2013 Educational Opportunities

One of the most valued aspects of the Main Streets Conference is the opportunity for learning, whether from experts in specific topics or from practitioners in the field. For 2013, we’ve expanded the range of types of educational options and added some classifications to help you choose the sessions that will help you the most when you go back to work in your communities.

• Classroom Session: Our traditional 75-minute classroom session.
• Crash Course: A topic-specific, 45-minute course that provides quick information or skill building.
• In-depth Session: A three-hour session on a topic that requires in-depth instruction.

We’ve also classified sessions based on their “learning approach”:

• Skills Building: “How to” tactical instruction.
• Best Practices/Lessons Learned: Sharing real world experiences, case studies, strategies, or approaches.
• Concept Exploration: Discussion of higher-level ideas, strategies, and issues important to Main Street practitioners.
• Problem Solving: Examination and analysis of problems, along with identification of solutions.

 Skills Building: “How To” Tactical Instruction

Classroom Sessions

• Font of Information: Successful Graphic Communication for Main Streets
• Anthony Rubano, Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, Springfield, Ill.; Darius Bryjka, In Alliance, Springfield, Ill.
• Building from Within: Mentoring Youth in Business
• Todd Tracy, IN(ALLIANCE), LLC, McLeansboro, Ill.
• Hysteria and History: Telling the Difference to Establish Your Community's Unique Identity
• Megan Brown, National Park Service, Washington, D.C.; Robin Zeigler, Metro Historic Zoning Commission Nashville, Nashville, Tenn.

Crash Courses

• How Foursquare Can Help Your Business: A Step-by-Step Tutorial
• Aimee Frey, Downtown Washington, Inc., Washington, Mo.
• I Hate Fundraising! Removing Anxiety and Boosting Board Participation
• Donna Ann Harris, CMSM, Heritage Consulting, Inc., Philadelphia, Pa.
• National or Local? What Kind of Historic District Does Your Community Want and What Does It Mean?
• Jim Gabbert, National Register of Historic Places, Washington, D.C.
• Social Media in 15 Minutes: Grow Your Online Presence Without Going Crazy
• Jacqueline Wolven, Eureka Springs Downtown Network, Eureka Springs, Ark.
• Storefront Design that Respects History Without Sacrificing Practicality
• John Sandor, National Park Service/Technical Preservation Services, Washington, D.C.
• What the Heck Is a CLG (Certified Local Government) and How Can It Benefit My Main Street?
• Megan Brown, National Park Service, Washington, D.C.
• Work Plans: Building a Bridge Downtown
• Mary Lee Stotler, Pennsylvania Downtown Center, Harrisburg, Pa.
• You Can Start Your Very Own Ghost Tour
• Ivy Wells, Town of Sykesville, Md.

In-depth Sessions

• Historic Tax Credit Workshop
• Jenny Parker, LEED AP, National Park Service, Washington, D.C.
• Upstairs Downtown: Growing Up, Not Out
• Mike Jackson, FAIA, Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, Springfield, Ill.; Dan Carmody, Eastern Market Corporation, Detroit, Mich.

 Best Practices/Lessons Learned: Sharing Real World Experiences, Case Studies, Strategies, or Approaches

