IT’S YOUR CITY. IT’S YOUR DNA.

IT’S YOUR CITY.
IT’S YOUR DNA.

WELCOME TO THE DOWNTOWN NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION OF ELGIN

The DNA is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization representing Downtown Elgin. Our mission is to revitalize, enhance and sustain Elgin’s historic city center. The DNA team works on behalf of every Downtown Elgin business owner, property owner, stakeholder and resident, in partnership with City leaders and community volunteers. DNA helps strengthen the economic vitality of the downtown by providing strategic business support services available to all downtown businesses and property owners, cultivating a network of entrepreneurs interested in considering a downtown location, and driving foot-traffic and visibility through positive community building events such as the Elgin Farmers Market and seasonal promotional campaigns.

OUR FOUR PILLARS OF FOCUS

  • Economic Development
    The DNA actively recruits new businesses to vacant downtown properties. It supports existing businesses through education, grant opportunities and strategic partnerships. It advocated for pro-growth city policies at the advisement of businesses and property owners. These initiatives facilitate long-term, sustainable and vibrant businesses in Downtown Elgin.

  • Community Building & Collaboration
    The DNA brings together businesses, property owners, city officials, community members and other key stake holders to collaborate, partner and build a thriving downtown community.

  • Perception & Promotion
    The DNA works with the city and other organizations to promote all that Elgin has to offer. It gets the word out about our great city through marketing and special events. It helps to manage the image and perception of Downtown Elgin (and by default the city as a whole) through the press and other media outlets.

  • Beautification & Physical Enhancement
    The DNA is an advocate for the preservation the rich heritage of Downtown Elgin. DNA champions the city’s cultural diversity, historic architecture and best in class urban design, thereby enhancing its artistic character and forward thinking ideals.

WELCOME TO THE DOWNTOWN NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION OF ELGIN

The DNA is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization representing Downtown Elgin. Our mission is to revitalize, enhance and sustain Elgin’s historic city center. The DNA team works on behalf of every Downtown Elgin business owner, property owner, stakeholder and resident, in partnership with City leaders and community volunteers. DNA helps strengthen the economic vitality of the downtown by providing strategic business support services available to all downtown businesses and property owners, cultivating a network of entrepreneurs interested in considering a downtown location, and driving foot-traffic and visibility through positive community building events such as the Elgin Farmers Market and seasonal promotional campaigns.

OUR FOUR PILLARS OF FOCUS

  • Economic Development
    The DNA actively recruits new businesses to vacant downtown properties. It supports existing businesses through education, grant opportunities and strategic partnerships. It advocated for pro-growth city policies at the advisement of businesses and property owners. These initiatives facilitate long-term, sustainable and vibrant businesses in Downtown Elgin.

  • Community Building & Collaboration
    The DNA brings together businesses, property owners, city officials, community members and other key stake holders to collaborate, partner and build a thriving downtown community.

  • Perception & Promotion
    The DNA works with the city and other organizations to promote all that Elgin has to offer. It gets the word out about our great city through marketing and special events. It helps to manage the image and perception of Downtown Elgin (and by default the city as a whole) through the press and other media outlets.

  • Beautification & Physical Enhancement
    The DNA is an advocate for the preservation the rich heritage of Downtown Elgin. DNA champions the city’s cultural diversity, historic architecture and best in class urban design, thereby enhancing its artistic character and forward thinking ideals.

OUR TEAM. YOUR CITY. THE CAUSE.

Your DNA team is dedicated to supporting every business in Downtown Elgin. Our board leadership, employees, volunteers and supporting members are each 100% dedicated to promoting Downtown Elgin.

OUR TEAM. YOUR CITY. THE CAUSE.

Your DNA team is dedicated to supporting every business in Downtown Elgin. Our board leadership, employees, volunteers and supporting members are each 100% dedicated to promoting Downtown Elgin.

DNA Staff

Jennifer Fukala
Executive Director

Involved with:
• Kane Elgin Home Commission
• Explore Elgin Area Visitor’s Bureau Board
• Elgin Symphony Orchestra Board
• Historic Elgin House Tour Committee
• EDG Enhancing Elgin Committee
• DNA Economic Development Committee

Sarah Michaels
Events Coordinator

Involved with:
• Farmers Market Committee
• Promotions Committee

Sarah Rose
Communications & Admin Coordinator

Involved with:
• Coming Soon

EPD Liaison

Officer Ultan Gallagher
Downtown ROPE Officer

DNA Board Members

Brian Pinon – Board President

Elgin Resident

Business Owner:
• Quadrant Motors
• Pinon Consulting

Current Boards/Committee’s/Commissions:
• DNA Economic Development Committee

Past Boards/Committee’s/Commissions:
• NENA Board of Directors
• EMSA Board of Directors

