The Main Street District encompasses the 36-block area bounded by Gervais, Elmwood, Assembly, and Marion streets in Columbia, SC. The organization provides public space management, economic development, place management, marketing services, and public advocacy for the Main Street District. The Board of Directors oversees the organization’s mission — to focus on filling vacancies in commercial properties, retaining existing downtown businesses and recruiting new ones, expanding the downtown residential base, and creating a safe, clean, and friendly downtown environment.
Board Meetings for 2022 [DOCX]
Matt Kennell, President and CEO
matt@msdcolumbia.comMatt is a native of Virginia and has worked in urban development and management for over 30 years in Florida, Virginia, and South Carolina. He loves spending time with his family and his two crazy Jack Russell Terriers. If you’re looking for him, chances are you will either find him somewhere in the Main Street District or navigating his boat on Lake Murray!
Adrian Nelson, Director of Operations
adrian@msdcolumbia.comAdrian joined the Main Street District's Yellow Shirt team in 2005. He previously served in the US Army for 22 years and retired as a Sergeant Major.
Heather Spires, Vice President, Development & Administration
Heather@msdcolumbia.comHeather rejoined the Main Street District as VP of Development & Administration in 2022. Previously, she was VP of Retail Recruitment for our organization from 2011 to 2015.
Kelsey Bickley, Director of Marketing
Kelsey@msdcolumbia.comKelsey is a marketing professional with over seven years of experience promoting the Columbia region through her previous role with Experience Columbia SC. Born and raised in the Columbia area, she received a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Clemson University before coming back to serve her community.
R. Matthew Kennell
President & CEO
City Center Partnership, Inc.
Jason Caskey
Secretary
University of South Carolina Foundations
Sam Johnson
Long Range Planning Committee Chair
Greengate Strategy
Sharon Bryant
Chair
First Citizens Bank
Heather Mitchell
Vice Chair
Boudreaux Group
Henri Baskins
Columbia Chamber
Jonathan Harvey
Public Space Committee Chair
Colliers
Drew Painter
Treasurer
First Community Bank
Catherine Nates
Marketing Committee Chair
Halls Chophouse
Anthony Jackson
Prisma Baptist
Chad Elsey
Cantina 76
Della Watkins
Columbia Museum of Art
Dr. Richard J. Wassermann
Plastic Surgery Consultants
Georgia Coleman
Richland Library
Hon. Allison Terracio
Richland County Council
Hon. Daniel Rickenmann
City of Columbia
Hon. Paul Livingston
Richland County
Hon. Rev. Edward McDowell, Jr.
City of Columbia
Jeremy Becraft
Mast General Store
Joni Ashford
Hub Columbia
Josh Willoughby
Market on Main
Julie Tuttle
Styx Companies
Kristian Niemi
Bourbon Columbia
Leonardo Brown
Richland County
Michael Amiridis
University of South Carolina
Pamela Bynoe-Reed
The COMET
Raj Champaneri
Lexington Hospitality
Rita Patel
Hotel Trundle
Ryan Coleman
City of Columbia
Sara Middleton Styles, Esq.
LTC Hospitality | SC House Calls
Scott Garvin
Garvin Design Group
Sheila Willis
Fisher Phillips
Teresa Wilson
City of Columbia
Travis McNeal
Oliver Gospel
January 3, 2023
Check out what’s happening in January around the Main Street District. READ MORE… Read More
December 14, 2022
The Main Street District, along with the City of Columbia and many generous supporters, will light up the night with a permanent installation of thousands of LED lights in a canopy above the 1600 block of Main Street on Friday, December 16 at 5:30 pm. READ MORE… Read More