Speaker Bios

The following have served as panelists for RHI Webinars

Jared Bailey

Athens-Clarke County Economic Development Foundation, Inc.

Athens, Georgia

Jared Bailey, Small Business Resource Coordinator

Jared Bailey has lived in Athens, Georgia since 1977 and has been involved in the internationally noted Athens Music Scene ever since. He received his BBA in Business Management from the Terry College of Business. While a college student he worked for the UGA student newspaper, The Red and Black, as an award winning entertainment writer covering the local music scene and managed one of the local music venues.

Since those early college years he has been the owner of several well-known nightclubs including the world famous 40 Watt Club, the Engine Room, and the Shoebox. In 1987 he founded Flagpole Magazine, a weekly newspaper dedicated to local music, art, and politics. In 1997 he founded AthFest, the Athens Music and Arts Festival, which he has run for the past 12 years. And in 1998 he was the Event Coordinator for the free Widespread Panic concert that brought over 100,000 fans to downtown Athens.

Bailey has been involved in numerous local organizations including the Athens Area Arts Council, Athens Area Chamber of Commerce Arts-As-Industry Task Force, Athens Bar and Restaurant Association, Athens-Clarke County Police Alcohol Issues committee, Athens Music History Project, Canopy Studios, Downtown Athens Business Association, Independent Business Council, Mental Health Association of NE GA, Morton Theatre Board, and the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Task Force.

He is currently the Executive Director for AthFest as well as the Small Business Resource Coordinator for the Athens-Clarke County Economic Development Foundation. As Small Business Coordinator he is responsible for providing assistance to entrepreneurs and small business owners in three counties. He assists all types of businesses, but is also the point of contact for all music, arts, and film related economic development.

In 2006 Bailey received both the Key to the City of Athens and the Flagpole Athens Music Awards’ Lifetime Achievement Award for his work promoting the Athens music and arts scene.

EDWIN BOOK

Gainesville Police Department

Gainesville, Florida

Edwin Book, Captain

Captain Ed Book is a 22 ½ year veteran of the police department and is currently the District 3 Commander in charge of West and Southwest Gainesville. District 3 includes the University of Florida and a large “mid-town bar district” catering to young adults and college age students. He was previously in charge of the city's Downtown bar district area, and has served in Internal Affairs, Special Investigations and Narcotics, Training, and Community Policing areas of the agency.

The Gainesville Police Department serves an approximately 150,000 person urban population with a major land grant university, the University of Florida, and a large 2 year institution, the Santa Fe Community College.

Scott V Bruner

City of Chicago Department of Business Affairs & Licensing

Chicago, Illinois

Scott V Bruner, Director

Scott V. Bruner was named Director of the City of Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Licensing on March 11, 2005, after serving as Director of the Mayor’s License Commission and Local Liquor Control Commission since June, 2004.

The Department of Business Affairs and Licensing is a new department designed to simplify access to City services for businesses and providing them with a single point of contact. It merges the License Commission and Local Liquor Control Commission; the Business Services and Investigations Divisions of the Department of Revenue; and Mayor Daley’s Business Express Program from the Department of Planning and Development.

Bruner joined the Mayor’s Office in February of 2003 as a liaison to the Chicago Police Department, Chicago Fire Department and the Office of Emergency Management and Communications. He worked with these and other city agencies in helping formulate policy and legislative initiatives dealing with crime and public safety.

Bruner, a graduate of Harvard Law School, graduated Cum Laude from Rutgers University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and History with a minor in Music.

"The effective management of conflict between residents and businesses begins with the permitting and licensing process. Presenting clear expectations upfront assists businesses know the rules and community standards. Creating a "concierge" government that asks "how can we help" instead of "who can we blame or punish" is what will define the future as cities emerge to more densely populated art, entertainment and cultural centers."

Bruce Burch

University of Georgia Music Business Program

Athens, Georgia

Bruce Burch, Administrative Director

Bruce Burch is Administrative Director of the University of Georgia Music Business Program. The program was begun in January, 2006 and has quickly gained support and enthusiasm from the Georgia Music Industry. Burch is a successful songwriter who penned two #1 songs for Reba McEntire, “Rumor Has It” and “It’s Your Call” and has had songs recorded by Faith Hill, George Jones, Wayne Newton, and many others. Burch also worked as Creative Director with EMI Music Publishing where he represented the song catalogs of Kris Kristofferson, Dennis Linde (“Burning Love”, “Goodbye Earl”), Mac Davis, and many legendary writers.

