Katherine Correll is known for her ability to spark creativity and bring the energy to make positive change and empower ideas. Kat has been honored to lead the Downtown Colorado, Inc. team and share her philosophy that each challenge is an opportunity waiting to be found. Under Kat’s direction, the organization tripled membership and programming. DCI has expanded services for Business Improvement Districts, Downtown Development Authorities, and Urban Renewal Authorities. DCI restructured the Colorado Main Street Program for economic development through historic preservation and assisted in establishing that as a State of Colorado program. Kat established the Downtown Capacity Building AmeriCorps VISTA Program to help Colorado’s smallest communities expand human capacity. She built the Colorado Challenge Accelerator Program to help communities take their plans to action, increase capacity, and build local ecosystems. Prior to coming to Downtown Colorado, Inc. she served as the Country Director for American Councils for International Education, overseeing professional development programming and administering US State Department assistance for the Republic of Moldova. Prior to that, she worked on a Local government Reform Project managed by The Urban Institute. She is a proud alumna of New York University, Rutgers University, United States Peace Corps, and AmeriCorps VISTA. She is born and raised in Colorado and is proud to work with Colorado communities of all sizes.