Professional Skills and Experience:
• Business Development, Government Procurement, Real Estate Development

Chris Davis – Vice President

Downtown Business Owner:
• INSPIRE Realty Group

Current Boards/Committee’s/Commissions:
• Economic Development Committee
• Softball Coach for Athletics HQ
• Active Community Volunteer

Professional Skills and Experience:
• Commercial Building Construction, Real Estate Investment and Sales

Mark Novelli – Secretary

Elgin Resident

Downtown Business Owner:
• Imago Media, Publishing and Events

Past Roles/Boards/Committee’s/Commissions:
• Shared Harvest Food Coop – Board Member
• Food For Greater Elgin – Marketing Committee
• Elgin Classic Little League – Coach
• Elgin Rippers Travel Baseball – Coach
• Elgin Winter Wonderland Event – Event Coordinator
• Wing Park Area Neighbors – Organizer
• Elgin Fringe Fest – Volunteer

Professional Skills and Experience:
• Storytelling, Filmmaking, Web Development, Graphic Design, Marketing Strategy, Social Media, Event Producer

Joy Symonds – Treasurer

Elgin Resident

Downtown Business Owner:
• Symonds-Madison Funeral Home
• Be the Light Strategies – Marketing & Community Engagement Consulting

Current Boards/Committee’s/Commissions:
• Gail Borden Library Trustee
• Operation L.O.V.E. Volunteer Network

Past Roles/ Boards/Committee’s/Commissions:
• Patient Family Advocate, Advocate Sherman Hospital
• President, Women in Mentoring Fox Valley
• Public Awareness Subcommittee Co-Chair on the first Michigan Commission on Human Trafficking
• Director of Communications for the Department of Attorney General for the State of Michigan

Professional Skills and Experience:
• Marketing, Government Relations, Public Relations

Tom Brockner – Director

Elgin Resident

Downtown Business Owner:
• Tom’s Auto Clinic

Current Boards/Committee’s/Commissions:
• Kiwanis Elgin

Dr. Wil Dumas – Director

Downtown Business Owner:
• Lincoln Avenue Barbershop

Current Boards/Committee’s/Commissions:
• Active Volunteer for Boys and Girls Club of Elgin, Community Leader

Past Boards/Committee’s/Commissions:
• Annual Host/Participant of Elgin Back to School Event

Professional Skills and Experience:
• Licensed Barber, Licensed Barber Educator, Elgin Image Award Recipient, Honorary Doctorate of Humanitarianism

Patricia Williams – Director

Elgin Resident

Executive Director of The Literacy Connection, a Downtown Stakeholder

Current Boards/Committee’s/Commissions:
• Area Planning Council District 509
• Care for Underserved Coalition
• Elgin Human Service Council
• Kiwanis Club of Elgin

Past Boards/Committee’s/Commissions:
• Elgin Hispanic Network
• Elgin Community Network
• Healthy Places Coalition of Kane County
• Kane County Community Health Improvement Plan: Income & Education Action Team
• Neighborhood Housing Services of the Fox Valley Advisory Council

Professional Skills and Experience:
• Nonprofit Leadership, Banking, Property Management

Steven Kroiss

Elgin Resident

Downtown Business Owner:
• IPR Tech Group
• 79 Ratio
• InPath Security

Current Boards/Committee’s/Commissions:
• PADS of Elgin Vice President
• FFGE – Pallet to Palate planning committee

Past Boards/Committee’s/Commissions:
• Elgin Sustainability Commission – 2 years

Professional Skills and Experience:
• Technology Management/Support, Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Business Development, Project Management, Consulting, Training

Marc Mylott

Community Development Director –
City of Elgin

Current Boards/Committee’s/Commissions:
• Kane-Elgin H.O.M.E. Commission
• Co-Chair of EDG Transportation committee
• Member of American Institute of Certified Planners

Kerri Liu

Elgin Resident, Illusrator/Designer

Current Boards/Committee’s/Commissions:
• DNA Promotions Committee

Past Roles/ Boards/Committee’s/Commissions:
• Spooky Stories event with Side Street Studio Arts
• Shared Harvest design volunteer
• Follow Black Women Conference Committee
• MOPS Committee to WCCC
• STA Awards Committee

Professional Skills and Experience:
• Marketing, Graphic Design, Illustration, Social Media, Web Design, Storytelling

To request contact information for a DNA Board or Staff member please email info@DowntownElgin.com.

Downtown Neighborhood Association of Elgin


31 S. Grove Avenue, Suite 100
Elgin, IL 60120
847-488-1456
info@DowntownElgin.com