Who We ARE

RDDC, established in 1977, is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to driving economic vitality in downtown Rochester. RDDC achieves this by promoting downtown's assets to attract businesses and investments while fostering innovative ideas to create a more vibrant and inclusive community. In 2020, RDDC founded The Commissary, the region's first food business incubator and shared kitchen.

About RDDC

The Partnership for Downtown Rochester, established in 2021, is a public private partnership between New York State, Empire State Development, the City of Rochester, RDDC, and ROC2025. The Partnership was created to facilitate placemaking efforts, coordinate marketing and programming, and lead promotion of activities throughout downtown Rochester and along the Genesee Riverway. The Partnership’s goal is to increase private sector participation to better activate public spaces and help guide the revitalization of Rochester for the benefit of downtown stakeholders, visitors, and the overall community. The Partnership for Downtown Rochester is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

About The Partnership

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Board CHAIR

Steve Dubnik
President & CEO
The Strong National Museum of Play

IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR

Chris Hill
Vice President
I. Gordon Corporation

TREASURER

Brie Harrison
Manager of Capital Projects
Rochester Public Library

SECRETARY

Christine Vargas
Founder & Owner
Vargas Associates

VICE CHAIRS

  • Jim Brown
    Executive Director
    JAF Rochester Riverside Convention Center

  • Tim Corcoran
    CFO
    CGI Digital

  • Andrew Gallina
    President
    Gallina Development Corporation

  • Josh Farrelman
    Assoc. VP, Gov’t & Comm. Rel.
    University of Rochester

  • Roosevelt Mareus
    Dean/Executive Director
    Rochester Educational Opportunity Center

  • Ebony Miller-Wesley
    Director
    RIT Center for Urban Entrepreneurship

  • Joseph Sayre
    Manager, Economic Development
    RG&E and NYSEG

  • Naomi Silver
    President, CEO & COO
    Rochester Red Wings

  • Ronald Washington
    Housing Director, Manager, Home Store
    Urban League of Rochester

ADDITIONAL BOARD MEMBERS

  • David Beinetti
    Principal
    SWBR Architects & Engineers

  • Alex Castro
    President & CEO
    PathStone Corporation

  • Patrick Dutton
    President
    Dutton & Company

  • Steve Epping
    Executive VP
    Commercial Banking, M&T Bank

  • Kimberly Frisbee
    Vice President
    Excellus BCBS

  • Bret Garwood
    Chief Executive Officer
    Home Leasing

  • Ken Glazer
    CEO
    Buckingham Properties

  • Ken Greene
    Director of Commercial Development
    Sibley Square, WinnCompanies

  • James Haskins
    Executive Director
    Geva Theatre Center

  • Bob Healy
    Principal
    LaBella Associates, P.C.

  • Kate Karl
    Partner, Chr. Banking/RE Groups,
    Underberg & Kessler LLP

  • Lisa Kaseman
    Senior Vice President
    Conifer

  • Ben Keller
    Partner, RE Dev. & Finance Group
    Woods Oviatt Gilman LLP

  • Peter Landers
    Managing Member
    Landers Management LLC

  • Eugenio Marlin
    President & CEO
    Ibero-American Dev. Corporation

  • Gail Morelle
    Vice President/Owner
    Christa Construction

  • Nayan Patel
    Owner
    Holiday Inn Downtown Rochester

  • Andy Raus
    Senior Vice President
    Bergmann Associates

  • Alec Riedman
    VP, Property Management & Operations
    Riedman Companies

  • Jay Rettberg
    General Manager
    Hyatt Regency Rochester

  • Rachel Roberts
    Dir., ESM Strategic Initiatives,
    U of R/Eastman School of Music

  • Charles Russell
    Commercial Real Estate and Banking Partner
    Harris Beach PLLC

  • Roseann Schmid
    CEO
    Fisher Associates

  • Tim Schmid
    President
    Konar Properties

  • Victoria Van Voorhis
    CEO
    Second Avenue Learning

  • Steve Webster
    Owner
    Webster Properties

  • Dawn Williams-Fuller
    Owner
    Ambassador Union Street LLC

MEET THE TEAM

  • President & CEO, RDDC

    Galin Brooks is President & CEO of the Rochester Downtown Development Corporation (RDDC). Prior to her position in Rochester, NY, Galin served as Director of Planning and Placemaking at the DowntownDC Business Improvement District and, prior to that, was Vice President of Planning and Economic Development at the NoMa Business Improvement District. She received her master’s degree in Urban Planning from New York University.

    Galin is an avid open space advocate and a planner with a background in community and economic development. During her 6+ years at the NoMa BID, Galin oversaw transformational projects for the neighborhood — including the Metropolitan Branch Trail Safety and Access Study, an update to the NoMa Streetscape Design Guidelines, and the North Capitol Street Needs Assessment. In her time at the DowntownDC BID, she focused primarily on parks projects, active transportation, and the public realm, working on projects such as the transformation of Franklin Park, the K Street Transitway, and the DowntownDC Parks Master Plan. Through the management of RDDC and the Rochester Downtown Partnership, her focus will be to help downtown Rochester build on the great energy and activity here today and continue to grow as a resilient, dynamic, thriving, and inclusive community.

    Currently, she lives in the city of Rochester with her family. In her free time, she enjoys getting outside and exploring new areas and the great outdoors. Galin looks forward to discovering more of the greater Rochester area and all that it has to offer.

  • Manager of Special Projects

    John Connors is the Manager of Special Projects for the Rochester Downtown Development Corporation. He holds a BFA in Musical Theatre from Nazareth College and an MA in Arts Management & Entrepreneurship from The New School.

    While living in New York City, a graduate course in creative placemaking sparked his interest in community development and cultural engagement. Following this passion, John worked as Digital Communications and Programming Coordinator for the Hudson Yard’s/Hell’s Kitchen Alliance, a business improvement district in Manhattan, planning community arts and cultural events.

    A multidisciplinary creative, John is thrilled to be back in Rochester, promoting and cultivating the unique cultural assets of our city. In his free time, he enjoys kayaking, campfires, and gummy worms. Most of all, he enjoys spending time with his fiancé, their Shiba (Renji) and cat (Sauvi)!

  • Chief Operating Officer

    Johnna McCooey serves as the Chief Operating Officer at RDDC, where she oversees membership management, grants administration and reporting, fundraising, and general administrative operations. Prior to joining RDDC, Johnna was a key member of the senior management team at Buckingham Properties, where she played a pivotal role in driving executive strategies, focusing on business operations, process improvement, and organizational development.

    Before transitioning to the Real Estate and Development sector, Johnna held leadership positions in the technology sector, working for companies such as Soleo Communications, Matrix Telecom, Choice One Communications, and Xelus. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications from the Rochester Institute of Technology.

    In her leisure time, Johnna enjoys giving back to her community through volunteering, cooking at home with her family, and exploring the outdoors with her two dogs, Mabel and Stella.