James Butler

CREATIVE INDUSTRIES

Austin, Texas

James Butler, Manager

Jim Butler works for the city government of Austin, Texas. He is in charge of finding ways to make Austin a better place by working with individuals, companies, nonprofits and other governmental organizations involved in the music, film and technology industries. His efforts include direct job creation programs as well as programs that enhance the overall quality of life in Austin.

Laurie Gabites

Wellington City Council

Wellington, New Zealand

Laurie Gabites, Manager of City Safety

Laurie Gabites is the Manager of City Safety at Wellington City Council, the capital city of New Zealand. He has the day-to-day responsibility for a wide range of community safety related issues in the city. With alcohol being a significant contributor to violence, disorder and anti-social behavior, it is a large part of his work. Laurie works closely with other business units within Council, Police, Accident Compensation, District Health Board and a range of other organizations involved in reducing alcohol related harm and managing the entertainment sector of the city. Prior to joining council Laurie was a sworn Police Officer with the NZ Police for 32 years working in a variety of roles including alcohol policy and violence prevention as well as front line duties. He is also a Trustee and Board member of the Safe Communities Foundation of New Zealand.

Carrie Gallagher

KEEP AMERICA BEAUTIFUL, INC.

Stamford, Connecticut

Carrie Gallagher, Program Director

Ms. Gallagher’s background in nonprofit organization leadership started at the local community level and her nonprofit experience as an elected or appointed leader has been at the local, state, national and international level.  Much of her work and advocacy focused on the challenges women and girls face in education and gender equity.  This advocacy has taken her around the globe to work with local leaders developing organizations and programs that respond to the needs in their communities.  Keep America Beautiful (KAB) has over 50 years of experience engaging individuals to take responsibility for their environment through community improvement – beautification, waste reduction and eliminating litter.

With support for its corporate partner, Philip Morris USA, Ms. Gallagher’s research and field-testing in the last four years has results in the development and expansion of the KAB Cigarette Litter Prevention Program.

Paul Davies

The Civic Trust

London, UK

Paul Davies, Head of Policy and Development

Paul Davies leads The Civic Trust’s NightVision program. He ran the government-backed, three-year research program into the evening and night economies and wrote the final report “NightVision: Town Centres for All.” He is now working in half a dozen pilot locations to develop the NightVision approach on the ground and draw out good practice conclusions for a national audience.

His role at the Civic Trust has focused on the relationships between people and their surroundings, innovative thinking and practical action. He founded the Civic Trust Regeneration Unit in 1987. He devised a three-year regeneration campaign, which drew together for the first time a national network of projects and regeneration practitioners. It prompted a fifteen-year wave of innovative regeneration activity by the Unit, which has taken it to most parts of England and beyond.

He is a qualified architect and town planner and before joining the Civic Trust worked as a consultant with international architectural and planning practices.

Heidi coleman

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Washington, DC

Heidi Coleman, Chief, Impaired Driving Division

Heidi Coleman joined the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in 1982 as a member of its Office of Chief Counsel.  Over a 20-year period, she served as Counsel, Senior Counsel and Assistant Chief Counsel to NHTSA’s highway safety programs.  She also served, in 1992, as a Congressional Fellow with the U.S. House of Representatives, Public Works and Transportation Committee. 

From November 2002 – June 2003, she served as NHTSA’s Regional Administrator for the agency’s New England Region.  Then, in June of 2003, she became NHTSA’s Chief of Impaired Driving.  In this position, she coordinates agency efforts to develop, demonstrate, promote, implement and evaluate programs and activities designed to reduce impaired driving.

 Heidi received her Bachelor’s degree from SUNY at Buffalo, in Buffalo, NY, and her law degree from George Washington University.  She is a member of the bar in DC and Maryland.

Chicago Police Department - CAPS

Chicago, Illinois

Beth Ford, Deputy Director

Beth A. Ford is deputy director of the CAPS Implementation Office, Chicago Police Department. Ms. Ford's work includes activities related to increasing community participation in Chicago's community policing model and developing internal and external marketing efforts. She also was the advisor to the city's successful Court Advocacy groups. She organized a national conference on community policing in 1998 and an international conference on organized crime in 2001, as well as the development of new community-based violence reduction initiatives on the city's west side, including the development of services for returning ex-offenders.

