Executive Director
An Evanston native with strong connections to the local community, Andy joined the Downtown Evanston organization in August 2023 after working for almost 20 years as a nonprofit Executive Director at local arts agencies in Maryland and Colorado. Earlier in his career, Andy and his wife were full-time visual artists and successful small business owners, and he worked in marketing and human resources for several companies in the Washington, DC area. Over the years, Andy has also been an engaged Board member for a number of chambers of commerce, local and state tourism offices, a variety of cultural organizations, and a downtown development authority. That commitment to community service continues here in Evanston, as he is active with the Evanston Chamber of Commerce, Chicago's North Shore Convention & Visitors Bureau, the City of Evanston's Economic Development Committee, and the Evanston Nouveau Rotary Club. Andy is passionate about economic development and community vitality, and intentional about working to foster a culture of equity and inclusion across the Downtown Evanston business district.

Director of Marketing
Laura Brown joined Downtown Evanston in July 2015, bringing over 10 years of experience in communications, marketing and community outreach. Previously, Laura was Program Manager at Bluestem Communications where she managed several community and stakeholder engagement projects, and was a publicist at an arts and culture public relations firm in New York. Laura studied Urban Planning and Policy at the University of Illinois at Chicago and is a licensed real estate broker. As an Evanston native, Laura loves working in her hometown to work with and promote the downtown business district and entire Evanston community.