Who We Are
Welcome to Appleton Downtown, Inc. (ADI), your not-for-profit community coalition committed to fostering a thriving, safe, and inviting Downtown environment in Northeast Wisconsin.
Mission
To create a vibrant and welcoming Downtown and Riverfront so that commerce thrives, community connects and visitors share memorable experiences.
Vision
Downtown Appleton and the Riverfront are THE place where people connect, businesses prosper and culture thrives.
Our organization is dedicated to driving the continued vitality and success of Downtown Appleton forward, a few of our priorities include:
Economic Vitality and Business Support
Position Downtown Appleton as a thriving regional economic center by attracting investment, supporting business success and strengthening Downtown as a destination for commerce and employment.
Placemaking and Livability
Create a clean, safe and welcoming Downtown environment that enhances livability, supports daily activity and delivers an exceptional experience for all users.
Community Events, Arts and Culture
Establish Downtown as the heart of community life by expanding events, celebrating arts and culture and creating shared experiences that draw people together year-round.
Leadership, Collaboration and Partnerships
Strengthen Downtown impact through effective leadership and strategic partnerships that align resources, amplify influence and advance shared community goals.
Our partnership brings out the best in each of us. The Business Improvement District (BID), Appleton Downtown Inc. (ADI), and Creative Downtown Appleton Inc. (CDA) have come together to enhance our collective impact. The BID provides essential financial support through property assessments, while ADI oversees the coordination and implementation of our annual work plan. Meanwhile, CDA enriches the downtown experience by curating public art and cultural events.
This collaborative structure allows us to pool our resources, share knowledge, and coordinate our efforts, resulting in a more vibrant, thriving downtown for businesses, residents, and visitors alike. Learn more about the impact of Downtown Appleton in our 2025 Annual Report, which highlights key data and insights. You can also access the 2026 Operating Plan to see how these three entities work together and their strategic plans for the year ahead.
Strategic Planning
We engaged in a 3-Year Strategic Plan process to take a deeper dive into the top areas of our work, identifying the outcomes, actions, and ways to measure success over the next three years. This four-pillar, strategic framework is designed to move our district from reactive management to proactive growth. This plan is our blueprint for creating a resilient, vibrant destination that remains the economic and social heartbeat of the region for years to come.
Organization Structure
Our Team
Jennifer Stephany
Executive Director
Jennifer’s personal mission is to live life through experiences and relationships that nurture creativity, life-long learning, and personal and professional growth. She has led ADI for over 20 years and continues to be driven with a passion to advance and improve the Downtown district. At the core of Downtown’s success are the strong relationships we build year after year with our many partners and the amazing dedication of our Board of Directors and ADI team.
Meghan Warner
Community Partnership Director
What started out as working with the Downtown Appleton Farm Market in 2009 has turned into many years of work and dedication to Downtown Appleton. Currently, Meghan is the Community Partnership Director with Appleton Downtown where she manages the relationships between our organization and its partners. She has a strong passion for Downtown not only through her work with ADI, but also serving on the Appleton Parade Committee since 2007.
Abby Novak
Marketing Director
Abby started working as the Marketing Director at ADI in October of 2021, where she uses her knowledge and skills of the latest marketing trends to help promote Downtown Appleton and what makes it one great place. She enjoys working directly with the business owners to help tell the story of Downtown Appleton and helping promote all the great events that ADI has year-round.
Meghan Petters
Administrative & Marketing Coordinator
Meghan (Meg) joined ADI in November 2022. She currently serves as the Administrative & Marketing Coordinator, managing day-to-day office maintenance and supporting the Marketing Director. Before joining ADI, she worked as the marketing and social media coordinator for a small law firm. Meg has lived in the Appleton area for most of her life. She has always enjoyed supporting local businesses in Appleton and attending Appleton Downtown events with friends and family.
Sandy Storch
Events Coordinator
Sandy has been with ADI since November of 2019 where she started out as the Office Manager, helping make sure things run smoothly around the office. In March of 2022, she transitioned into her current position as the Events Coordinator, where she supports our Events Director. Sandy loves to see the community come together at ADI’s events and how it benefits all the great businesses Downtown.
Mary Beth Fosbinder
Events Director
Mary Beth joined ADI in May of 2025. Her diverse background includes business management, event management, culinary arts, and various customer service roles. She was raised on an 80-acre hobby farm in the north woods, where she developed a strong work ethic from a young age. With over 15 years of experience in the Fox Valley, Downtown Appleton has always been her favorite spot. She is enthusiastic about managing the Farm Market on Saturday mornings and looks forward to being part of the wonderful events that Downtown regularly offers.
Jim Lesser
Maintenance & Enhancement Specialist
Jim joined ADI in spring 2025 as our Maintenance and Enhancement Specialist. In this role, he helps keep Downtown Appleton clean, safe, and welcoming by performing a wide variety of upkeep tasks, including repairs, cleaning, and general beautification throughout the Business Improvement District. Prior to joining ADI, he worked at the Hilton Appleton Paper Valley Hotel, giving him a strong familiarity with Downtown Appleton and the community it serves.
ADI/CDA Board
Appleton Downtown, Inc. (ADI) is contracted by the Business Improvement District to carry out the collaborative annual work plan. ADI is the activation and managing entity driven to infuse Downtown with coordinated activities and programs that recruit, support and promote local business, attract visitors and investment to the district and keep the Downtown clean and attractive. ADI is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit organization.
Creative Downtown Appleton, Inc. (CDA) is the 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable affiliate of ADI with a mission to enhance Downtown’s sense of place while increasing access to art and culture through special events, public art displays, and beautification within the overall landscape of Downtown.
- Steve Lonsway, Stone Arch Brewpub – President
- Lyssa King, King Brokerage – Past President
- Kolby Knuth, Knuth Financial Planning and The 513 – Vice President
- Stephanie Lowney, U.S. Venture, Energy Division – Secretary
- Tom Klister, FORE Development + Investment Group – Treasurer
- Natalie Klika, Johnson Financial Group
- Madera Allan, Lawrence University
- Jeff Geiger, J. Geiger Consulting
- Todd Heid, Heid Music
- Amanda Furman, Furman Real Estate Collective
- Bri Kapheim, Spats
- Monika Austin, Beatnik Betty’s Resale Butik
- Jon Searles, Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority
- Kay Halbrook, Telmark Sales and Services
- Steve Wille, Hoffman Planning, Design & Construction
- Yee Vue, Bowl 91
BID Board
The Downtown Business Improvement District (BID) aims to protect and enhance district assets, attract investment, and support commerce within the central business district via strong partnerships and financial support. Through a sustainable structure and strong partnerships, BID programs improve economic and environment conditions that support a mixed-use strategy. The BID provides financial support for image marketing, business and building grants, maintenance and cleaning of Downtown and a portion of staff support for Appleton Downtown, Inc. The Business Improvement District is a self-taxing entity whereby the properties are assessed based on the assessed value. The BID rate is $2.75 per $1000 of assessed value with a $275 minimum and a $5500 maximum. There are 202 assessed properties in the district.
- Walter Schonfeld, DKS Management Service, LLC – Chairman
- Gary Schmitz, Community Advocate – Past Chairman
- Tim Ceman, Nobel Assets – Treasurer
- Bill Wetzel, ACOCA Cafe and Roastery – Secretary
- Brad Schwebs, Pfefferle Management
- Nate Weyenberg, Angels Forever-Windows of Light
- Benjamin King, Downtown Resident & King Brokerage
- David Kress, City of Appleton