LakewoodAlive Executive Director Receives Statewide Award
Heritage Ohio recently awarded the “Main Street Manager of the Year” to Mary Anne Crampton, executive director of LakewoodAlive. Crampton accepted the award Thursday, June 17 at Heritage Ohio’s Annual Preservation and Revitalization Awards Ceremony held at the Baker Center on the campus of Ohio University. The Awards Ceremony is held in conjunction with Heritage Ohio’s Statewide Conference.
Crampton was hired as the Executive Director of Lakewood Community Progress, Inc. (LCPI) in June, 2008. With a background in the private sector and a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Case Western Reserve University, she was involved in the citizen-based LakewoodAlive since its inception. Although Lakewood was accepted as a Main Street™ community in 2005, under Ms. Crampton’s leadership, LakewoodAlive received national accreditation by the National Main Street Center in February, 2009 and again in March, 2010.
Under Crampton’s leadership, LakewoodAlive has recruited many new volunteers. In 2009, an estimated 4,762 hours, valued at $96,430, were logged by volunteers. Additionally, Crampton has overseen community wide events, including:
- Lakewood Alive & Well Streetwalk,
- Spooky Pooch Parade,
- Lakewood Chocolate Walk
- Light-Up Lakewood,
- Downtown Lakewood pARTy,
- Holiday Happy Hours
- Outdoor concerts
Crampton has worked with the City of Lakewood Planning and Development Department to create “guiding principles for new design guidelines” for the downtown commercial district. She has also worked with a subcommittee to complete the design of a new wayfinding and signage system. Under her guidance, beautification projects such as the Downtown Lakewood Blossoms flower boxes, graffiti removal and litter control have expanded significantly. Recently, LakewoodAlive has begun the process of obtaining status for Lakewood as a nationally recognized historic district.
More than $6 million was reinvested in the downtown district in 2009, culminating with the opening of four new dining establishments (Panera Bread, Five Guys Burgers and Fries, Two Dads Diner and Root Café) which represent more than 50 new full-time jobs. Finally, LakewoodAlive and the city of Lakewood were jointly recognized with an Economic Impact Award from Team NEO in June, 2009 for their work in attracting Wholesome Development headquarters to Lakewood.
“Mary Anne’s exceptional leadership has helped our community in so many ways,” said Jennifer Baker, president of the board of LakewoodAlive. “She enthusiastically embraces the Main Street™ Four-Point approach to further the mission of LakewoodAlive. Her vision, communication skills and hard work make her uniquely qualified to be Heritage Ohio’s Main Street™ Manager of the Year.”
Heritage Ohio is the statewide, not-for-profit preservation organization, dedicated to encouraging and assisting people and organizations to protect, preserve and revitalize Ohio’s heritage. Formed in 1989, Heritage Ohio has more than 500 members ranging from individuals and households to organizations and local governments. In 2002, Heritage Ohio was designated as the statewide partner of the National Trust Historic Preservation.
Heritage Ohio encourages the development, redevelopment and improvement of downtown and neighborhood commercial districts. Heritage Ohio works as a catalyst for downtown development by bringing together downtown organizations, conducting statewide seminars and conferences and providing a network to share knowledge, common experiences and challenges concerning downtowns.
LakewoodAlive is an economic development corporation whose mission is to improve the quality of life of residents by creating alliances with community leaders, leveraging community assets and expanding the pool of available resources in order to facilitate economic stability and growth in the City of Lakewood.