POW! Strategies

11/10/2025

It truly is better than therapy. Sharing knowledge, and stories of courage, success and heroic strength. That is what we do when 160+ downtown professionals and volunteers get together at the Michigan Downtowns Annual Conference. This year in — Seeing the magic behind the Big Bright Light Show—awe-inspiring! Witnessing what will be in - a bright future. Cheering on our friends and colleagues for their achievements this past year—so much more to come! POW! Strategies is proud to continue to support the and our communities across because we .



Cristina Sheppard-Decius

05/09/2025

Hello downtown enthusiasts, leaders and future leaders! This is the position for you! Downtown Holly is for their next amazing Executive Director! A great opportunity for someone looking to grow in the downtown management world! So many amazing projects on the horizon and a big appetite for community involvement! galore! This community has it all!

Michigan Association of Planning Michigan Downtowns Michigan Economic Development Corporation Michigan Municipal League Main Street America


Find the details at https://www.mainstreetholly.com/index?&def0=L2aAPHYnTWtJL6KJRWOZ4g%3D%3D
Application deadline is May 14!

03/19/2025

I love asking people questions. Got my fix the other day at the Interface Conference on Retail Development in . What a privilege to moderate an esteemed panel of downtown and community economic development leaders about the latest trends and challenges. Kudos to Eric, Tia, Kim and Erica! Shared a touch of my two cents as well. I always say, knowing the right question to ask is more than half the battle. But when it comes to knowing where to start a business or development project in a community, you’ll never go wrong asking the Downtown Director or management organization. They always know what’s up and have the resources to assist!

03/11/2025

Beautiful morning in Main Street Holly DDA! One of our newest clients, providing Executive Management and Search services. Amazing history, buildings and a very dedicated group of community leaders! So much achieved, and so much more to come!

03/07/2025

We love being a part of an organization that helps so many downtowns across grow — Serving as the Chairperson, , and sponsoring the is one of our greatest honors! This week we had the privilege of representing downtowns across the state in Lansing, meeting with legislators to share our successes and ideas in downtown economic development. Downtowns are the hearts of communities, making places that people feel connected with one another, where small businesses and entrepreneurs provide jobs and community character, and why residents choose to live there. This is why downtown management never ends and why we must advocate for continued support and investment from our state. The Board pictured above represent communities from the UP and all over the LP. They are the best of the best — dedicated, unwavering and passionate. We learn so much from each other at the workshops, which at this one we also had a pretty cool view of the stadium in .lansing . While I personally missed the tour and networking event the evening before in , it received rave reviews (one of very few times I’ve missed a good party). All this said, I couldn’t imagine doing anything else in work life than spending time with colleagues, who are really friends, uplifting our downtowns, our homes. Each time we gather it reminds me how lucky we are to be doing what we love. See you in next in June!

02/04/2025

Each year the Board of Directors gets together to drill down on its strategic plan. An invaluable practice that every organization should take the time to do - pause, reflect, discuss and refresh. As typical downtown professionals do, they don’t stop there. Supporting downtowns and their businesses no matter where they go is always on the agenda. Founder and President Cristina Sheppard-Decius is proud to give her time and strategic planning services to this organization that strengthens downtowns across Michigan. It is at the core of “leading by example”, and strengthening the leaders of our downtowns is where it all starts.

12/25/2024

Merry Christmas! —May all my downtown friends sleep peacefully now that the busiest time of the year comes to an end, and then we do it all again! See you in 2025! Cheers!

12/03/2024

Let’s pay it forward, and help our future leaders get a step up in their future. The Michigan Downtowns Excellence in Downtown Management Award does just that.

TODAY is . We'd love it if you'd consider donating to our Excellence in Downtown Management Scholarship Award. The scholarship fund is a way to honor past downtown managers and advocates for strong downtown organizations and initiatives while assisting and strengthening current downtown directors. Recipients may use the scholarship to help fund their participation in the MDA's Professional Downtown Management Program (MiPDM).

All you have to do is use the QR code and type Scholarship in the Memo area to donate!

11/12/2024

Last week was a much needed opportunity to catch up with fellow downtowners at the Michigan Downtowns Annual Conference! Got to R&D some ideas, blow off steam, and just laugh and smile. It truly is . Until the next time friends!

(Thanks Ypsilanti DDA Community for the tour and for the hospitality! )

11/08/2024

Proud to see the progress the Ypsilanti DDA Community has made and continues to work towards! Thank you Michigan Downtowns for strengthening downtowns through the work you do, resources provided and network of professionals. This was an amazing start to Annual Conference. Proud to be a supporter of downtowns across .

10/29/2024

What we love most about working in so many different communities is just that…they are all different and unique in their own ways; no matter how close they are in proximity or how similar they may seem. Doesn’t mean you can’t “R&D” though! Just make it your own community’s style.

Lyon Twp DDA is the latest we’ve had the privilege of working with on their . Big vision and goals coming to this growing community! They quite enjoyed that expression “R&D” too!


Main Street America
Advantage Oakland
Michigan Downtowns

10/11/2024

Networking with fellow is not only good for business, but good for the soul! We all need someone to lean on in order to keep leaning in! It was great catching up and learning about the latest at as well. Thanks for the opportunity to share some wisdom on with the programs this week! You’re leading by example!