Prior to joining the office in 1996, Ms. Ford spent 12 years on the professional staff of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the U.S. House of Representatives. Beginning in the mid-1980s, she was involved in developing and monitoring implementation of legislation governing security of U.S. air carriers serving foreign airports and with the U.S. Government's overseas antiterrorism assistance program administered by the Department of State. From the late 1980s through 1995, she was responsible for oversight of all funding and legislation related to U.S. overseas narcotics control efforts and was involved in administration of justice and democracy building programs in Latin America, Asia, Eastern Europe, and the former Soviet Union. Ms. Ford has been a member of the Juvenile Crime Enforcement Coalition, the governing body for the Chicago Police Department's Juvenile Gang Intervention project, since its inception in 1999 and is a member of the Project Safe Neighborhoods Steering Committee and the Illinois Department of Corrections Going Home Initiative Steering Committee.

James M. Goldberg

Goldberg & Associates, PLLC

Washington, District of Columbia

James M. Goldberg, Attorney

James M. Goldberg is a principal in the Washington, DC law firm of Goldberg & Associates, PLLC.

He also serves as General Counsel to the National Alcohol Beverage Control Association, which represents the 18 states and two counties which directly control the distribution of alcohol beverages through the operation of government-run wholesale, and, in some cases, retail outlets. NABCA advises its member jurisdictions of statutory and judicial developments at the federal and state levels, among other activities.

In addition to representing NABCA, Mr. Goldberg’s practice focuses on the representation of nonprofits, trade associations, professional societies, foundations and other types of tax-exempt organizations in all aspects of their operations, including taxation, employment law, and contract issues. He is former Chairman of the Subcommittee on Trade Associations within the American Bar Association's Section on Business Law and formerly served on the governing Council of the American Society of Association Executives' Legal Section. Mr. Goldberg is an active member of the Tax-Exempt Organizations Committee of the District of Columbia Bar. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Academy of Hospitality Industry Attorney.

A native of Washington, DC, Mr. Goldberg received his B.S. degree in political science and journalism from Syracuse University and his J.D. degree from The George Washington University National Law Center.

He is admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States and is a member of the District of Columbia and Maryland Bars, the American Bar Association and the Order of the Coif, the national legal honorary society.

Kathryn Graham

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

London, Ontario

Kathryn Graham, Senior Scientist

Kathryn Graham (Ph.D, Psychology, UWO, Canada) is a Senior Scientist and Head of Social Factors and Prevention Interventions at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) in London, Ontario, Canada and Professor (adjunct) in the Department of Psychology at the University of Western Ontario. Her current research focuses on the role of alcohol in aggressive behaviour, the social context of aggression and gender differences in the relationship of alcohol and aggression and includes the development and evaluation of the Safer Bars intervention to reduce aggression in licensed premises. In 2002, Dr. Graham received the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal for her contributions to applying research knowledge to community interventions.

"My personal experience is in working with bar staff and management in preventing and managing aggressive behavior. As part of this, I have observed several things. First, there are some staff who are tremendously skilled and knowledgeable about how to keep things peaceful but others who are inexperienced, unskilled or simply wrong in their methods of dealing with people - and they need to be trained. I have also found that it is usually the smartest and most business-oriented owners and managers who are the first to take up available training for their staff. Finally, there appears to be a strong relationship between what takes place in a bar or club and what occurs outside on the streets - problems spill both out the doors as well as in the doors. Therefore a coordinated effort is often needed when licensed premises are clustered, for example, in entertainment areas."

W. Scott Haine

Half Moon Bay, California

W. Scott Haine, Author

W. Scott Haine received his Ph.D. at the University of Wisconsin Madison and currently teaches at the University of Maryland University College. His books include The World of the Parisian Café: Sociability Among the French Working Class, 1789-1914 (Johns Hopkins University Press, 1996), The History of France, (Greenwood Press, 2000), chosen by Choice as an outstanding academic title for 2001 and The Customs and Culture of France (Greenwood Press, 2006).

He has contributed articles to Greenwood encyclopedias such as Historical Dictionary of World War II France: The Occupation, Vichy, and the Resistance 1938-1946 (1998) and Be My Guest: Entertaining Through World History (forthcoming). Currently he is completing another volume on the history of the café in the Paris region, this one dealing with cafes during the world crisis from the Great Depression through the Early Cold War (1956) as well as an edited collection of essays on cafés in European intellectual and cultural life, 1700-1940.

Allison Harnden

Responsible Hospitality institute

Santa Cruz, California

Allison Harnden, Vice President

Allison Harnden was the coordinator of the RHI San Diego Hospitality Resource Panel and HRP Specialist for RHI’s National Network. She was responsible for coordinating the development of alliances among San Diego’s hospitality industry associations, regulatory and code compliance agencies, educators and suppliers. This unique process is a model for communities throughout the country seeking to develop “dining and entertainment districts.” Central to the HRP process is the Careers in Hospitality Alliance, creating a collaborative network among high schools, colleges and industry associations. She also oversaw the development of the Hospitality Business Orientation, Hospitality Roundtables, and the Mixed Use Advisory Group. While earning a Bachelor of Arts Degree in drama from San Diego State University (SDSU) she worked as a food server and manager. She put herself though SDSU's graduate program in English by working for Greco & Traficante as a paralegal, providing a unique perspective on administrative law required of hospitality business owners. Allison has worked in marketing and public relations for the California Culinary Academy and as a corporate trainer for O'Neill and Associates, specializing in presentations about employment law.

