The Ogden Downtown Alliance (ODA) is excited to announce new leadership and staff additions as it gears up for an eventful 2024 season. Reide Thompson has been appointed as the Interim Executive Director effective March 4th, 2024. Thompson brings a wealth of valuable experience to her new role, having over 12 years in nonprofit leadership experience.
Her most recent tenure was with the GOAL Foundation, where she directed marketing, communications, and organized large-scale events like the Ogden Marathon. A true creative visionary, Thompson’s diverse background encompasses strategic development, sales, marketing initiatives, and a deep-rooted passion for placemaking and fostering cultural connections through vibrant community programming.
Thompson’s appointment as Interim Executive Director has generated significant excitement within ODA and the broader downtown Ogden community. Her dynamic leadership style, coupled with a keen analytical mindset and boundless enthusiasm for championing local entrepreneurs, makers, and creative visionaries, positions her well to spearhead transformative initiatives.
With Thompson at the helm, ODA aims to cement downtown Ogden’s reputation as a vibrant cultural hub that offers unparalleled arts, entertainment, and enriching experiences for residents and visitors. Her infectious energy for community engagement through volunteerism and advocacy promises to forge deeper connections between the organization and the diverse tapestry of businesses, artists, and cultural influencers that shape the distinctive character of the district.
Joining Thompson is Thomas Kiernan, who will take on the role of Operations and Development Director. Kiernan’s focus will be on enhancing community engagement, streamlining internal processes, and building a framework for sustainable growth of ODA’s signature events and initiatives.
His efforts will be bolstered by the addition of Tereena Marcano on March 18th, 2024, who will join the team as the Event and Social Media Marketing Specialist alongside long-time marketing and communications manager Jessica Anderson.
The new team is hard at work preparing for ODA’s signature events, including the 9th season of the beloved Farmers Market Ogden kicking off on May 25th. Other annual highlights include the Historic 25th Street Car Show and Harvest Moon Celebration.
At the core of these transitions is ODA’s steadfast commitment to its mission of increasing economic opportunities and fostering a vibrant atmosphere throughout Ogden’s central business district. The organization remains dedicated to supporting and promoting locally-owned independent businesses while leveraging the power of placemaking, destination marketing, and carefully curated community programming to cement downtown Ogden’s reputation as a thriving cultural hub.
The ODA Board of Directors has expressed its sincere gratitude to past leadership and staff members for their invaluable contributions in establishing a strong foundation upon which the incoming team can build and innovate.
As the downtown Ogden community welcomes new beginnings, the future looks bright for this thriving cultural district. Stay tuned for more updates on ODA’s 2024 event lineup!
