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About Us

Downtown Bowling Green

STAFF

Barbara Ruland	Executive Director
Carol Sanner	Volunteer Coordinator
Randy Hann	Property Services Supervisor
Darrel Moore	Property Services

Standing Committees

Standing committees work on various aspects of revitalization and improvement for the downtown special improvement district, and are comprised of volunteers from the community.

Business Development
Design
Promotion

Become part of the magic: Become a member of the Downtown Foundation

The Downtown Bowling Green Organization

Downtown Bowling Green is a Special Improvement District within the downtown area. It serves the downtown as a liaison with government offices, other merchants and the media. Downtown BG strives to enhance and stabilize the economic vitality of the Central Business District through long-term improvement projects and ongoing promotional activities.

By organizing merchants, citizens and city officials, Downtown BG has built a framework that serves to help keep downtown Bowling Green a thriving center for business and recreation activities.

Our Mission

It is the mission of Downtown Bowling Green to preserve and promote the Central Business District as the cultural, historic, and business heart of the City of Bowling Green. We strive to build civic pride and a sense of community by creating opportunities for citizens to participate in the life of the downtown.

Board of Directors

Greg Halamay, Chair

Mr. Halamay graduated from BGSU and established hi... (read more)

Mr. Halamay graduated from BGSU and established his company, Finder's Records and Tapes, in 1971. He then opened a second store in Findlay in 1975. He is a multiple property owner in the downtown area and was one of the board members of the original Downtown Business Association. (hide)

Barbara Rothrock, Vice-Chair

Ms. Rothrock, a former school teacher, moved to Bo... (read more)

Ms. Rothrock, a former school teacher, moved to Bowling Green from the state of Kansas in the late 60's. She started Calico, Sage & Thyme, a gift shop in downtown, Bowling Green. Her store has been a successful enterprise for the past 36 years. (hide)

Elaine Paulette, Secretary

Ms. Paulette is currently the Director of the Wood... (read more)

Ms. Paulette is currently the Director of the Wood County District Public Library and involved with Zonta, The BG Women's Club and various other woman's clubs in the Bowling Green area. (hide)

Randall J. Roberts, Treasurer

Mr. Roberts, a local CPA, is involved with the dow... (read more)

Mr. Roberts, a local CPA, is involved with the downtown real estate market and currently chair of the Wood Lane Residential Services Board, Inc. (hide)

John Fawcett, Ex-Offico

Mr. Fawcett is Bowling Green's Municipal Administr... (read more)

Mr. Fawcett is Bowling Green's Municipal Administrator as well as the Safety Director who oversees the Police and Fire Divisions. He is also a retired Army veteran and continues to serve his comrades as an active member of the Veterans Service commission for Wood County. (hide)

Floyd Craft, Director

Mr. Craft is owner of the Ben Franklin Variety & C... (read more)

Mr. Craft is owner of the Ben Franklin Variety & Crafts and Main Street Ace Hardware stores in downtown Bowling Green. He is also a partner in Newcraft Real Estate and was one of the founders of the Black Swamp Arts Festival held in downtown Bowling Green each summer. (hide)

Dick Newlove, Director

Mr. Newlove is President of Newlove Realty, Inc. H... (read more)

Mr. Newlove is President of Newlove Realty, Inc. He is a past president of the Board of Trustees of Bowling Green State University, a former recipient of the Bowling Green Chamber of Commerce "Man of the Year" Award and co-founder of the Bowling Green Community Development Foundation. Mr. Newlove is also a partner in Newcraft Real Estate. (hide)

Jim Farrell, Director

Mr. Farrell came to Bowling Green from southern Ne... (read more)

Mr. Farrell came to Bowling Green from southern New Jersey in the fall of 1968 to attend BGSU. In the spring of 1972 he opened Sam B's Sub Shop and decided to stay in Bowling Green. Sam B's is now an excellent downtown restaurant. (hide)

Kathy Gross, Director

Ms. Gross and her husband Bill are co-owners of Th... (read more)

Ms. Gross and her husband Bill are co-owners of The Answer Factory, a computer/retail store in downtown Bowling Green. Together, they founded the MS JAM Foundation, a non-profit organization to raise awareness about Multiple Sclerosis as well as to raise money for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. (hide)

Jim Phares, Director

Mr. Phares is Vice President for Business Banking ... (read more)

Mr. Phares is Vice President for Business Banking at the Huntington Bank, specializing in SBA government guaranteed loans to small businesses. Working out of the downtown office, Mr. Phares has been with Huntington for fifteen years and in the Bowling Green area for twenty years. (hide)