Jean Homza

9:30 Club

Washington, DC

Jean Homza, Bar Manager

Jean Homza has been involved in restaurant and bar management in Washington, DC since 1985. For the past 11 years she has been the Bar Manager and Community Liaison for the 9:30 Club, an internationally award-winning live music venue. She has also spent the last 20 years involved in producing and promoting fundraising events for a variety of worthy local causes.

Jean is a founding member of the MidCity Business Association and has also been active in the DC Nightlife Association working to change laws and government policies that impose hardships on the hospitality industry while at the same time working to increase industry professionalism and safety; she teaches alcohol awareness classes for the DCNA.

Jean has helped to spearhead a pilot Hospitality Resource Partnership (HRP) in DC while encouraging the process to go citywide. Currently, she is working with Washington's Metropolitan Police Department and the DC Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration to write a manual on Best Practices for Nightclubs. As a local promoter, producer and educator, Jean is a strong and vocal advocate for industry responsibility to create safe, professional and vibrant entertainment environments in partnership with residents and local government.

Kelly Huard

Gainesville Community Redevelopment Agency

Gainesville, Florida

Kelly Huard, Downtown Projects Coordinator

Kelly Huard is the Downtown Projects Coordinator for the Gainesville Community Redevelopment Agency in Gainesville, Florida. She holds degrees in Earth & Atmospheric Sciences and City & Regional Planning from the Georgia Institute of Technology. Kelly has been involved in the community development and revitalization field for the past two years. Through her work in Downtown Gainesville, which is home to many nightclubs, bars, and restaurants, Kelly has become very involved in the Gainesville Responsible Hospitality Partnership. Working with business owners, university representatives, and concerned citizens through GRHP, Kelly hopes Downtown will continue to grow into a vibrant, fun and safe entertainment district that boasts exciting daytime and nighttime activities for all members of the community.

Audrey Joseph

San Francisco Entertainment Commission

San Francisco, California

Audrey Joseph, Chair

Audrey Joseph was appointed to the Entertainment Commission by Mayor Willie L. Brown and took office July 1, 2003. She has served as the first Vice President 2003-2004 and the President of the Commission 2004-2005.

Audrey Joseph relocated to San Francisco from New York in 1982. Her background in the concert, nightclub and record business in New York served her well in San Francisco. Ms Joseph worked for Megatone Records upon her arrival and was instrumental in the marketing and promotion of Sylvester. Her community spirit led her to volunteer with organizations embarking on a new battle against the devastating pandemic of AIDS.

1993 was the year Audrey founded Club Universe which became an international renown dance club and entertainment venue and hosted shows for the likes of Grace Jones, Cyndi Lauper, Chaka Kahn, B 52s, Blondie, and world class disc jockeys from around the globe. Universe was known for its ever evolving, ever changing themes each week.

Club Townsend, her night club venue, hosted the City’s heart of diverse activity and entertainment including, Wicked, Futura, New Wave City, Club Asia, Club Q, Electric to name a few. Club Townsend also was the drop in center after the 911 attacks in New York and prided itself on its philanthropic events.

Audrey Joseph produced the dance stage at the Folsom Street Fair for many years and is still the main stage produce for San Francisco’s Gay Pride celebration. This year that stage hosted En Vogue, Third Eye Blind, and Kimberly Locke as their primary headliners.

Jocelyn Kane

San Francisco Entertainment Commission

San Francisco, California

Jocelyn Kane, Deputy Director

Jocelyn Kane is Deputy Director of San Francisco's Entertainment Commission, which is charged with ensuring the health and vitality of all indoor and outdoor entertainment venues in the City. Current projects protecting hospitality in the re-zoning efforts of the city's Planning Dept., permitting (protecting) street performers for the first time in the city's history, and revising San Francisco's outdated sound ordinance to stay current with technologies of the 21st century.

Jocelyn is also the founder of Motogirl Productions, an SF-based artist development company. Motogirl Productions works with large and small artists in various genres, to help them understand the "business" of music and how to reach individual goals effectively in one of the toughest industries around.

