by Max Marbut
Staff Writer
When you find something – or some place – you really like, it’s a good idea to jump in with both feet. At least that’s true for Michelle Brooks, who recently joined the team at Downtown Vision, Inc. as its new promotions manager.
Born and educated in Florida, she already had a job when she graduated from Florida State University that brought her to Jacksonville and Downtown to the Omni Hotel.
She was hired for the corporate “Leaders in Development” program and also served as executive assistant to Scott Stuckey, the Omni’s general manager. She began training to work in guest services at the front desk and within seven months was promoted to assistant front desk manager.
Brooks said when she found out the promotions manager position was open at DVI, she decided to submit her resume even though she really enjoyed working at the hotel.
“I was familiar with DVI from my job. Downtown has so much potential and I fell in love with it while I worked at the Omni. When I found out the job was available, I decided to apply for it. I thought it would be really exciting to work with an organization that is dedicated to making Downtown better.”
Brooks was inspired to make the move, she said, because she remembered how much fun she had in Tallahassee during a certain all-important time of the year as an intern at Seminole Athletics Marketing.
“We made 83,000 people happy on Saturday afternoons during football season,” said Brooks. “We did everything from grass-roots marketing to large programs. I learned how to promote events by learning how to promote FSU football.
“It was what I enjoyed the most and I discovered I wanted to get back into it,” she said.
Brooks is particularly impressed with the long-term success of DVI’s First Wednesday Art Walk, an event that has grown from a few dozen mostly under-25 participants into Downtown’s signature monthly event that draws thousands of people who stroll the streets to discover new art and the people who create it.
“Art Walk is going really smoothly. When it started, it was an event that attracted mostly young people, but now it’s really diverse. You see everything from families with baby strollers to seniors on their scooters.”
Only on the job at DVI for a few weeks, Brooks is still getting to know the market and her new co-workers.
“Pamela (Elms, DVI’s marketing director) and I are both new and it’s nice because we can bring a fresh approach to DVI’s mission of promoting Downtown as a place to live, work and play to people who aren’t familiar with all the things we have to offer,” she said. “We’re evaluating all the things that have been done in order to enhance what’s working and also create new experiences. We want to grow the things that are working and look carefully at things that didn’t because Jacksonville, and especially Downtown, is changing so fast. You have to be open-minded if you want it to grow.”
To introduce new promotions, Brooks said, her first step is to meet with Downtown’s business and property owners in order to build good working relationships. She believes that will be the key to success for Downtown and for DVI.
“We want to develop our partnerships and eventually, sponsorships. We’d love to partner with as many companies and organizations as possible. We can’t do it alone.”