Downtown Lawrence Inc. Director Sally Zogry talks fast, moves fast and keeps up with approximately 150 members of the Downtown Lawrence Inc. (DLI) Association, facilitating a list of activities that would leave most people dizzy. Wrapping up her first year as the new Executive Director of DLI Zogry spoke to Central Rotary on May 14 about her job. “It’s the best job ever,” she said “and we’ve had a great year.”
Members of DLI include retail businesses, food and beverage establishments, entertainment venues and places which provide services to name a few. Zogry uses social media such as facebook and twitter, the DLI website, and good old-fashioned face to face personal contact to keep track of what’s going on and promote events and spread news.
She coordinates events and activities for visiting groups with the CVB and serves as a point of contact and a voice for city- county related matters. She works on downtown beautification and maintenance in collaboration with the city. She coordinates police, fire and medical services for downtown events and store security.
Fund raisers such as the Third Annual Girls’ Night Downtown which is a benefit for the Willow Domestic Violence Center are part of her job. Free events such as dinner and a movie in conjunction with the Lawrence library and the summer concert series with the Parks and Rec Commission are on her list as are the annual Downtown Sidewalk Sale, the Busker Fest and the holiday lighting ceremony where Santa Claus is rescued from the roof of Weaver’s Department Store.
Downtown Lawrence also helps recruit new businesses, most recently Ten Thousand Villages. “We’re working on a downtown grocery store now,” she said.
Zogny works with a seven-member board elected from DLI members . “They are a great help,” she said but many in her audience probably wondered if even seven of them can keep up with her.
For more information about Downtown Lawrence Inc check out their website at http://www.downtownlawrence.com
