Alton Main Street Board of Directors
Chris Miller
President
It’s been clear since to Chris even before he moved back to Alton that Alton Main Street is the backbone of both the community and business economies of the Riverbend. For years his company, The Mission Center L3C, and AMS have partnered on programming and events that have spurred entrepreneurship and aim to maintain the momentum inspired by The Small Business Revolution.
Chris specializes in community and economic development – specifically, social and commercial entrepreneurship. He’s had the privilege of working with thousands of nonprofits as a community organizer, advisor, founder, and board member and looks forward to bringing his broad base of experience in the nonprofit sector to Alton Main Street.
Chris holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Science from Truman State University, as well as a Master of Arts degree in Political Studies from the University of Illinois, Springfield. He is currently the Director of Interdisciplinary Entrepreneurship at University of Missouri-St. Louis, and is a Professor of Entrepreneurship at the University of Missouri-St. Louis.
Penny Schmidt
Vice President
Penny grew up in Elsah, just 10 miles up the River from Alton, and graduated from Principia College. In 2006, she returned to the area with renewed appreciation for the depth of cultural history and natural beauty of the Mississippi Riverbend area.
Having owned and operated Schmidt Bingham Gallery in New York City for many years, the memory of artists’ lofts and creative downtown energy resonated in the charm and character of historic buildings, brick paved streets and the waterfront district in Alton. Recognizing the magnetic urban setting overlooking the River and Clark Bridge, with uninterrupted sky and vast view shed, Penny redeveloped the early 20th century Illinois Terminal Railroad Headquarters into 10 residential and 5 commercial lofts. In 2008, it became the Mississippi Landing.
Spinning off her art world career, Penny is involved in a number of non profit cultural organizations promoting the arts, community revitalization, local agriculture and ecology. She is on the Advisory Board for Audubon Center at Riverlands and a long time member of Alton Main Street Economic Vitality Committee. Sharing a deep appreciation for the extraordinary character of a creative community, family owned businesses, local pride, loyalty, and grit of entrepreneurs, Penny is proud to join the Alton Main Street Board. When not walking her dog around the Marina in Riverfront Park or hiking at Riverlands or strolling through historic downtown, Penny enjoys the privilege of being within 20 minutes from the St Louis Art Museum and Pulitzer Foundation, the Symphony and Dance St Louis, and the International Airport. Coming home to Alton’s small town friendliness and beauty is always a treat.
Markus Boyd
Treasurer
Born and raised in the University City section of St Louis, Mo, for the past 27 years, Markus Boyd has been an Independent Real Estate, Mortgage Broker and Investor. After completing high school and college in Southern California and raising his children, Markus has returned to the Midwest to fulfill his lifelong Mission of Real Estate Development. As a graduate of the University of Southern California’s Ross RMPIRE program, Markus is poised to make a positive improvement to Alton’s Real Estate and Business landscape. Inspired by several familial generations before him, it’s Markus’s goal to empower the youth of today and tomorrow with the fundamentals necessary to succeed in Real Estate and Life as a whole. After recently acquiring the Alton Staple, My Just Desserts, Markus is determined to become an integral member of the community, while bringing the household favorite and the City of Alton, IL to the World. With the diversity, inclusion, and concerted efforts of all who would Love to see Alton becoming the Best it possibly can be, Markus is committed to being a valued participant.
Bailey Shaw
Secretary
Bailey Shaw moved to Alton in 2017. At that time, she worked as a Wedding and Event Planner in St Louis. That next summer, a friend invited her to Alton’s Night Market, where she met an amazing group of people who were planning fun, local events – ones that positively impacted the community. She decided she wanted to volunteer with Alton Main Street and put her event-planning skills to work in her own backyard! Fast forward to 2025, Bailey lives and works back in St. Louis but loves staying connected to our wonderful community by being the secretary of AMS.
