DDP Team

KaTaya is a project manager for the BIZ Ambassador team. She ensures the Ambassador program runs smoothly.

Patricia is responsible for vendor management, coordinating office moves, maintaining daily office operations, and negotiating and purchasing office supplies and equipment.

Soula is a born and raised Detroiter who brings 25 years of sales and events experience to the DDP, including eight seasons with the Detroit Tigers. Most recently, she was with Bally Sports Detroit. When she’s not working hard to develop meaningful partnerships, you can find her kayaking out on the water with her husband Patrick.

As a staff accountant, Crystal Coles is responsible for general cost accounting, preparing and maintaining financial records to track the organization’s assets, liabilities, profit and loss, tax liabilities, and other related financial activities. Crystal has a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from Oakland University, and she has 16 years of accounting experience working with accounting software for various companies.

Laura Dean, Director of Parks and Public Spaces Programs for the Downtown Detroit Partnership (DDP), oversees 2,000+ annual events across DDP’s 18 public spaces like Campus Martius Park, drawing over 6 million visitors a year. She collaborates with community partners, small business owners and artists to provide free, diverse programming, including the Detroit Tree Lighting and headline concerts. Dean champions immersive experiences, curating acclaimed installations like Swinging Bells and Horizon at Beacon Park. A Certified Meetings Professional, Dean’s extensive career includes experiential campaigns for Chevy and Ford, and event planning for The Henry Ford Museum. Her work reflects her commitment to Detroit’s cultural vibrancy and community development.

Isaac Douglas, Assistant Project Manager at the DDP, supports the coordination, administration, documentation, and communication of projects within DDP’s Urban Innovation department. Isaac attended Bowling Green State University where he earned his Bachelor’s in Architectural and Environmental Design.

Ryan has been affiliated with the Downtown Detroit Partnership since 2013. He was operations manager for Clean Detroit and has managed the Business Improvement Zone operations since its inception in 2014. Ryan now is working with the Detroit Grand Prix as operations manager.

Alex Fields serves as DDP’s senior manager of event logistics and production. Having served as general manager of The Rink at Campus Martius Park for 17 years, Alex will work with the operational staff, providing oversight of the public space assets and facilities. Previously, he was a Film/TV/Commercial location manager working with Warner Bros., Paramount Pictures, Amazon Studios, and several commercial production companies.

James Fidler is an Urban Evolution Strategist for the Downtown Detroit Partnership and founding principal of Detroit-based urban design practice City Form Detroit. With over twenty years of experience, his projects have helped inform citywide policy, infrastructure, transportation, and development planning. His Downtown work includes placemaking and public space improvements to Campus Martius Park, Capitol Park, Grand Circus Park, and the Woodward Esplanade. Previous projects include completion of the 7.2 Sq Mi Report on Greater Downtown Detroit and the Greater Downtown Transit-Oriented Development Strategy. He was also a key strategist on the Detroit Future City Strategic Framework Plan. James received his Master of Architecture and Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Michigan.

Elise holds a bachelor’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning from Michigan State University. She has 15 years of experience working in the non-profit community and economic development sector in Detroit. As Director of Urban Innovation and Operations, she provides critical support and management for the DDP BIZ Ambassador and Clean Detroit programs and provides support for capital projects, urban innovation, and other special projects within the organization. Prior to joining the DDP she was the Chief Operating Officer for Midtown Detroit, Inc. (MDI), working directly on operations and program management. She provided direct oversight of the organizations Façade Matching Grant program, Small Business Development & Assistance program, Public Space Maintenance initiatives, Grants, and a number of MDI’s district planning efforts.

Sharon leads the DDP’s marketing, communications, digital and brand recognition strategies; and works with media to share DDP’s story, mission, vision and core values to drive awareness of the role the organization plays in Detroit. Sharon provides leadership to advance the corporate messaging and brand management strategy across all DDP business units. She holds a BA from the School of Communication at San Diego State University, an MA in Social Sciences from University of Chicago, and achieved her APR (Accreditation in Public Relations) in 2011.

Alicia Gray serves as the Executive Assistant to DDP’s Chief Public Spaces Officer. In this pivotal role, she expertly manages scheduling, budgeting, vendor contracts, and provides unwavering support for the organization’s multifaceted initiatives. With over a decade of experience supporting C-suite executives, Alicia held various senior executive assistant roles in healthcare administration, demonstrating her versatility and adaptability. Alicia attended the University of Detroit Mercy for her undergraduate where she studied Business Administration and Psychology. Beyond her professional pursuits, she finds solace in spending quality time with her family, exploring new destinations through travel, and immersing herself in the world of music and art.

A native Detroiter, Cliff attended Michigan State University but returned to Detroit to become a police officer. He pivoted again in 2003 to join the Detroit Event Team L.L.C. as an operations manager, and then the DDP in 2015 as operations field manager. “It is an honor to work for a company that has assisted with transforming the downtown into a vibrate, diverse, and inclusive area.

Krissy has been working for the DDP since 2016.

Talitha leads messaging, content development, media and communications strategy for the organization.  She is a Detroit native and Wayne State University alum. She brings more than 12 years of experience to her role as DDP’s director of communications. Johnson’s past role was as marketing manager at Detroit Regional Partnership, where she helped promote the 11-county Detroit Region to regional and national audiences.