Classroom Sessions

• Introduction to Organization
• Teresa Lynch, National Main Street Center, Inc.
• Introduction to Economic Restructuring
• Todd Barman, National Main Street Center, Inc.
• Introduction to Promotion
• Kathy La Plante, National Main Street Center, Inc.
• Introduction to Design
• National Main Street Center, Washington, D.C.
• Bubbling Up: Cultural Revitalization Through Community in New Orleans
• April Antonellis, National Park Service, New Orleans, La.; Stephanie Click and Nigel Fields, Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, New Orleans, La.
• Building and Life Safety Codes Meet Preservation! Creative Solutions to Tricky Code Issues
• Regina Brewer and Rick Logan, City of Decatur, Ga.; Joe Castellano, PE, Rolf Jensen and Associates, Inc. (RIA), Atlanta, Ga.
• Celebrating the Eccentric: Establishing a Niche in a Competitive Market
• William Tippens, Related Midwest, Chicago, Ill.; Eric Falberg, Charlie Pecaro City of Highwood, Ill.; Kenn Nelson, Highwood Chamber of Commerce, Highwood, Ill.; Ilyse Strongin Bombicino, Ripple Public Relations, Highland Park, Ill.
• Committees to Task Squads: A Volunteer-driven Action Plan
• Robyne Beaubien, CMSM, New Mexico MainStreet, Farwell, TX; Lisa Dunagan, Clovis Main Street, Clovis, N.Mex.
• Community-driven Business Recruitment: Four Real-life Approaches to Filling Storefronts
• Dana Kollewehr, Grand Haven Main Street DDA, Grand Haven, Mich.
• Creating Entrepreneur Ready Communities
• Dr. Greg Clary, Texas AgriLife Extension Service, San Antonio, Tex.; Nancy Wood, Bastrop Main Street Program, Bastrop Tex.
• Creative Collaborative Efforts Between Main Streets and Municipalities
• Jeanine A. Rann, Missouri Main Street Connection, Branson, Mo.; Sandy Lucy, Missouri, Washington, Mo.; John Simmons, City of Sedalia, Mo.
• Creative Funding Mechanisms for “Start-Ups” and Established Small Businesses
• Rick Ferrell, Retail Market Answers, LLC, Wilmington, Del.
• Finding Funding for Local Projects: What, When, Where, and How?
• Megan Brown and Jennifer Wellock, National Park Service, Washington, D.C.; Liz Williams, Gadsby's Tavern Museum, Alexandria, Va.; Roxanne Eflin, Maine Downtown Center, Augusta, Maine
• How to Triple Your Main Street Budget!
• Gin Wallace, Beverly Main Streets, Beverly, Mass.; Kennedy Smith, Community Land Use and Economics Group, Arlington, Va.
• In Your Door and Coming Back for More: The Retailer’s Perspective
• Brandy Sensenich, Sensenich Jeweler, Chillicothe, Mo.; Sandy Lucy, Missouri, Washington, Mo.
• Keeping Your Historic Main Street R.I.P.E.! (Realize, Identify, Preserve, and Enhance)
• Paul Trudeau, National Alliance of Preservation Commissions (NAPC), Athens, Ga.; Megan Brown, National Park Service, Washington, D.C.; Roxanne Eflin, Maine Downtown Center, Augusta, Maine; Jim Gabbert, National Register of Historic Places, Washington, D.C.; Jenny Parker, LEED AP, National Park Service, Washington, D.C.
• Making Dollars and Sense in Downtown Revitalization
• Rachel Carter, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, Miss.; Jan Miller, Mississippi Main Street Association, Columbus, Miss.; Margaret Miller, Ocean Springs Main Street, Ocean Springs, Miss.; Dr. Al Myles, Mississippi State University, Starksville, Miss.
• Never Stop Selling ... Sponsorships for Improved Profitability!
• Sylvia Allen, Allen Consulting, Holmdel, N.J.
• Project Postcard: Depew's Detour on Route 66
• Ronald H. Frantz, Jr., AIA, and Hope Mander, The University of Oklahoma, Norman, Okla.; Blair Humphreys, Institute for Quality Communities, Norman, Okla.; Meagan Vandecar, Indian Nations Council of Governments, Tulsa, Okla.
• Secrets of a Main Street Manager
• Kristina Trevarrow, Rochester Downtown Development Authority, Rochester, Mich.
• Something for Nothing: Projects with Small Prices and Big Impacts
• Mim Evans, Genoa Main Street, Genoa, Ill.
• Staging Downtown as a Museum Without Walls
• Crystal Narr, Main Street Chillicothe, Chillicothe, Mo.; Keith Winge, Downtown Exelsior Partnership
• Strategies for Encouraging Walking and Biking in Urban Communities
• Kyle Lukacs, National Transportation Enhancements Clearinghouse, Washington, D.C.
• Success in the Face of Adversity: Main Street Life Lessons
• Stacy K. Pair, CMSM, Mississippi Main Street Association, Gulfport, Miss.; Beth Carriere, Mississippi Gulf Coast Tourism/CVB; Rebecca Davis, Pascagoula Main Street, Pascagoula, Miss.; Sally Durkin, Natchez Tourism/CVB, Natchez, Miss.; Margaret Miller, Ocean Springs, Ocean Springs, MS; Tripp Muldrow, Arnett Muldrow & Associates, Ltd., Greenville, S.C.;
• Winning Strategies in Today's Global Economy: Entrepreneurism, Technology, Innovation!
• Diane Laird, Downtown Delaware/Delaware Main Street, Wilmington, Del.; Ken Anderson, Delaware Economic Development Office, Wilmington, Del.; Margie Johnson, Shop Talk, Virginia Beach, Va.