Sasha Bassett
Organization Committee Chair
Sasha is an attorney at Simmons Hanly Conroy, focusing on environmental litigation and data privacy. She works to provide a voice to every day people who have been harmed by corporate practices. She is a graduate of Washington University Law School and also holds a Master’s Degree in Nongovernmental Organizations. Before becoming an attorney, Sasha worked extensively with a variety of non-profits, both locally and internationally. She has managed large numbers of volunteers, run winter drives, managed grants, collected reporting data, led strategic planning sessions, and designed community partnerships. Some of the non-profits she’s worked with include United Cerebral Palsy, Community Hope Center, the Syrian Emergency Taskforce, the YMCA, United Way, and Youth Service Bureau. Sasha served on Alton Main Street 2016-2019, first as Organization Chair, then as Board President. She is excited to be back and contributing to making Alton a better place to live and raise her two children. Sasha is a mission-oriented community member, guided by a sense of justice, equality, inclusion, dignity, and respect for all.
Lauren Pattan
Organization Committee Vice-Chair
Lauren Pattan is Co-founder and Business Manager of The Old Bakery Beer Company, an organic craft brewery and restaurant located in Alton. With a strong passion for the growth and prosperity of Downtown Alton, she advocates for community building initiatives that prioritize environmental sustainability and social justice. Lauren holds a Masters degree in Environmental Management, and has served on other local boards including the Audubon Center at Riverlands and the Great Rivers and Routes Tourism Bureau.
Kitty Mertz
Team Building Committee Chair
I received a BS from SIUE in the integrated studies of Environmental Science and Business Administration, with accompanying minors in Political Science and Communication Theory. As an environmental advocate, I have sat on the board of directors for the Mississippi River Water Trail Association, worked on the 1Mississippi project with Piasa Palisades Sierra Club; as well as co-created The Worn Collective -a non-profit that educated citizens on the harmful effects of the ‘fast fashion’ industry. I thoroughly enjoy hiking the Riverbend area, paddling the vast Mississippi River and its surrounding tributaries, while also supporting a plethora of local businesses. Having been a Downtown Alton resident for the last 8 years, it is an absolute honor to sit on the board for Alton Main Street and support their mission to engage the community in revitalizing our incredible river town.
Megan Van Deusen
Team Building Committee Vice-Chair
Megan Van Deusen is a passionate advocate for her community and excited to join the Board of Directors for Alton Main Street. Born and raised in Alton, IL, Megan is deeply connected to her hometown and eager to give back. She graduated from Alton High School in 2009 and continued her education at Lewis and Clark Community College, earning an Associate’s in Science in 2020. Megan is set to graduate in May 2025 with a Bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education from Blackburn College.
Christine Favilla
Design Committee Chair
Christine Favilla graduated from Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado with a BA in Sociology, a minor in Environmental Policy, and a Communications Concentration. Christine has worked as the Sierra Club’s Three Rivers Project Co-Coordinator for the past 21 years and has taken Ecosystem Restoration Classes and pollinator webinars to increase her knowledge and practices of growing and managing native plant communities. She has helped plan, plant, and maintain the Hellrung Park Certified Monarch Waystation in Alton; the Alton YWCA’s butterfly garden and Summer Camp vegetable garden; the Wadlow Restoration Site’s native trees and plants project; and the butterfly shaped Pollinator Project and the Discovery Prairie at La Vista Park in Godfrey. However, her favorite native plant project is her Monarch Waystation Certified side and back yard, boasting over 35 species of native plants and cultivars. Her interest is in educating the community on the importance of natural systems in flood control and river management, growing native plants for pollinators and food, sustainable landscaping, and growing nutritious food. She has partnered with Alton Main Street to organize and host the Mississippi Earthtones Festival and the Green Gift Bazaar since their inception. She was also recognized as a 2023 Woman of Distinction by the YWCA of Southwest Illinois.
Jacob Goble
Design Committee Vice-Chair
Inspired by storytelling, architecture, and cultural narratives of the past, Jacob is a designer dedicated to creating meaningful work that connects people to place. He studied visual communication design, furniture making, and design history at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, striking a balance between traditional craft and modern design thinking. His professional experience bridges experiential graphic design and branding, serving a breadth of clients from tech giants to artisanal craft studios.
