Alison Watkins
MainStreet & Creative District News:
Los Alamos MainStreet and Creative District, a division of Los Alamos Commerce and Development Corporation (LACDC), has announced the hiring of new staff member, Alison Watkins.
Watkins has joined the team as Event Manager and will lead the coordination of many downtown events such as Tuesdays at the Square, Trick-or-Treat on MainStreet and the multitude of events that fall within Los Alamos ScienceFest.
A native of Los Alamos, Watkins (nee Honig) brings her experience in networking and knowledge of local community organizations to the Event Manager position at Los Alamos MainStreet and Creative District.
She enjoys convening people together and providing a welcoming environment for identifying new ideas, learning new things, and making connections.
She also has event planning experience from her time at the Los Alamos Historical Society as well as at the Vietnam Center and Archive at Texas Tech University.
Watkins holds a B.A. in history from Texas Tech University as well as a paralegal certificate.
After spending 17 years in Texas, she and her husband moved back to Los Alamos in 2011 to raise their three boys (now 19, 16, & 10). Most of her free time is spent at their sports and activities, or in her adult ballet classes and performances.
Over the years MainStreet and Creative District have really grown some key events and is seeking to deepen its impact directly in both the community and the region.
As the County’s signature event, ScienceFest has the opportunity to bridge regional relationships with the incredible work being done within Los Alamos County.
“While events are just one of the many ways MainStreet achieves its goal of economic vitality and business community support, it is an important one,” said Jacquelyn Connolly, Executive Director for Los Alamos MainStreet and Creative District. “Capacity is a primary element in effectively utilizing events to strengthen economic activity in our downtown through community support, tourism and promotion of the district.”
In her role, Connolly will continue to focus on placemaking opportunities and programs that further strengthen the support of the local MainStreet business community, including the Los Alamos Business Accelerator, Lease Rate Study, and strategic initiatives such as the Downtown East Metropolitan Redevelopment Area (MRA) that aims to incentivize more housing and retail spaces downtown.
Watkins works alongside Connolly and Vai Reddy-Kruse, the MainStreet Event and Social Engagement Coordinator.
The team hosted a kickoff event last week with community partners to plan this year’s ScienceFest, coming July 12-16, 2024.