Director, Riverside Arts Market
Mission
The Riverside Arts Market LLC is a nonprofit that was founded by Riverside Avondale Preservation to support its efforts, enrich the lives of neighbors and visitors, enhance the cultural and economic vibrancy of the community, and encourage the artistic and economic growth of local artisans.
Serving Jacksonville
The Riverside Arts Market opened in 2009 and is in its third year of providing Jacksonville residents with the largest free weekly arts and entertainment venue in Northeast Florida.
Those served
While our name indicates we are a Riverside venue, the market attracts visitors from all over Jacksonville, Northeast Florida and Southern Georgia. An average of 5,000 visitors attend RAM every Saturday, with as many as 25,000 or more during opening and closing months and special events.
Biggest challenge
There are many challenges in offering a weekly event of this magnitude. The biggest challenge is finding a way to balance the needs, ideas and expectations of our 400 approved vendors, numerous weekly visitors and volunteers while staying true to the mission of the market. Everyone has an idea of how they want their market to operate. I must look at the market as a whole and make decisions that will benefit the majority and create an inviting venue every week. It is not always easy, but I have fun trying.
Biggest satisfaction
My favorite part of working with RAM is creating win-win situations that benefit numerous people. RAM offers many wonderful partnership opportunities that benefit local businesses and organizations while also serving RAM, our vendors and visitors. In today’s economy, we must all work together and combine our resources in order to be successful. It makes me happy to know that RAM adds to the success of other organizations and individuals.
Hometown
I was born in Brighton, Mich., but have lived in Florida since 1981 and have been in Jacksonville for 17 years.
First experience with community service
As a young adult, I was always interested in various causes and community service organizations, but my first monumental experience in community service was in 1998 when I participated in the Pony Express Tour, a motorcycle relay to benefit the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation. This event allowed me to combine my interests in health and music as I raised money and rode several legs of the relay, and also wrote and performed the official theme song. Since that event I have carried with me a very important message that one of the breast cancer survivors and participants shared: “Good things happen when you do good.” He was right!
Your job before RAM
I have been working in the nonprofit realm for 15 years. My last job was as the associate director of the Area Health Education Center in Jacksonville, where I was primarily responsible for developing tobacco cessation and training programs in Northeast Florida and coordinating special marketing and education projects.
Also, I have been a guitarist/singer/songwriter since the age of 6, and music has always been my first love. Not wanting to be a “starving musician,” I decided to pursue an education and career track that would support my music habit and slowly worked my way through college where I earned a Master’s Degree in Healthcare Administration. On April 29, 2010, my father died of a heart attack, and his death made me re-evaluate my life. I quickly realized how important it is to surround yourself with the people and things you love. Two days after I returned home from his funeral, I saw an ad indicating that RAM was looking for a new director and I knew I had to apply. RAM allows me to combine my business and nonprofit experience with my love for music and the arts.
Upcoming events
There are several special theme days at RAM, as well as two upcoming special events:
• July 16: “The Art of Beer.” Beer will be available all day at the market and there will be workshops by local brewers, along with live entertainment from 5:30-10:30 p.m.
• Oct. 21-22: The 2nd Annual RAM Oktoberfest. It will feature beer, German food, music and more fun than you can shake a schnitzel at.
Theme days:
• June 18: Jacksonville RollerGirls @ RAM Day
• June 25: Tobacco Free Day @ RAM
• Aug. 27: The Arf Barket (National Dog Day @ RAM)
• Sept. 17: Book Day @ RAM
• Oct. 1: Yoga Day
Contact information
www.RiversideArtsMarket.com
[email protected]