Guard to arrest and incarcerate. This session, combining a national organization with local case studies, will focus on a handful of places where progress has been made thanks to the strengths of place management organizations: a place manager’s focus on what is happening over time in a particular place and a case manager’s focus on what is happening over time with a particular person. In both cases, the integration of information and action, paired with building trust and relationships by being consistent and considerate of other parties over time, are keys to success.
- Identify key components of success in effectively and compassionately addressing troubled people on the street.
- Understand not only the tactics but the principles underlying the combination of place management and case management.
- Have a template for talking to politicians, policymakers and the press about the value of this approach.
- Lori Girvan, Principal, Strategy and Impact, Community Solutions (Ottawa, ON)
- Betsy Brennan, President and CEO, Downtown San Diego Partnership (CA)
- Jocelyn Johnson Wilson, Senior Director of Unhoused Programs, Downtown San Diego Partnership (CA)
- Dr. Lena Miller, CEO, Urban Alchemy (San Francisco, CA)
- Centennial AB, 3rd Floor
- Public Space Management and Operations
- 1
- This session explores how placemaking can help shift perceptions of a district – particularly from a 9 to 5 financial hub into a growing arts and cultural neighborhood. Featuring New York City’s Star Light Star Bright and San Francisco’s Downtown Gateway, panelists will compare how partnerships and context drive strategy in both short- and long-term approaches.
- Apply insights from New York City and San Francisco to cultivate cultural, economic and experiential resilience as districts grow and evolve.
- Distinguish when temporary versus permanent placemaking best energizes downtowns and understand how these transformations can welcome workers, residents and tourists alike.
- Identify how synergies between BIDs and local partners or cross-agency city initiatives can help enhance placemaking feasibility and impact.
- Franco Ferraro Ravettino, Urban Design & Placemaking Manager, Downtown SF Partnership (San Francisco, CA)
- Victoria Pennacchio, Placemaking Manager, Alliance for Downtown New York (NY)
- Centennial Ballroom Foyer, 3rd Floor
- Visit exhibiting sponsors to learn how they can enhance your district!
- Centennial AB, 3rd Floor
- Public Space Management and Operations
- 1
- Calgary’s East Village – shaped over more than 15 years and anchored by the promise of Real City. Real Life. – has been transformed through holistic placemaking focused on public safety, programming and place branding. Backed by major public and private investment, the district now thrives as a creative hub with award-winning public spaces and cultural activity.
- This session highlights The Open, a public washroom and pickleball court that serves as a case study in turning complex downtown public realm challenges into a statement of inclusion and brand identity. Through its attendant program and thoughtful design, The Open demonstrates how essential infrastructure can enhance safety, build trust and strengthen district branding. Attendees will gain practical strategies for designing infrastructure that reinforces belonging and supports a vibrant downtown.
- Understand how to align nested brands by collaborating with architects and designers to ensure that individual amenities – like The Open – reinforce the larger district identity and brand promise.
- Examine past public washroom initiatives to understand how those insights informed the development of a washroom attendant pilot program that delivers a more functional and inclusive public amenity.
- Explore how placemaking, Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) principles, programming and community partnerships can address public realm and safety challenges while advancing safety, inclusion and vibrancy.
- Apply the Power of 10 principle by exploring how situating The Open in East Village’s primary community space strengthens safety, belonging and vibrancy through clustering of uses and experiences.
- Anna Lake, Director, Marketing, Calgary Municipal Land Corporation (Alberta)
- Joanna Pesta, Senior Manager, Programming & Events, Calgary Municipal Land Corporation (Alberta)
- Centennial – Salon C Room
- Economic Development
- 1
- Downtowns face a growing challenge – large vacant storefronts and anchor spaces that hold back recovery and reinvestment. This session explores how districts are working collectively with property owners and brokers to overcome fragmented interests, align leasing strategies and ownership and attract the right tenant mix. Learn from three examples of how organizing properties for occupancy is showing up in the economic development strategies of UPMOs.
- Identify conditions where engaging property owners and brokers can reduce vacancy and strengthen leasing outcomes.
- Anticipate opportunities, challenges and limitations in aligning fragmented property interests into coordinated occupancy strategies.
- Assess the resources UPMOs need to integrate property organization into their economic development portfolios.
- Elliott Balch, President & CEO, Downtown Fresno Partnership (CA)
- Marisa Rodriguez, CEO, Union Square Alliance (San Francisco, CA)
- Steven Welliver, LPM, VP of Strategic Initiatives, Hollywood Partnership (CA)
- Centennial – Salon D Room
- Public Space Management and Operations
- 1
- This session will explore lighting, art and other interventions available to BIDs and cities to enhance their public realms, particularly as related to perceptions of safety in public space. Examples from New York, San Francisco and other cities will highlight successful case studies. Panelists will discuss challenges, implementation techniques and lessons learned to guide targeted, cost-effective measures that improve a sense of security, enjoyment and vibrancy in the public realm.
- Recognize commonplace perceptions of insecurity in public space and the role of interventions in addressing these perceptions.
- Identify successful examples of lighting, artwork and other techniques to improve a sense of public realm safety.
- Understand implementation challenges, whether related to stakeholder or city agency coordination or resources and maintenance.
- Samara Karasyk, President and CEO, Hudson Square Business Improvement District (New York City, NY)
- Andrew Robinson, Executive Director, The East Cut (San Francisco, CA)
- Scott Rowitz, Executive Director, Yerba Buena Partnership (San Francisco, CA)
- Stephanie Shaw, Vice President, TYLin International (Los Angeles, CA)
- Centennial Ballroom Foyer, 3rd Floor
- Mingle with exhibiting sponsors to learn about solutions!
- Centennial AB, 3rd Floor
- Father Gregory Boyle, Founder, Homeboy Industries
Urban Champions
District Advocates
Ambassador
Interested in Joining CDA? CDA’s membership is diverse, representing hundreds of small businesses and property owners on main streets and in the historic downtowns and business districts. View CDA’s Membership website for more information.
Interested in Sponsoring?
Align your company with a strong network of placemakers to grow your business. Join us as an IDA + CDA Place Matters sponsor.
Interested in Hosting?
If you are interested in hosting a future event, contact Lul Teklit, IDA’s Meeting Planner.
Questions?
For assistance or further information, please contact the IDA registration team.