Lisa DeMarco
Design Committee
Lisa is a Godfrey native, an Alton High School graduate, and a Southern Illinois University-Carbondale alumni, where she earned a degree in Graphic Design. After a three-year stint working for an advertising agency in downtown Chicago, life took her to San Diego, CA. In 1990, she launched DeMarco Design as a boutique graphic design studio, providing creative consulting and graphic design services to non-profit organizations, government agencies, and small to mid-size businesses. In 2023, she moved back to Alton and set about getting connected by getting involved. She serves on Alton Main Street’s design committee and is excited to expand her involvement as a board member. Lisa is also a board member of Alton Pride.
Julia Frazier
Promotions Committee Chair
Julia is a native to Alton but now resides in Godfrey with her husband Michael. Julia has 25 years in property management with an emphasis on HUD housing.
She enjoys time with her friends, family for her babies and her new grandbaby. You can find her gardening, homesteading, enjoying live music, the arts, and the great outdoors. You can find her at the Alton Farmers’ & Artisans’ Market nearly every Saturday during the season, enjoying all that the Market has to share with the community. She’s excited to be back on the board of Alton Main Street after a 10+ year hiatus but has enjoyed volunteering from time to time whenever needed. She’s excited and looking forward what Main Street has in store for the community in 2025!
Teri McGinnis
Promotions Committee Vice-Chair
Teri is a native of Toledo, Ohio who relocated to Alton in the Summer of 2020. She has a BA in Arts and Sciences from The University of Toledo with a focus on Art Education and Photography. The first time Teri went to Night Market on Broadway she knew that she wanted to be a part of the fun. By the time the 2021 season came around she was ready to join in the activities with her business, My Generation Alton. Becoming an AMS committee member was offered to her a year later and when invited to become a board member, the answer was a resounding yes!
Teri is an avid lover of music, nature and art and her best accomplishment in her life are her 4 children.
Maggie O’Brien
Promotions Committee
Maggie moved to Alton in May 2024 for a Healthcare Administration role in town. She is a Licensed Social Worker who holds a Bachelor of Social Work from Western Illinois University and a Master of Social Work from DePaul University. Her social work career started in Austin, TX with a focus on mental health in the correctional, public housing, and psychiatric hospital settings. In 2022 she moved home to the Chicago South Suburbs to be near family and got involved with the Homewood Economic Development Committee. She is looking forward to establishing roots in Alton, serving on the Alton Main Street Board, and participating in community events. Maggie enjoys live music, volunteering, a variety of crafts, and trying new places to eat!
Josh Dawdy
Promotions Committee
Joshua Dawdy is a manager at AP Cigar, a local downtown entrepreneur and marketing specialist. Born and raised in the Alton area.
Cody Hinkle
Economic Vitality Committee Chair
I’ve lived in the Riverbend area my entire life and currently reside in Alton. Since 1990, my family have been proud small business owners in Alton, building and growing 4 businesses since then. My professional background includes IT consulting, fundraising/marketing in the non-profit sector, and public relations. After almost 43 years here, I am still in love with Alton’s charm and character, and I’m proud to serve on the Alton Main Street Board.
Yvette Paris
Economic Vitality Committee Vice-Chair
A proud resident of Alton for over nine years, I was drawn to this vibrant community by its historic charm and now reside in a beautifully preserved home built in 1896. Over the years, I have been continually inspired by the strong sense of community and the entrepreneurial spirit that thrives here. As a registered interior designer and small business owner, I am keenly aware of the importance of the built environment and the need to retain a unique sense of place to attract both visitors and residents to downtown Alton. In my role as Co-Chair of the Economic Vitality Committee, my goal is to promote downtown Alton as a dynamic destination where people can shop, dine, live, work, and play. I am committed to working with my fellow board members to enhance the vitality and appeal of our beloved downtown area.
