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Cool Spring Downtown District Board of Directors announces transition plan and honors exiting CEO Bianca Shoneman’s legacy

By Staff Report, posted Jan 2, 2025 on BizFayetteville.com

The Cool Spring Downtown District (CSDD) Board of Directors proudly recognizes Bianca Shoneman for her outstanding contributions as CEO following her announcement that she will be leaving the position. Over her tenure, Bianca has transformed the organization into a powerhouse of creativity, innovation and community engagement. As she embarks on her next professional journey, the Board celebrates her legacy and wishes her all the best in her future endeavors.

Under Bianca’s leadership, CSDD achieved remarkable milestones, including:

  1. Recognition by the NC Arts Council as a premier Arts Organization with three years of administrative funding secured.
  2. Launching transformative placemaking projects, including Prismatica, Mi Casa Su Casa 2.0, the Old Street Oasis Mural, enhanced holiday décor, and the Hay Street Deck Lighting Project.
  3. Establishing the Safety Engagement Ambassadors program, one of North Carolina’s only in-house Downtown Ambassador initiatives.
  4. Purchasing and operating the Can-Do Coldwell Banker Trolleys to enhance downtown connectivity.
  5. Tripling the organizational budget.
  6. Completing the long-awaited Community Dumpster Pad.
  7. Leading the downtown hotel feasibility study to its conclusion.
  8. Curating and hosting signature events such as Juneteenth Jubilee and the Night Circus: A District New Year’s Eve Spectacular.
  9. Expanding board capacity and adopting a five-year strategic plan to guide future growth.
  10. Building a dedicated and highly qualified professional team.

To ensure continued momentum during this transition period, the CSDD Board has formed a Transition Team composed of members from the CSDD Executive Committee, the Arts Council, and the City of Fayetteville. This team will lead the organization as it leans into its recently adopted strategic plan. The Board is committed to maintaining the energy and vision cultivated under Bianca’s leadership and will release a job announcement for the CEO role in the coming weeks.

Ashanti Bennett Photo provided by: CSDD

In the interim, the Board is thrilled to announce that Ashanti Bennett has been appointed Interim President of CSDD. A creative connector with a passion for the arts and humanities, Ashanti brings nearly 20 years of experience in nonprofit arts administration to her role. As the Director of Special Projects at CSDD, Ashanti has successfully curated significant community events, including the Juneteenth Jubilee and the Night Circus.

Ashanti’s dedication to storytelling, her passion for the transformative power of creativity, and her commitment to serving the community make her the ideal leader during this time of transition. A proud Fayetteville ‘replant,’ Ashanti draws inspiration from her roots and education at George Mason University, where she interned at the Folger Shakespeare Library. Her unwavering commitment to fostering community enrichment aligns perfectly with CSDD’s mission.

 

As Interim President, Ashanti looks forward to building on Bianca’s legacy and amplifying Downtown Fayetteville as a premier destination to live, work, play, and invest.

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