After serving for two years as Mayor Coleman’s Urban Ventures Coordinator, “Downtown” Mike Brown is relinquishing that title and heading to Experience Columbus to serve as their new Director of Development & Public Affairs, beginning on April 26th.
“I’ll be doing a lot of strategic planning for the region and working as a liaison between Experience Columbus and folks with the City of Columbus and Franklin County,” explained Brown.
The move is significant for Brown, having worked in the Mayor’s Office for the past decade first as Communications Director and later as Urban Ventures Coordinator.
“Experience Columbus is proud to have Mike join our organization, said Paul Astleford, president and CEO of Experience Columbus. “We feel that with his background and proven experience, both in government and public affairs, he will be a valuable asset to our team and look forward to having him on board to lead our developmental initiatives.”
Brown’s new role at Experience Columbus will have him advocating for tourism funding support and maximizing the group’s potential as an economic development engine for the region.
No word has come yet as to whether or not Brown’s Urban Ventures position with the City of Columbus will be filled or dissolved.
“Mike Brown’s been one of Columbus’ biggest advocates for a decade in City Hall, and he understands how to get things done by bringing people together around big goals,” said Mayor Coleman. “This is a great time for Experience Columbus, the City and all our partners to keep building on our momentum and take the entire region to the next level for our Bicentennial and beyond.”