John Gajewski
Economic Vitality Committee
Hope Mader
Economic Vitality Committee
Sheila Curry
Finance Committee
I have lived in the Riverbend Area for over 20 years; born and raised in St. Louis, Mo., becoming a teenage entrepreneur until my adult life, which lead to wanting my own business.
I have taken my knowledge from corporate America where I have done administrative work, accounts payable, receivable, payroll, design staff development for St Louis Public Schools, open Harrah’s Casino; until the next chapter in my life which lead me to the opening of a retail store in 2011 (Granny’s Uniforms Work Fashions and More!) It’s there I offer a complete line of workwear, nursing scrubs and medical supplies and school uniforms. My pasts experience has played a valid role in my life, I have grown as a small business owner. I love giving back and being a part of this Riverbend town which I have chosen for my location. I like the feel of the community, and felt that I could provide a service that would be an enhancement.
I am looking forward to serving on the board, networking and building a strong relationship with team members. The more interested volunteers there for Alton Main Street, the stronger our community will be. “Because great things happen when people choose to work together”.
Sara McGibany
Executive Director
Sara McGibany has been the Executive Director of Alton Main Street since December of 2006. She graduated from Marquette Catholic High school and holds a bachelor’s degree from Illinois State University, with a major in Public Relations and a minor in Psychology. Besides working on various events and projects that promote and improve Downtown Alton, Sara also enjoys serving on the Board of Directors for the Mustard Seed Peace Project, and the Steering Committee of the Upper Alton Association. She enjoys volunteering for environmental organizations such as the Sierra Club, and is an avid community gardener. Sara has been active in Alton’s Community Policing strategy and in the Community Builders Network of St. Louis. In 2018 she was elected to a seat on the Democratic Precinct Committee, and in 2019 she was appointed to the Community Development Advisory Council of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. Her spare time is spent playing guitar with her bands, as well as creating clothing, jewelry and paintings.
Chantel Morrigan
Administrative Assistant
Chantel Morrigan brought her passion for working with local non-profits to Alton Main Street in 2024. Her resume includes Executive Director for Rogue Theatre, Operations Manager at Jacoby Arts Center, and now the keeper of the back office chaos at AMS!
Chantel was a prolific portrait and lifestyle photographer, who enjoyed capturing many special moments for area families, high school seniors, and newlyweds for over a decade. Now focused on growing the local arts scene for others, Chantel uses her varied skill set to support the missions of multiple non-profit orgs in the Riverbend. An area native, Chantel moved back to Alton in 2011 and now lives with her six teenagers/young adult children, two spunky cats, and a baby golden retriever named Princess Charlotte (aka Charlie) in one of Alton’s groovy mid-mod brick ranches. She enjoys tending her ever growing collection of native flowering plants, exploring the local bluegrass scene, and sitting in a kayak every chance she gets.
Advisors
Betsy Allen – 1st Ward Alderwoman
Ray Strebel – 3rd Ward Alderman
Lori Bockholdt – Deputy Comptroller, City of Alton
Debbie Frakes – Upper Alton Association
Zeke Jabusch – North Alton-Godfrey Business Council
In Loving Memory of Yvonne Campbell
Board Member 2021-2022
Yvonne Campbell was the owner and operator of My Just Desserts, a destination restaurant in Downtown Alton known for having the best pie along the river road! Their historic building dates back to 1845, My Just Desserts opened its doors in 1989, and the business was purchased by Yvonne in 2018 after spending most of her adult life as an employee there. She expanded their specialty retail offerings with a spice shop and kitchenware, and the restaurant boasts over 150 recipes that make up their daily lunch specials which rotate on a monthly basis. Yvonne graduated from Alton High School and earned a culinary degree at Southwestern Illinois College. Tragically, our friend lost her life in an automobile accident while vacationing in Jamaica in 2022. She will be forever in our hearts and memories, and her legacy restaurant lives on operated by her friends and family.