This week the city commission appointed three dynamic new members to the Downtown Development Authority:  Leah Bagdon McCallum, Joe Winowiecki, and Harry Burkholder. 

A northern Michigan native, Leah Bagdon McCallum worked in Detroit and Chicago before returning home, where she is now director of fund development at Goodwill Industries.  A member of the TC Young Professionals and the Zonta club, Leah and her husband live on 17th Street.
 
Leah feels a vibrant, liveable, walkable downtown has a role in keeping young people in this community.  She says:

“I am grateful for the opportunity to serve on the DDA board – and excited to play a role in future growth to come to Traverse City.”

 

Joe Winowiecki is CFO of a local technology company and a CPA who brings a wealth of business experience and financial acumen to the DDA.  A board member of Sunrise Rotary and Big Brothers Big Sisters, and a former TCLP board member, Joe and his wife Mary live a block from downtown, on Fifth Street.  He says he wanted to join the DDA becuase he is a big fan of what TC has become:
 
“I am excited to become part of the DDA board to help continue to foster the exciting downtown business, social, and family environment.  As part of a growing Traverse City based technology company, I believe Traverse City has all the attributes required to attract technology businesses, the quality jobs that they bring and become a leading technology city in the state and country.”

 

Harry Burkholder was profiled earlier on this site when he was appointed to parks and rec:  http://planfortc.com/2010/06/09/meet-harry-burkholder-new-parks-rec-member-june-10/.  A land-use planner, Harry said in his interview that a strong downtown benefits the whole city, and he looks forward to discussing innovative improvements for the use of public spaces in the downtown districts. 

These highly qualifed and enthusiastic individuals will jump with the rest of the board into some big decisions about the future of downtown TC, the warehouse district, and the waterfront. 

These decisions were covered on this site here:  http://planfortc.com/2010/06/27/the-most-influential-board-you-probably-dont-pay-any-attention-to-dda-june-28/ and in this TV 7&4 story: http://www.upnorthlive.com/news/story.aspx?id=477354. 

They will also be part of the DDA’s work to maintain the city’s economic momentum well into the future. 

Leah, Joe, Harry – welcome aboard.  The city will benefit greatly from your service.