Our Vision
The International Downtown Association is the premier organization for urban place professionals who are shaping and activating dynamic city center districts. Our members are downtown champions who bring urban centers to life, bridging the gap between the public and private sectors. We represent an industry of more than 2,500 place management organizations, employing 100,000 people throughout North America and growing rapidly around the world. Founded in 1954, IDA is a resource center for ideas and innovative best practices in urban place management.
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.
Kathleen Rawson, LPM
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.
Kate Borders, LPM
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 served as the President & CEO of the Downtown Denver Partnership from 2005 to 2021 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.
Kris Larson
Treasurer
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.
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.
Nolan Marshall, III
Vice Chair
As the President and CEO of the Downtown Vancouver BIA, Nolan Marhsall has the privilege of working alongside talented and dedicated colleagues to protect and promote the public realm and increase the economic vitality of one the most vibrant and beautiful places in the entire world. Prior to joining the DVBIA, he served as the Chief Engagement and Solutions Officer at the New Orleans Business Alliance. He has lead cross collaboration between Small Business Growth, Strategic Neighborhood Development, and Industry Attraction and Retention teams, and engagement with our public sector partners around the economic opportunities and challenges facing New Orleans. My prior work has included grassroots and grasstops community organizing in public safety and public education policy, place based economic development strategies, and creation and implementation of both macro and micro economic development policies and programs.
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.
Full Board of Directors: Directory link
Past Chairs Advisory Council: Directory link
2020 Strategic Plan
Click here to view IDA’s strategic plan that outlines organizational goals through 2020.
IDA Bylaws
Click here to view IDA’s bylaws. (APS needs to get the bylaws doc)