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.
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.
Nicole J. Thompson
Treasurer
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.
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.
Derreck Hughes
Vice Chair
Derreck Hughes is the Vice President of Operations for Block by Block, the leader in street level services for Improvement Districts across the United States. Derreck believes the key to successful programming hinges upon having a deep understanding of an area’s needs, cultivating engaged teams, and evolving processes to keep step with ever-changing public realms. With a “streets to suites” mentality, Derreck demonstrates the ability to relate to the many diverse groups making cities great.
Jon Scholes
Vice Chair
Jon Scholes is president & CEO of the Downtown Seattle Association, where he is responsible for the operations and programs of the DSA, a 650-member association formed in 1958 to create a healthy, vibrant downtown. In this capacity, Jon is also responsible for the management of the Metropolitan Improvement District (MID), which was established by property owners and the City of Seattle in 1999 to provide cleaning, safety, transportation, marketing and public-realm management services across 285 square blocks in downtown. He was appointed president and CEO of DSA in November of 2014 following six years as DSA’s vice president of advocacy and economic development. He has led the growth and expansion of the organization’s services, advocacy agenda and response to the impacts of the pandemic on downtown Seattle.
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.
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)