Jocelyn speaks at workshops and panels around the Bay Area and beyond, including California Lawyers for the Arts, NARAS (the Grammys), San Francisco State University Music Program, West Coast Songwriters Conference, CMJ, and AFM Musicians Union Local 6, with whom she is partnership for www.thebandworkshops.com.

Motogirl Productions co-produced Nadines Wild Weekend 2002 which included producing 20 shows with over 135 bands in 15 clubs over 4 days. Nadines Wild Weekend garnered major national and international media attention this year and included media partnerships with the SF Weekly, Live 105 radio and Tower Records. Motogirl Productions also founded an all ages live music series called "L3: Live, Loud and Local" together with The Matches, a great, young band out of the East Bay, signed to Epitaph records.

James Keblas

Seattle Mayor's Office of Film and Music

Seattle, Washington

James Keblas, Director

He is also nurturing the Music Office Network, a group of diverse, critical thinkers from government music commissions and agencies to share creative ideas to successfully balance community concerns with enhanced opportunities for music and entertainment.

Joseph H. Lumpkin

Athens-Clarke County Police Department

Athens, Georgia

Joseph H. Lumpkin, Chief of Police

Joseph H. (Jack) Lumpkin, Sr., is a 35-year veteran officer who became the police chief for the Unified Government of Athens-Clarke County (ACC) in 1997. Chief Lumpkin has led ACC to notably lower crime levels despite the jurisdiction's 28.3 percent poverty rate. With calendar year 1996 serving as a base, during his tenure violent crime has decreased by 48.6 percent, property crime has decreased by 32 percent, and overall Part I crime has decreased by 33.3 percent. He assisted the entertainment district to establish a closed circuit safety camera system, a Responsible Hospitality Panel, and a cruising ordinance in ACC. Chief Lumpkin was educated in the public schools of Clarke County and earned a B.S. in criminal justice from Brenau University as well as an M.P.A. from Columbus State University. He is a graduate of both the acclaimed administrative officers course at the University of Louisville and the Federal Bureau of Investigation's prestigious National Academy. Chief Lumpkin is also a graduate of the 34th Session of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Law Enforcement Executive Development Seminar and the 7th Session of the Georgia Command College.

Robert Maust

University of Colorado at Boulder

Boulder, Colorado

Robert Maust, Coordinator Student Affairs, Chair Committee on Substance Abuse (Retired)

Robert Maust has worked in higher education for almost 40 years. During this time he has served as a vice president for student affairs and/or dean of students at both public and private schools in Massachusetts and Michigan. For the past ten years he has directed a national grant supported research program to reduce the high-risk use of alcohol by college students. This program (A Matter of Degree) was located at the University of Colorado at Boulder (UCB).

Mr. Maust, while at UCB, was required to establish and work with several different campus and campus-community coalitions. He also established several important databases and worked with these to carry out an analysis of the impact of alcohol-related incidents that were considered most disruptive of the quality of life of those people who live, work and recreate on the UCB campus and in the local community.

Ray Oldenburg

Ray Oldenburg

Pensacola, Florida

Ray Oldenburg, Author

Ray Oldenburg, Ph.D., is Professor Emeritus at the Department of Sociology at the University of West Florida in Pensacola. He is best known for writing The Great Good Place. He works as a consultant to entrepreneurs, community and urban planners, churches, and others seeking to establish great good places. His most recent assignments were for Consumer Eyes, Inc, New York in 2002, and San Jose, California’s CIRCA 2002 group. He has been invited to speak at symposia and conferences across the US, including at the Urban City Research Conference 2003 in Stockholm, Sweden.

Oldenburg holds a Bachelor of English and Social Studies from Mankato State University, Minnesota, and a Master and PhD in Sociology from the University of Minneapolis. He held positions at the University of West Florida from 1971 to 2001, prior to which he taught and researched at the University of Nevada, Stout State University, and the University of Minnesota. Oldenburg also worked as an elementary and high school teacher, and as a dental technician in the U.S. Army Medical Corps.

RHI Columns

James e. peters

responsible hospitality institute

Santa Cruz, California

James E. Peters, President

Jim Peters is the founder and president of RHI and has served in this role from the beginning. He has overseen RHI as it emerged through peaks and valleys of growth and revitalization. He brings a unique background to his role and for more than twenty years he has administered effective management of RHI’s evolution and projects. Born in Long Island, New York, Peters first pursued an education in engineering, only to be drawn to work in hotels, restaurants and night clubs, formalizing the practical experience with a degree in hospitality management from the University of Massachusetts. Peters continued his graduate education in psychology and counseling. In 1980, while employed counseling people arrested for drunk driving, he realized the opportunity to contribute to prevention by training bartenders and servers about their responsibilities. In addition, he recognized the need to create a mechanism to involve the retail licensed beverage industry in development of strategies. In August, 1983, he formed the Responsible Hospitality Institute (RHI) to promote legal and social responsibility programs for the hospitality industry and has been the key figure in its evolution.

