Ellie Serras, Main Street pro

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taking the position in 1993, she’s tripled the number of events in the area and infused the street with her own sprightly character, deploying fire-hydrant and banner art, the Rolling Sculpture car show, Taste of Ann Arbor, and lots of other doings intended, she says, to make sure that “things always change and there’s always something different to see. That’s what makes downtown visible.”

Serras says her assistant of three years, Maura Thompson, is ready to take over the job—and she herself will still be on the scene. “There are worries I have about downtown,” Serras says. “In my present job, I didn’t have time to work on them. I love downtown and want to help assure its viability, sustainability, and visibility. I want to leave something behind. I can’t say just how I’ll go about it—but I’ll keep you posted.”   

[Originally published in October, 2008.]