Valerie Hale is the executive assistant to DDP’s Chief Administrative Officer. She transferred from the Detroit Grand Prix supporting its president. She brings over 20 years of experience working in the nonprofit and corporate sector with a focus on events, finance, HR, and fundraising. As a Detroit native, she strongly supports the Downtown Detroit community in lifestyle, work, and as a resident. She watched its development over the more recent years and is excited to be part of a team dedicated to its growth and prosperity.

Valerie attended WCCCD and received her AA in Paralegal Technology. After receiving a presidential academic scholarship, she continued her education at Loyola University Chicago in an accelerated program with studies in Management and Certification as a Paralegal. She enjoys live entertainment, electronic music, sports, competitive cooking, and walks along the Detroit Riverwalk.

Jessica LaPalme has joined the DDP team as a project accountant. Jessica has 15 years accounting experience with a focus on construction accounting and tracking. In addition to her work with DDP she is a property accountant for Community Capital Consulting, LLC. She is an alumnus of Jackson Community College. She enjoys working for companies that work to promote urban sprawl.

Maryann began her career with DDP over 22 years ago. The opportunity to become part of an organization so vital to Detroit aligned perfectly with Maryann’s love for the City and led to her current role Maryann holds a BS from Indiana University and an MBA from the University of Detroit Mercy.

Josh received a master’s degree in Urban Planning from the University of Michigan and has worked in the public sector, private sector consulting, and nonprofit data worlds. At DDP, Josh works closely with the City of Detroit, Downtown developers, and business owners to track building development, develop growth metrics, manage special projects, and calculate special assessments.

Elisa recently joined the team as a staff accountant and will be working closely with the Detroit 300 Conservatory. Previously she worked in Grand Rapids as an accountant for a family office. Over the past few years she has developed a passion for local art and music, and is glad to be part of an organization that furthers development within the city. Elisa attended Grand Valley State University for her undergraduate degree.

Bri recently worked for the Detroit Grand Prix as an Event Services Coordinator, where she assisted the Event Director and Volunteer Services Manager with the operation and administration of their 1,500-member volunteer organization with the Detroit Grand Prix Association (DGPA). She also coordinated and implemented the event’s parking plan, while working with vendors on production and installation of required signage and internal distribution of parking passes.

Previously, Bri served as the Beverage & Special Projects Manager at Jonathan Witz & Associates in Royal Oak for four years. During her tenure, she organized sponsored contests and children’s activities at events, coordinated winter-themed weekends at Valade Park in collaboration with the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy, and managed the operations of festival bars and concessions at major events including the Royal Oak Winter Blast, Royal Oak Taco Fest, Arts, Beats and Eats, and the Detroit Harvest Fest and Food Truck Rally.

As the Corporate Partnership Activation Manager, Chelsea is dedicated to delivering exceptional service to partners, ensuring they have a rewarding experience with DDP. With over eight years of experience in sponsorship sales, activations, event and vendor management, she has successfully organized a diverse range of events and innovative sponsor engagements.

Emma Oresky supports the integrated marketing of the DDP and BIZ, including but not limited to video journalism, media relations, social media, website coordination, and content creation. Her passions for marketing and supporting the community drive her work at the DDP, as well as her goals of increasing brand awareness and stakeholder activation. Emma graduated from Grand Valley State University where she earned her Bachelor of Business Administration degree in marketing.

Escarleth Ortega is a data-driven urban planner with a background in architecture, visual communication, and urban research. As Program Manager of Data and Marketing at Downtown Detroit Partnership, she leverages her expertise in data analysis and tools like ArcGIS to drive strategic decision-making and enhance marketing initiatives. With experience managing urban planning projects related to housing, mobility, and land use, Escarleth is committed to fostering inclusive, equitable cities through community engagement and innovative solutions. She holds a Master’s in Urban and Regional Planning from Michigan State University.

Melissa joins the DDP team as senior manager of public spaces. She is responsible for managing the daily facilities, amenities, maintenance, and operational activity of Downtown’s six award-winning parks and public spaces. Having more than five years of leadership experience, she also brings operational skills to her role. Melissa is OSHA certified with certificates in HVAC and electricity. She inspires team members and creates a culture of fun, care and accountability.

Anjana leads the marketing and communications efforts for the Downtown Detroit Business Improvement Zone, including small business engagement and the BIZ Ambassadors. She has a passion for storytelling and people, and experience as an award-winning television producer has sharpened her attention to detail and strategic decision-making skills. Anjana has been on the DDP team since October 2017.

DeShawn joined the BIZ team in 2021 and plays a significant role in the DDP’s safety and security program, overseeing its security vendors, Project Lighthouse initiative, and facilitating collaboration at monthly CompStat meetings. He also leads a team of young interns and high school students by assisting in their professional development.

Sarah Walsh is DDP’s senior events manager who oversees and manages all DDP, BIZ and Parks + Public Spaces events, including Annual Meeting, BIZ Connects, and special Parks Programming.

Kitty is a native Detroiter with over 30 years of customer and public service experience. She is devoted to the continued growth of businesses in Detroit. Kitty was recognized for her hard work and dedication to the Detroit community — named Overall Service Champion at the 2023 Rose Awards.