Amanda Everitt
Executive Director, Destination Downtown Lancaster
President, Downtown Lancaster Special Improvement District
Amanda Everitt is a dedicated community advocate and economic development professional based in Lancaster, Ohio. She has served as executive director of Destination Downtown and the president of the Downtown Special Improvement District for 8 years. With a deep commitment to strengthening small businesses and revitalizing downtown districts, Amanda has spent her career bringing together public, private, and nonprofit stakeholders to foster vibrant local economies.
She has led and collaborated on initiatives that support entrepreneurship, enhance community identity, and promote long-term sustainability. Amanda is known for her ability to build strong relationships, navigate complex challenges, and turn innovative ideas into actionable plans. Her work reflects a deep belief in the power of place-based development and the importance of inclusive, community-driven solutions.
Whether she’s helping local businesses thrive, facilitating strategic partnerships, or championing creative placemaking efforts, Amanda brings energy, insight, and authenticity to everything she does.
Alex Kirchgessner
Program and Event Manager
Alex has service industry background with over six years as a service coordinator. She is thrilled to bring her experience and skills to serve the Lancaster community. She is also the co-owner of, Queens Entertainment, bringing awesome music bingo tunes to local businesses downtown! When she is not planning and coordinating the rest of the year, she enjoys spending time with her partner Jim and two kiddos! She loves hiking, having a beer at Double Edge, tending to far too many animals and taking on more than she can handle in-house projects.
Sarah Mullins
Marketing Specialist
A lifelong Lancaster resident, Sarah Mullins brings creativity and community spirit to her role as Marketing Specialist at Destination Downtown Lancaster. A graduate of Ohio University with a degree in Communication and a minor in Psychology, Sarah first discovered her passion for downtown revitalization while volunteering with her service fraternity, Alpha Phi Omega, at DDL events. That experience led to an internship—and now a career—focused on sharing the story of Lancaster’s vibrant city center. Sarah is excited to support local businesses, highlight community events, and help downtown continue to thrive.
Jean Comer
DDL Office Assistant
Jean brings her many years of professional experience with local community organizations, including Lancaster City Schools, Fairfield Medical Center, and most recently, Lancaster Education Association. She is excited to join the DDL team and work with all the energetic folks involved in our downtown community. If Jean looks familiar, it is no surprise; she has been an active community member for over 17 years. Jean's first love is family and she enjoys travelling and spending time with her husband, Dave, who is a Boys Cross Country and Track assistant coach for Lancaster High School. One of their favorite destinations is Athens, to visit their daughter, a photography major at Ohio University. Jean also likes to spend time cooking, baking, and reading.
Eliot Richardson
Downtown Beautification Specialist
Eliot Richardson is a lifelong Lancaster resident with a passion for keeping his hometown vibrant and welcoming. Eliot brings valuable experience in landscaping, property management, and maintenance to his new role with Destination Downtown Lancaster. Living in the heart of downtown, he takes pride in helping enhance the beauty and upkeep of the district so that residents, businesses, and visitors alike can enjoy all that Lancaster’s city center has to offer.
SID Snow & Ice Removal
The SID annually contracts with local companies to provide snow and ice removal on sidewalks within the Special Improvement District. Most recently we have used the services of Kirkbride Land and Snow Management.
Board Members
BOARD CHAIR —Colleen Cook, Fairfield County
VICE-CHAIR — Jared Smith, Lancaster City Schools
TREASURER — Delainey McIlwain, Park National Bank
MAYORAL SEAT — Don McDaniel, City of Lancaster
SID APPOINTED — Leah Blevins, Bootleggers of Lancaster
SID APPOINTED — Eric Brown, SID Property Owner
SECRETARY — Christa Moody
Patti Riordan, Immediate Past Chair, The Smoke Stack Hobby Shop, Downtown Resident
Aundrea Cordle, County Appointed
Nathan Dilley, Geopro Imaging, LLC
Zac Williams, Double Edge Brewing Co.
David Scheffler, Downtown Resident
Matt Nihiser, Downtown Resident, 5th Ward Councilman
Amanda Stuckey
Tammy Slicer, Rejuvenation Station
Christy Lodder, Downtown Resident
Kate Smiley, Downtown Resident, Park National Bank
Michael Crites, Downtown Resident