DAN CARMODY ... 

has thirty-five years of government, small business, and nonprofit management experience focused on economic revitalization, place making, and regional food systems in the downtowns, neighborhoods, and market districts of cities throughout the Midwest. He’s served as a city planner, succeeded as a tavern keeper, and has developed two different community-based development organizations into national models. 

Between 1988 and 2005, Dan led Renaissance Rock Island, a consortium of nonprofit community and economic development groups that helped revive an Illinois community devastated by the mid-1980’s Rust Belt meltdown. Since 2007, he has led Eastern Market Corporation, a non-profit that is redefining the role of public markets and food hubs in the development of regional food systems and jobs creation. 

Since the mid-1990’s Dan has also served as a consultant to more than forty community development programs across North America and served on the board of directors of the International Downtown Association. He frequently presents at place making, economic development, and food conferences. 

Dan is a visionary with street cred. Having witnessed the process of economic development and revitalization from many perspectives, he provides the kind of insight needed to recalibrate strategies to improve organizational effectiveness. He also brings a canny ability to help communities spur economic regeneration by leverage existing assets in new ways and by increasing funding through innovative collaboration and partnership. His deep thinking about big trends and the national and regional issues that frame local development is tempered by street smarts and the ability to get things done with limited resources. 

Dan’s key competencies include real estate development, organizational capacity building, strategic planning, coordinating complex agendas, partnership development, regional cooperation, marketing, and special event programming. 

He has engaged in a wide range of participative community design and planning processes including organizing study trips, resource team visits, and community charettes. Current interests include food systems project planning, mixed-use and mixed-income development, and strategic planning for communities and organizations looking for a compelling vision for the future. 

VIVIAN CARMODY ... 

has over twenty years of downtown development, brand identity, marketing, and event management experience.

As a brand strategy practitioner, she has facilitated the Brand Identity process for Dechen IT Solutions, the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation’s REVOLVE neighborhood revitalization program, the Detroit Food & Ag Network, the Detroit Food Policy Council, Trent Creative, and the Village of Franklin, MI. She was a key team member in the Brand Development process for Yorktown Mall, a large regional mall located in Lombard, IL; Olinger Indiana Wine & Spirits Distributor, since bought by Glazer’s Distributors; and the Fort Wayne/Allen County Airport Authority, Fort Wayne, IN.

In her role as Executive Director for the Berkley MI Downtown Development Authority (DDA), she guided the DDA in establishing itself as a certified National Main Street program. Over the span of her tenure, the DDA laid the ground work for future success through the completion of the Downtown Berkley Design Guidelines, the Downtown Berkley Master Plan, a Downtown Berkley Retail Recruitment program, a Downtown Berkley Enhancement Grant program, and a Downtown Berkley Mural program. She was also key to bringing a long talked about lane reduction on Coolidge highway to fruition - something the City had been talking about for 20 years.

As the Executive Director of Main Street Franklin (MSF), MI, Vivian managed all aspects of the start-up program including marketing, social media, PR, fundraising, strategic planning, and budgets. She was able to increase revenue two-fold through a broad-based membership program, revenue producing partnerships, and fundraising events. Under her watch, MSF created a Facade Improvement program, a low interest loan program for its business/property owners, and a public art committee that initiated the Village of Franklin’s inaugural public mural event.

As the first-ever Marketing Manager for the Downtown St. Charles Partnership (now the St. Charles Business Alliance), she led a small band of dedicated volunteers in developing and executing the Downtown Fine Art Show — a regionally-recognized juried art show celebrating its 24th year in Downtown St. Charles, IL.

Vivian has overseen PR strategies for a large regional Convention & Visitors Bureau, as well as served as the Executive Director for a county-wide tourism association.

Her knowledge of business districts, marketing, public relations, visual design, and brand strategy offers organizations the consummate professional who knows how to create, manage, and implement programs that strengthen businesses, encourage community-wide adoption, and meld stakeholder participation.