Peters is considered a leading authority on legal and social trends impacting the hospitality industry. In his role with RHI, Peters has organized and administered numerous conferences, symposia and forums involving national and international experts. He has organized and facilitated coalitions at the local, state and national levels, and has served as both speaker and facilitator for numerous conferences worldwide. He has advised legislators and regulatory agencies on policy and program development, served as a consultant on research projects evaluating responsible beverage service programs, testified as an expert witness in alcohol service liability cases, and assisted in the development of programs in Canada, New Zealand, and Australia.

Elizabeth Peterson

Elizabeth Peterson Group, Inc.

Hollywood, California

Elizabeth Peterson, President

Elizabeth Peterson, president, Elizabeth Peterson Group, Inc. and principle, Sweet Freedom, Inc. is a former night club operator who spearheaded the revitalization of Hollywood's night-life, and today serves as a leading consultant to many of Los Angeles' popular hot spots. Working with police, city council and clubs owners, Peterson crafted an innovative collaborative to write conditional use standards for opening and operating in Hollywood, including security training, extended hours, cameras both in establishments and on the street, and monthly meetings to address emerging issues.

"The dynamic nature of an active late-night entertainment district requires special attention to details, constant monitoring of changing dynamics, on-going communication and a very coordinated response among establishment management, staff and community services."

Cynthia M. Philo

Old City District

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Cynthia M. Philo, Executive Director

Since 1998, Cynthia M. Philo, Esq. has been the Executive Director of the Old City District (OCD) and a very influential figure in the shaping of Old City as a destination to shop, dine and explore in the City of Philadelphia. Cynthia developed the OCD’s general operations and grew the organization to be recognized nationwide for its services.

Under her direction, the Hip-storic® District preserves the neighborhood’s historic roots while embracing the modern additions of restaurants, shops and galleries as well as a swell in residential development. Establishing a balance between all of these factors is a major focus of Cynthia’s work at the OCD. Cynthia also developed the Old City Streetscape Plan which is being used to replace lighting, increase landscaping and generally improve the safety and aesthetic beauty of Old City.

Cynthia holds board positions on the International Downtown Association, Pennsylvania Downtown Association, Citizen’s Crime Commission of the Delaware Valley, Mayor’s Homeless Taskforce, and 6th District Police Crime Taskforce. Active in politics and the Democratic Party for years, Cynthia ran for public office in 2005. She was elected as a Supervisor of Doylestown Township, Bucks County, PA, unseating a 17-year incumbent. She serves as the liaison to committees on Traffic, Police and Roadways.

“I believe that thriving businesses, clean sidewalks and safe streets are the main ingredients to a desirable neighborhood. It is around those components that the Old City District works to open lines of communication bringing together businesses and residents to work out issues. Educating new as well as existing businesses about what is necessary to be truly successful in our neighborhood is foremost to maintaining the delicate balance of an entertainment zone within a residential area.”

Angela Rana

South Beach Restaurant and Lounge

Scottsdale, Arizona

Angela Rana, Owner

Angela Rana opened the South Beach Restaurant and Lounge with her husband, Mario, in November 2007 to fill a void in Scottsdale, Arizona's nightlife scene. Their Miami Beach inspired, Art Deco-style club has become a hotspot for Baby Boomers seeking quality food, music and and a relaxing atmosphere that caters to more sophisticated tastes.

Church Street Marketplace

Burlington, Vermont

Ron Redmond, Executive Director

Ron Redmond is executive director of the Church Street Marketplace District, a four-block, business improvement district in Burlington, Vermont established in 1981. 

During its high season, the Marketplace hosts 26 outdoor cafes, 28 vendor carts, professional and amateur street entertainers, non-profit tabling locations as well as periodic demonstrations and protests.  The Marketplace’s ability to manage these diverse activities in such a compact area has been aided by clear rules and regulations, permitting authority granted by the Marketplace’s charter and the City Council, and an engaged Marketplace Commission comprised of property and business owners and citizens.

During his tenure at the Marketplace, Ron has worked collaboratively with other community leaders to establish and sustain a successful community policing program and a street outreach program that delivers street-based support in downtown Burlington to individuals with psychiatric disabilities, substance abuse problems, homelessness issues and unmet social service needs.  In 2004, he led a collaborative effort with the Responsible Hospitality Institute and downtown stakeholders to create and establish a Hospitality Resource Panel.

