Lindsey Payne Johnstone Appointed as Executive Director of Downtown Bellingham Partnership

Nationwide Search Concludes with Certainty in Legacy Leadership

Bellingham, WA – May, 20, 2024 - The Downtown Bellingham Partnership (DBP) has appointed Lindsey Payne Johnstone as its new Executive Director. With over 15 years of dedicated service to the organization and serving as Interim Executive Director since January 2024, Lindsey brings a wealth of experience and a deep understanding of the community’s needs and Main Street America principles to her new role.

In her previous role as Program Director, Lindsey oversaw all aspects of the organization's programs and events with passion and dedication. Notably, Lindsey has been the common thread through Downtown Sounds’ growth from an alleyway concert series to a five-block urban music festival prepared to celebrate 20 years of free community celebration this summer and welcome an estimated 4,500 people to the Downtown core for five Wednesdays July 10 – August 7, 2024.  Lindsey, and the Downtown Bellingham Partnership, have also elevated their impact beyond events to include meaningful business support and advocacy programs in recent years as the neighborhood navigated the onset, duration, and aftereffects brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.  She is poised to embody the Main Street America approach, a formal accreditation the Downtown Bellingham Partnership caries, which emboldens community transformation through activities in four pillars: economic vitality, design, promotion, and organization.

Rhiannon Troutman, President of the Board of Directors, expressed her confidence in Lindsey's appointment, stating, "The hiring committee worked diligently without bias to select the best candidate from a nationwide pool of applications for the position. After careful and thoughtful deliberation, it was clear that Lindsey is best qualified to lead and elevate the Downtown Bellingham Partnership in a direction the board and our stakeholders would like to see."

In response to her appointment, Lindsey shared her enthusiasm for the opportunity, saying, "I am excited to formally lead the organization I have developed not only my career with, but that has such a vital role in cultivating prosperity for our business community and meaningful experiences for our residents, tourists, and workers. Working alongside a new wave of leadership throughout City and County government allows us all to think beyond the status quo and invest in new ideas."

Lindsey leads a staff of five full-time employees and seven seasonal landscaping and cleaning team members in addition to the non-profit’s volunteer-based events and services. A full staff directory of roles and responsibilities are at https://www.downtownbellingham.com/staff