BOARD
Gabe Pettit grew up on a farm in Burnside, Illinois and graduated from Western Illinois University with a degree in Finance and minor in Management. He worked as a Vice President in the banking industry for over a decade before settling into his current role in 2018 as a Financial Advisor with Edward Jones in a brand new office on Main Street, Fort Dodge. Gabe is married to his wife, Cori, and they have 4 children.
President
Edward Jones - Gabe Pettit
Gabe Pettit
Kate Stucky
Gabe Pettit
Megan Moore
Vice President
Vice President
District Business Representative
Daniel Tire
Megan Moore
Natalie Newell
Natalie Newell moved to Fort Dodge in 2000 after graduating with a degree in Finance from the University of Iowa. She is an Assistant Branch Manager at GreenState Credit Union. Natalie also serves as a member on the Fort Dodge Housing Board. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, going to concerts, golfing, and college football.
Secretary
Green State Credit Union
Natalie Newell
Kathy Flannery-Salgren
Kathy Flannery-Salgren joined the family business in 2000 and moved it downtown after her father's passing in 2016. She and her husband own Flannery Tax and Bookkeeping. Kathy said, "Getting involved in the downtown district made perfect sense after moving our business and our home to the area four years ago."
Flannery Tax
Kathy Flannery-Salgren
Luke Hugghins is a Fort Dodge native and Iowa State engineering graduate who works as a project manager with McClure Engineering Company in downtown Fort Dodge. He is a charter board member of Main Street Fort Dodge and has served as Design Committee Chair and President. Luke wanted to be a part of making the downtown a vibrant place to live, work and play.
Immediate Past-President
McClure Engineering
Luke Hugghins
Luke Hugghins
At-Large Director
At-Large Director
Nathan Essman
Kate Stucky
Nathan Essman
Mary Kay Daniel owns Mary Kay's Gifts & Home Decor on Central Avenue next to Daniel Pharmacy. She carries a wide variety of gift items, home decor, and accessories. Daniel has a degree in Interior Design and offers consultation when it comes to buying items and how to arrange each item once you get it home. She looks forward to seeing all the improvements and activities happening in our downtown.
Mary Kay Daniel
Mary Kay's Gifts & Home Décor/Merle Norman Cosmetics
Ryan Kehm
Mary Kay Daniel
Ron Grebner, along with his wife, co-owns and operates River Hops Brewing on Central Ave. As a Main Street business owner since 2018, He's enjoyed meeting many people and had experiences he would not have if we did not own our business. The community of Fort Dodge has been great to work with.
Ron Grebner
River Hops Brewery
Ryan Kehm
Ron Grebner
Shari Burke
District Business Representative
Econcoimic Vitality Co-Chair
District Business Representative
First Interstate bank
Shari Burke
COMMITTEES
Main Street Fort Dodge follows the Four Point Approach to downtown revitalization developed by the national Trust for Historic Preservation's National Center with the goal of economic development within the context of historic preservation.
The Main Street movement, let by the National Main Street Center, involves more than 1,000 designated programs throughout the country. The cumulative success of the Main Street Approach© and Main Street Programs on the local level has earned Main Street the reputation as one of the most powerful economic revitalization tools in the nation.
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Build a diverse economic base
Catalyze smart new investment
Cultivate a smart entrepreneurship ecosystem
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Create an inviting, inclusive atmosphere
Celebrate historic character
Foster accessible, people-centered public spaces
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Build leadership and strong organizational capacity
Ensure broad community engagement
Forge partnerships across sectors
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Market district's defining assets
Community unique features through storytelling
Support buy-local experience
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COMMUNITY TRANSFORMATION
Economic Vitality
Economic Vitality focuses on capital, incentives, and other economic and financial tools to assist new and existing businesses, catalyze property development, and create a supportive environment for entrepreneurs and innovators that drive local economies.
The goal is to build a commercial district that responds to the needs of today's consumers. Activities of this division include, among others: Market Analysis, welcoming new businesses, business inventory, business classes, one-on-one consultations, and free assistance from Main Street Iowa business specialists.
Main Street Matters Chair: Laura Eastwood
Promotion
Promotion positions the downtown or commercial district as the center of the community and hub of economic activity, while creating a positive image that showcases a community’s unique characteristics. Our Promotion Team communicates the commercial district's unique characteristics, business establishments and activities to shoppers, investors, potential business and property owners and visitors through advertising, retail promotions, special events and marketing campaigns.
Committee Chair: Morgan Fitzgerald and Mary Kay Daniel
Design
Design supports a community’s transformation by enhancing the physical and visual assets that set the commercial district apart. It takes advantage of the visual opportunities inherent in a commercial district by directing attention to all its physical elements: public and private buildings, storefronts, signs, public spaces, parking areas, street furniture, public art, landscaping merchandising, window displays and promotional materials.
Design activities also include instilling good maintenance practices in the commercial district. Enhancing the districts' physical appearance through the rehabilitation of historic buildings, encouraging appropriate new construction, developing sensitive design management systems, educating business and property owners about design quality and long-term planning are all a part of Design.
Committee Chair: Jim Hosek
Organization
Organization involves creating a strong foundation for a sustainable revitalization effort, including cultivating partnerships, community involvement, and resources for the district. By getting everyone working toward the same goal, the Main Street program can provide effective, ongoing management and advocacy for the downtown business district.
Communications
Communications supports overall comprehensive marketing and communications strategies. The Communications Committee partners with the Executive Director to oversee a consistent and active communication strategy to all stakeholders for the purposes of program messaging, fundraising, awareness and branding.
Committee Chair: Ron Grebner
Fundraising
Friendraising is a primary function of our Fundraising Team, creating collaborations to strengthen Main Street Fort Dodge efforts and in turn increasing vibrancy in the district. We build partnerships by collaborating between many organizations, across the public and private spectrum.By getting everyone working toward the same goal, the Main Street program can provide effective, ongoing management and advocacy for the downtown business district.