A native of Southern California, he graduated from University of Southern California’s School of Journalism and worked in agency public relations, and corporate advertising and marketing for twenty years before joining the Marketplace.

He is currently board chair of the Vermont Youth Conservation Corps, a non-profit conservation and education organization with the mission of teaching individuals to take personal responsibility for their actions.  He is married to Karen Redmond, a project manager with IBM Global Services and the proud father of 12-year-old daughter.

 “In Burlington’s 20-square-block downtown where the Marketplace is located, there are 150 retail stores, 88 eating and drinking establishments, and a growing number of downtown residents.  Managing the needs and wants of these diverse stakeholders will always be challenging.  Burlington has made great strides fostering a “whiteboard & marker” culture where diverse groups are encouraged to meet through facilitated dialogue to resolve conflicts and develop realistic strategies.  Public process is always messy, but the outcome can be enriching and ultimately build a stronger sense of ownership.”

Metropolitan Police Service

London, England

David Scott, Inspector

Dave Scott is a Safer Neighbourhood Inspector with the Metropolitan Police Service and has responsibility for the West End area of central London and Chinatown. Dave works closely with Westminster City Council in order to develop and implement strategies that create a safe environment. He specializes in developing problem-solving solutions to crime problems in partnership with managers of pubs, bars, nightclubs and other entertainment establishments.

Metropolitan Police Service

London, England

Douglas Thomson, Crime Prevention and Architectural Liaison Officer

Douglas Thomson is a Crime Prevention and architectural liaison officer in London's West End. He is responsible for developing initiatives and tactics that will support crime prevention and reduction with particular emphasis on facilitating a safe nighttime economy. Douglas specializes in supporting nightclubs, pubs and bars in developing plans to prevent crime and disorder. He also leads on the delivery of conflict management training to venue security staff. He is a 21-year veteran of the police department, with considerable experience as a trainer working within public order, diplomatic protection and officer safety departments. He has a Masters degree in security management and is a fellow of the international institute of security.

Downtown Windsor Business Improvement Association

Windsor, Ontario, Canada

Judith Veresuk, Executive Director

Judith Veresuk is the Executive Director for the Downtown Windsor Business Improvement Association. She has devoted more than 7 years to rebuilding and revitalizing cities. Previously employed as an urban planner she has had the opportunity to work with many businesses, neighborhood groups and non-profit organizations in the Metro Detroit community, including the Downtown Development Authorities for the Cities of Ypsilanti, St. Clair Shores, Ferndale and Detroit, the Metropolitan Affairs Coalition and Motorcities – Automobile National Heritage Area. Her experience varies widely, from developing downtown design plans and community reinvestment strategies to conducting public consultation sessions to programming and maintaining database inventories.

She is also a member of many downtown and planning oriented organizations such as the International Downtown Association, the National Main Street Centre, the American Planning Association and the Michigan Society of Planning and has attended numerous local, regional and national conferences and seminars.

Judith has also devoted her time to volunteering in her community. She was a member of the City Centre Revitalization Task Force from 2001 – 2003 and currently sits on the Planning Advisory Committee for the City of Windsor.

A native to the Windsor area for more than 30 years, Judith studied her trade in the Bachelor of Applied Arts (Urban and Region Planning) program at Ryerson Polytechnic University in Toronto, ON and joined the DWBIA in December 2004.

James Webster

Webster Powell

Chicago, Illinois

James Webster, Attorney at law

James L. Webster is the founding partner in the Chicago law firm of Webster Powell, P.C, a boutique law firm specializing in the Beverage Alcohol Industry. Mr. Webster has represented Industry members in all three tiers throughout the United States for the past 23 years, addressing issues in trade practice, licensure, labeling, importing and Industry tax issues, mergers and acquisitions, franchise litigation, administrative hearings and appellate advocacy.

Mr. Webster, the former co-chairman of the American Bar Association Committee on Alcoholic Beverages, is a frequent speaker at Industry Seminars, including those sponsored by the National Conference of State Liquor Administrators, National Conference of State Legislators, National Alcohol Beverage Control Association, the National Restaurant Association, various State Restaurant Associations, the National Licensed Beverage Association, the Wine and Spirits Wholesaler’s Association of America, Continuing Legal Education International Seminars on Industry Practices, the Illinois Licensed Beverage Association, and trade practice seminars sponsored by the Illinois Liquor Control Commission. He also conducts trade practice seminars for Industry Members, has assisted in training law enforcement agencies regarding alcohol related incidents through the National Center for Alcohol Law Enforcement. Mr. Webster has also been active in the Chicago Hospitality Resource Partnership.

