Replacements as yet unnamed

By Ashley Garman | SDUN Reporter

Two uptown neighborhood associations will soon need to find new executive direction.

Executives at both the Adams Avenue Business Association (AABA) and North Park Main Street Association (NPMSA) are resigning. As of August, both Jim Schneider of AABA and Liz Studebaker of NPMSA will move on.

“It’s a lot of intellectual capacity going out of the neighborhoods at the same time,” said Benjamin Nicholls, executive director of the Hillcrest Business Association. Nicholls expressed concern that training new directors could take more than a year. “They have to know everything, including where the trash cans are,” he said.

However, Schneider, who has held the position since February 2006, said, “I just feel now is the right time.” He will now devote his time to project management and consulting for private businesses in the area. “Individual business—that’s where my real passion is,” he said.

As for Studebaker, she says she and her husband are moving to Sacramento where her husband has secured a new position.

Schneider’s decision to leave comes amid another change for the community. The Adams Avenue Farmer’s Market ended May 11th due to continually low attendance.

“It was a project of the association that we really struggled with,” said Schneider, saying the market had become unable to sustain itself. The association has not ruled out reopening the market in a new location, but it is not actively pursuing it right now, he said.

Despite the market’s close, Schneider has had many notable accomplishments during his time at AABA. When
he began as executive director, there was a sidewalk repair project that had been on the shelf for two years.

“Within the first eight months of me being here, we completed that project,” said Schneider. He also increased the budget for Taste of Adams Avenue by six-fold through reevaluating its business model. The budget grew from $5,000 to $30,000.

AABA has yet to begin the process of finding a replacement. However, since Schneider leaves the position in August, the new executive director will get some down time to learn the ropes during the AABA’s slow season from September to February.

Consequently, some expect a smooth transition. Patrick Adams, president of the San Diego Business Improvement District, said new executives won’t have a major effect on the Business Improvement
Districts, or BID’s.

“That’s a staff position; The BID’s are really run by the boards,” said Adams. Further the NPMSA has already received 50 applications for Studebaker’s job.