Aaron Perri
Executive Director
DTSB welcomed Aaron Perri in July 2011 as the new Executive Director of the organization. Born and raised in South Bend, Aaron has resided here his entire adult life. A graduate of the University of Notre Dame, Aaron received his Undergraduate Degree in Arts & Letters and a Master’s of Business Administration. Prior to his position at DTSB, Aaron served as the General Manager of Legends of Notre Dame where he directed the daily operations of the restaurant, nightclub, and banquet facility while spearheading numerous initiatives to position and evolve the operation. Aaron is also the founder of On the River, a dynamic summer festival that attracts thousands of visitors to downtown to an authentic beach environment. The mission of the philanthropic and public-galvanizing event is to “transform the landscape of our community”. Aaron’s passion for charity is evident in his volunteer work with the Boys & Girls Club and Center for the Homeless, in addition to serving on the local board of Young Life Michiana. Aaron’s commitment to community and his leader ship skills have earned him the Indiana Governor’s Award for Tomorrow’s Leaders and an induction into Michiana’s Forty Under 40. When asked about his vision for downtown, Perri said, “I look forward to partnering with individuals and businesses within the community to advance our downtown. Through the work we do, we can choose to be ordinary and common, but that’s not my vision. I believe downtown South Bend can be uncommon and extraordinary.”
Randy Kelly
Director of Community Development
DTSB welcomed Randy Kelly in January 2012 as Director of Community Development. Randy is filling a City of South Bend Community & Economic Development resident seat assigned to DTSB. In his position as Director of Community Development, Randy is primarily responsible for interacting with and serving as a resource to existing downtown businesses. He serves as a liaison to the Downtown Dining Association, the downtown merchant group, the East Bank Village Partnership, and other such organizations. In addition, he manages the grants, programs, and communications which directly impact our most valuable assets, the employees and businesses of downtown. Randy was born and raised in South Bend, attended its public schools and while living in Chicago after his graduation from the University of Notre Dame, wanted to return to South Bend to raise a family. He resides in South Bend with his wife and youngest daughter, his two older daughters attend IU Bloomington.
Julie Curtis
Director of Marketing
Julie Curtis joined DTSB just in time to kick-off the holiday festivities in Downtown South Bend in December 2010. As Director of Marketing, Julie is responsible for planning and marketing all the DTSB signature events that people have grown to expect in downtown. She will also work to develop new initiatives and events to promote the arts, museums and businesses. Julie brings a wide variety of event planning, marketing and advertising experience to the organization. She resides in South Bend with her husband and two children.
Tamara Nicholl-Smith
Director, Downtown Business Recruitment
Tamara Nicholl-Smith is currently assisting DTSB through the City of South Bend residency program in the capacity of Director of Downtown Business Recruitment. Tamara’s role will be to focus on the adaptive reuse of the College Football Hall of Fame building, serve as a single point of contact for businesses wishing to locate downtown, actively recruit retail business into the central business district downtown, develop a comprehensive and cohesive retail plan, and expand the current incentives and resources available to downtown retailers. She brings a background in management consulting and business development to bear. She has worked with start-up enterprises, small businesses, and Fortune 500 companies in the energy and retail sectors. She also has broad experience dealing with arts and non-profit organizations. Tamara and her husband make their home in the Northshore Triangle neighborhood of South Bend and are avid drinkers of coffee. Tamara can be reached in her office directly at 574-631-1451.
Michael Rheams
Ambassador Operations Manager
Mike serves as the Operations Manager of the DTSB Ambassador Program. He oversees a crew of 6 full-time Ambassadors who provide a variety of cleaning, safety and hospitality services in the downtown area. Mike has been with DTSB since 2006 and enjoys being able to improve downtown on a daily basis. As Operations Manager, Mike intends to bring more community awareness to the Ambassador program and its benefits.
Robin Fallon
Marketing Coordinator
Robin joined DTSB in February 2011 as the Marketing Coordinator. A graduate of Saint Mary’s College, she has a background in art as well as experience working with non-profit organizations. As Marketing Coordinator, Robin’s responsibilities include assisting in the event planning and promotion of downtown South Bend. Robin also manages DTSB’s social media interface and event websites.