Crash Courses

• Art Walk FUNraising in Farmington
• Robyne Beaubien, CMSM, New Mexico MainStreet, Farwell, TX; Elizabeth Isenberg, City of Farmington, N.Mex.
• Booking Basics: Music for Your Event
• Lisa Cooley, Main Street Natchitoches, Natchitoches, La.; Cynthia Simien, Terrance Simien & The Zydeco Experience, Lafayette, La.
• Dimes to Dollars: Low-cost Ways to Promote Your District that Have a Big Impact
• Travis Brown, Historic Quincy Business District, Quincy, Ill.
• Healthy Main Streets: Employee Wellness Like “The Big Guys”
• Jennifer Olsen, Main Street Skowhegan, Skowhegan, Maine
• Hey, We're Over HERE!!!  Getting the Word Out When You're in the Hinterlands
• Ken Heath and Olivia Hall, Marion Downtown!, Marion, Va.
• Local Food as a Catalyst for Revitalization: Markets, Restaurants, and More
• Taylor Clark and Sam Crawford, Main Street Birmingham, Birmingham, Ala.
• Maine's Green Downtowns Program: Bringing Sustainability to Historic Town Centers
• Roxanne Eflin, Maine Downtown Center, Augusta, Maine
• Making Small-town Museums Work: Not Your Grandmother's Rocking Chair…
• Kay LaFrance-Knight, Winnsboro Main Street, Winnesboro, La.
• Not Just a Street!
• Raul Ocampo, Ocampo & Associates, Stuart, Fla.
• Preserving the Past with Our Future!
• Katelin Olson, Albion Main Street Alliance, Albion, N.Y.; Susan Starkweather, Albion Central School District, Albion, N.Y.
• Reducing Crime
• Bill McLeod, Mt. Vernon Triangle CID, Washington, D.C.
• The Creative Economy: Coming Soon to a Theater Near You!
• Adina Erwin, Fox Theater, Atlanta, Ga.; Carmie McDonald, Fox Theater Institute, Atlanta, Ga.
• The White Elephant Becomes a Princess: Unique Concept to Fill Store Space
• Beverly Goodman, Coast Highway Traders, Encinitas, Calif.
• Towns and Gowns: How to Get Your Local University Tied into Your Downtown
• Sarah O'Brien, Main Street Nacogdoches, Nacogdches, Tex.

In-depth Sessions

• Dinner with Strangers: A Unique Approach to Community Collaboration
• Heather Roberts, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Ala.; Sandra Wolfe, Arts & Humanities Council of Tuscaloosa, Tuscaloosa, Ala.
• The 4 P's of Creative Economy: People, Products, Places, and Partnerships
• Allison Winstead, Malcolm White, Mississippi Arts Commission; John Brandon, Joy Melinda Foy, Alan Henderson, Mississippi Development Authority.

 Concept Exploration: Discussion of higher-level ideas, strategies, and issues important to Main Street practitioners

Classroom Sessions

• Authenticity as Economic Catalyst
• Donna Ann Harris, CMSM, Heritage Consulting Inc., Philadelphia, Pa.; Anthony Rubano, Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, Springfield, Ill.
• Beyond Branding: Why Buzzwords Make Us Waste Money
• Ben Muldrow, Arnett Muldrow & Associates, Greenville, S.C.
• Developing Building Owners into Developers
• Jeff Siegler, Heritage Ohio, Columbus, Ohio; Lisa Patt-McDaniel, Ohio Capital Corporation for Housing, Columbus, Ohio
• Stop Texting and Buy Something: Main Street Meets Modern Retail
• Leigh Minor-Nagy, Minorbird Retail Therapy, Milford, Del.; Ben Muldrow, Arnett Muldrow & Associates, Greenville, S.C.

Crash Courses

• Top 10 Global Trends Affecting Downtowns and How to Respond at Home
• Brad Segal, Progressive Urban Management Associates, Inc., Denver, Colo.

 Problem Solving: Examination and analysis of problems, along with identification of solutions.

Crash Courses

• Good Neighbors: Improving Downtown's Edges
• Nore Winter, Winter and Company, Boulder, Colo.; Abe Barge, Boulder Neighborhood Character Projects, Boulder, Colo.; Laura Carstens, City of Dubuque, Planning Services Department, Dubuque, Iowa

In-depth Session

• Food Truck Wars
• Cristina Sheppard-Decius, CMSM, Ferndale Downtown Development Authority, Ferndale, Mich.