Mr. Webster earned his B.A. from the University of Wisconsin in 1979 and his J.D. from DePaul University in 1982, and has focused his entire legal career upon Industry-related matters. Mr. Webster founded Webster Powell, P.C., in 1999.

Lake View Citizens' Council

Chicago, Illinois

David Winner, President

David Winner is currently the President of the Lake View Citizens’ Council. The Council is made up of 12 neighborhood associations in five city wards with a population that approximates 100,000 residents. He is also the Treasurer of the Tax Reform Action Coalition, an organization working with members of the State Legislature to revise the assessment process of properties that determine real estate taxes in Illinois, as well as the Treasurer of the Lake View East Chamber of Commerce.

When David is not volunteering his time, he owns a consulting company, DLW Business Consultants, Ltd., that advises small businesses in areas of profitability, work flows, accounting software, and tax preparation.

David holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics and has taught Accounting in various colleges and has served on many other volunteer Boards.

Urban districts alliance

Springfield, Missouri

Rusty Worley, Executive Director

Rusty Worley was named Executive Director of the Urban Districts Alliance on October 10, 2005.  Prior to joining the UDA staff, he was a member of the UDA Board of Directors from 2000 to 2005 and served as its President in 2003-04.

He is a two-time graduate of Drury University, earning his bachelor's degree in business administration and communication in 1992 and his master's in business administration in 1994. He served his alma mater in many capacities from 1993 to 2005, including as the Vice President for Administration from 2000 to 2005.

Rusty participates in the International Downtown Association and Missouri Downtown Association urban revitalization organizations.  He is a graduate of Leadership Springfield Class XV and currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Urban Neighborhoods Alliance, the Downtown YMCA, and Southwest Teachers Credit Union. He also is a member of the Southeast Rotary Club of Springfield. 

He and his wife, Teresa, have two children (Natalie, 5 and Nathan, 2).  They live in a restored 1896 Victorian home five blocks from his Downtown office.

Food & Beverage Association of San Diego County

San Diego, California

Steve A. Zolezzi, Executive Vice President

Since 1994, Stephen A. Zolezzi has served as the Executive Vice President of the Food & Beverage Association of San Diego, a trade association to the food and beverage industry established in 1945 serving the County of San Diego.  The association represents over 500 restaurants, bars and clubs.  Mr. Zolezzi is a certified instructor for Responsible Beverage Service (RABS), S. D. County Dept. of Environmental Health Food Handlers Certificate program and National Food Safety Professionals Managers health and safety certification.

In addition, Mr. Zolezzi is currently serving on the Board of Directors of American Beverage Licensees (ABL), past Chairman of the ABL Government Affairs Committee, is a Board member and Secretary of the Responsible Hospitality Institute, is a Board member of the San Diego Responsible Hospitality Council, is a member of the San Diego County External Process Improvement Team, and is a member of the San Diego County Dept. of Environmental Health Advisory Board. Mr. Zolezzi served as the Chairman for Citizens Against Alcohol Abuse, Vice Chairman of the San Diego Employer Advisor Council to EDD and is past president of the Hillcrest Business Association and Hillcrest Mission Valley Lion’s Club. Past President, CEO of the San Diego Crime Commission.

Mr. Zolezzi’s reputation as a successful restaurant operator with over 35 years experience is well known.  He opened his first establishment, Zolezzi’s Italian Delicatessen and Restaurant in 1965, Stefano’s Italian Restaurant opened in 1976, La Pettit Café, a French Bistro opened in 1977, and Columbos Bakery opened in 1982.  Mr. Zolezzi and his families’ long association with the San Diego food industry began in 1890 with the families’ instrumental role in developing San Diego as the West Coast Center for the tuna industry.

Mr. Zolezzi has received honors and awards, Presidents Lifetime Achievement Award-National Licensed Beverage Association, Mark Nottingham Memorial Award- California Dept. of Environmental Health, San Diego City Council, San Diego County Board of Supervisors, the California Senate, Southern California Restaurant Writers’ Association, Wine Spectator, San Diego Chamber of Commerce, and several other prestigious organizations.  He has also received national recognition as wine authority and has been an instructor in wine appreciation seminars for over 26 years.

Mr. Zolezzi’s interests include traveling, gourmet cooking, woodworking and gardening. Mr. Zolezzi was born and raised in San Diego and currently resides in El Cajon with his wife Katie.