Mark your calendars! February 7, 2012 OTCA will be hosting a Winter Mixer and Annual Meeting from 6:30pm to 8:30pm. This will be an opportunity to celebrate a year of successes in Old Town and the very talented and dedicated volunteers and partners that allowed that to happen.
The meeting will be held at Perspective2, 319 E Grand River Ave, Lansing, MI 48906. For more information on this location, visit Perspective2
Here is a look back at a year filled with successes for the neighborhood and Lansing, and the fearless and generous volunteers that got us here. Not only did our hard work in 2011 lead us to win the Great American Main Street Award this past spring – it sprung us into a monumental year for Old Town Lansing. Below is a list of some of this past year accomplishments!
Community Clean Up and Spring Planting
Updated holiday decorations
Pickin’ Up Old Town Campaign
Insulation of recycling receptacles
Maintained banner and basket program
Art Spot – Mural Program
Festival of the Sun & expanded Festival of the Moon
Old Town Oktoberfest – record high attendance
Old Town Dickens Village
Chalk of the Town
Old Town Scrapfest
Turner Street Outdoor Theater
Taste & Tour of Old Town
Pickin in the Park
2012 Visitors Guide Ad
First Sunday Gallery Walk
Ghost Tours
Hosted Wake Up Old Town monthly networking event
Host progressive Ribbon Cutting with Mayor and media, welcoming new businesses
Business Assistance Team
2011 Annual Meeting and Volunteer Recognition held at Perpective2
Monthly Old Town News and quarterly Business Beat
Maintaining iloveoldtown.org
Compassionate Feast
Old Town Popcorn Tins
Robert P. Busby Fundraiser
Grand River Expedition 2011
Old Town Farmers’ Market
Expanded the Community Garden and helped Lowe's install a shed and received tools from Lowe's
Lauren Root is a senior at Michigan State University studying Communication. Originally from Kalamazoo, Lauren joins the OTCA team as a Communications Intern. After graduation, Lauren aspires to be an event planner and hopes to gain lots of experience while helping plan the many upcoming events and festivals for Old Town. In her spare time, Lauren enjoys volunteering, art, music and thrift-ing.
Melissa Warren joins the OTCA team as a Design Intern. She is a recent graduate of Michigan State University where she graduated with a BA in Advertising and a BFA in Graphic Design, with a sub-concentration in Photography. When she has free time she occupies herself the best she can with her many interests, but especially by cooking, hanging out with friends, discovering new music, wasting away on couch with Netflix and traveling, although Lonely Planet’s website is the farthest she’s gotten lately.
The Old Town Commercial Association is pleased to announce the recent appointment of Louise Gradwohl to the position of Executive Director.
Louise, previously the Communications Coordinator with the OTCA, accepted the position as the new Executive Director on Monday, December 12, 2011. As director, Gradwohl will be in charge of continuing implementation of Michigan Main Street Program, while fulfilling the mission and vision of the OTCA through her efforts in community development and revitalization.
Before joining the OTCA, Louise worked as an Assistant to the Public Relations Manager at Wharton Center for the Performing Arts. In addition, she was an Assistant Producer on Michigan's Morning Show with Michael Patrick Shiels. While in college, Louise dedicated her time as a student and performer with the MSU Dance Department, as the Vice President of Alpha Omicron Pi, and involvement with Alternative Spring Break programs. This past May, after graduating from Michigan State University in Advertising, she joined the OTCA staff as a Communications Intern and successfully managed operations of the 2011 Old Town Oktoberfest. Through her leadership, passion, and dedication to the OTCA program Louise has found a true desire for the Main Street Program and for the Old Town community.
"Louise exhibited a great desire to further promote and implement the Michigan Main Street Program as well as a passion for community revitalization and development in Old Town Lansing. We are excited to have Louise join our team as the Executive Director and the Board of Directors look forward to working with her on future projects, " said Don McNabb, President, Board of Directors.
