Beth Wierick, past Board President shares.
Beth Weirick served on the WDAC Board from 2010 through 2015 and was President of the Board 2014-2015. She has also served as head cheerleader and CEO of Milwaukee Downtown, Business Improvement District #21 since its inception in 1998. With more than 30 years of management experience in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors, Weirick has been instrumental in the rebirth of downtown Milwaukee.
She oversees district operations for BID #21’s 150 square blocks, which includes managing clean, safe, and friendly initiatives such as the Public Service Ambassador and Clean Sweep Ambassador programs, Graffiti Removal Team, and Landscape Crew. In addition, she continues to promote downtown as a thriving destination through branding campaigns and the organization’s popular events – Taste & Toast, Downtown Dining Week, Downtown Employee Appreciation Week, and the Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival. Weirick also advocates on a variety of issues pertaining to business retention and recruitment, parking and transportation, and quality of life issues.
We recently asked her the questions we thought you would want to know:
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF BEING INVOLVED IN THE WDAC?
I love the Downtown Summits and the opportunities they provide to immerse myself in other downtown communities. Reconnecting with old friends and meeting new leaders in this industry is another reason why the summits are one of my favorite facets of WDAC.
WHAT LED TO YOUR CAREER IN DOWNTOWN MANAGEMENT?
I’ve always had an affinity for downtown Milwaukee. Some of my fondest memories as a child include visiting shops, restaurants, and entertainment venues in downtown Milwaukee. As a teenager, my friends and I attended a Boston concert and I recall thinking what potential our downtown had. I really was motivated by the possibilities to enliven something so near and dear to my heart. I recognize how important all of our downtowns are, no matter the size, in being the place that connects our communities.
WHY SHOULD OTHERS GET INVOLVED IN WDAC?
The networking, the idea-sharing, the camaraderie, the opportunity to bounce solutions off others who may have experienced a similar challenge are why being a part of WDAC is invaluable. There are so many resources and opportunities for community leaders to collaborate, work together and keep Wisconsin’s downtowns vibrant.
ANYTHING ELSE YOU’D LIKE TO SHARE?
This year marks the 25th anniversary of our organization and my anniversary as the organization’s leader. We look forward to celebrating this milestone and all the successes our organization has achieved at our annual meeting in mid-October. Our next event on the docket is Downtown Dining Week, which returns September 8 – 15 with prix-fixe lunch and dinner menus at 28 downtown restaurants. We’re also currently working on resuming our in-person events for the Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival post-COVID. This includes resurrecting our televised kickoff extravaganza along the Milwaukee River in Pere Marquette Park and our 40-minute Jingle Bus tours that acquaint visitors with all our lights and sights.
