Springfield Business Improvement District announces promotions of two employees

Date: 1/11/2010

SPRINGFIELD The Springfield Business Improvement District (SBID) has announced the promotion of two long term employees to new roles in the revamping of the downtown revitalization agency.

Three-year SBID employee Chris Castellano has been promoted to the role of director of operations.

Under his leadership are the SBID Clean Team and the Downtown Guides program.

The promotion of Castellano to the new role comes following a top to bottom review of all of the SBID operations.

The operations department is responsible for the daily supplemental cleaning of downtown streets and sidewalks, the maintenance of flower planters and the flower beds and the Guides program, a team of security officers that act as downtown ambassadors.

Five-year SBID employee Maureen Pinette has been promoted to the role of director of marketing and communications. Previously employed as the SBID events coordinator, Pinette will now be responsible for all SBID media, advertising, events, social networking and daily communications.

Included in her responsibilities is the SBID's successful Stearns Square Concert Series, a 10-week concert program beginning in July on Thursday evenings.

SBID Executive Director Don Courtemanche stated, "My responsibility in the first few months of working with the SBID has been the top to bottom review of all of our activities, personnel, budget items and strategic plans. Chris and Maureen were natural fits for advancement in the organization and had really done a terrific job of running the agency in the months without a director. I'm happy that the Board of Directors agreed with my decision to promote them both."

The SBID was formed in 1998 with the responsibility of the revitalization of Springfield's downtown as the cultural and economic center of Western Massachusetts.

Paid for by a surtax on downtown property owners, the SBID offers daily cleaning and sprucing up of downtown streets, daily security/ambassador services, real estate marketing and events to attract visitors to our downtown.

More information on the SBID can be obtained by calling 787-1816 or by visiting www.SpringfieldDowntown.com.