Meet The Staff
Victoria
clemons - Director
 (Photo Courtesy of Portraiture by Morgan)
Appointed by the Board of Directors in August 2004, Victoria
Clemons became the fourth full-time Executive Director of
Downtown Springfield, Inc.
As Executive Director, Ms.
Clemons leads a unique downtown business group with more
than 200 members dedicated to making downtown Springfield
attractive to both small and large merchants, retailers,
residents, restaurants and service organizations.
Ms.
Clemons arrives at DSI with a lengthy and successful career
in state government, itself a stalwart within our historic
downtown community. She has served as Director of
Legislation to both the Departments of Labor and the
Illinois State Lottery for over 20 years during which time
she successfully executed passage of all introduced
agency/administrative legislation during her tenure at both
state agencies. As a senior staff member at the Illinois
State Lottery, Clemons extensively participated in a 7-year
effort that increased Lottery sales from $1.4 billion to
$1.6 billion. In addition to her governmental background,
she has an impressive history of working with the marketing
team at the Illinois Lottery in event planning and image
branding, leading to some of the Lottery’s most successful
years in sales.
As a resident of Springfield for nearly 30
years, Ms. Clemons shares an understanding with our residents
that being a state capital city offers both natural and
challenging opportunities. Within state government she
worked side-by-side with many local and state business
organizations to ensure that their constituencies had the
tools to survive in an ever-competitive business arena.
Ms. Clemons received her bachelor’s degree in political
studies from the University of Illinois at Springfield and
went on to achieve her master’s degree. Ms. Clemons
contributes to numerous civic, cultural and professional
organizations and is a member of Blessed Sacrament Parish in
Springfield.
ANN FRESCURA - PROMOTION & EVENT DIRECTOR
A Springfield native, Ann joins DSI after serving as Executive Director of the Springfield Area Arts Council since 2004. While there she was responsible for managing and promoting major annual events such as First Night Springfield, Wearable Art Fashion Show, Washington St. Jazz & Blues Festival and the Children’s Arts Festival. In addition, she served as the spokesperson for the Arts Council and was instrumental in the development of progressive fundraising, marketing and endowment initiatives. She also has a professional background in graphic design and photography and was the host of SMARTnews with Insight Media (Access 4).
Ms. Frescura received an associate’s degree from Springfield College in Illinois, a bachelor’s degree in Creative Arts from the University of Illinois at Springfield and pursued a master’s degree in Public Administration with a concentration in Community Arts Management.
Ann is active in the community with a special interest in arts and cultural development. She is the mother of three daughters, Jacquie Floyd (husband Andy), Mikell Etherton and Tori Jane Frescura.
As Promotion & Event Director, Ann is responsible for the Old Capitol Farmers’ Market, Taste of Downtown, Blues & BBQ and Old Capitol Holiday. |
