Milestone marker: Ormond MainStreet hosts annual celebration, looks forward to accomplishing goals

Executive Director Becky Parker was also recognized for her 10 years of dedication to the nonprofit.

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Ormond MainStreet cheered to 29 years of serving the community at its annual celebration, held at the Ormond Memorial Art Museum and Gardens rooftop on Monday, Oct. 21.

The nonprofit was founded in 1994 and earned its Main Street program designation in 1995. Led by Executive Director Becky Parker, Ormond MainStreet has been advocating for preserving local history, public art, economic development and creating a sense of place for the past almost three decades. 

"This is always just a time for us to celebrate what we've done in the past year, but also look forward to our goals and what we anticipate to come into fruition for the next year," Parker said.

At its annual celebration, Ormond MainStreet also installed five new board members: Johnny Long, of Foundation Risk Partners; Thays França, co-founder of Art Spotlight; Sherry Gailey, past president of the Ormond Memorial Art Museum board; Brian McMillan, of the Observer; Glenn Ritchey, Jr., of Daytona Hyundai; and Kevin Wakefield, local restaurateur. This brings the board's total to 21, and the installation served to round out the board in terms of having representation from different industries. 

Among the nonprofit's goals for the next year are continuing to help the city develop its downtown public art master plan. The city will be seeing more murals in the district in the next year, as well as the installation of the traffic signal box art wrappings and sculpture tour, which will begin in November. 

"A lot of projects that have been years in the works, and years of planning, we're going to finally see with our own eyes this coming year," Parker said.

Ormond MainStreet is also gearing up to launch its new website, featuring a more robust community calendar, a map and directory of all businesses in the downtown district, which will also include parking, parks and other public sites. The website update has been needed for almost a decade, Parker said. 

Another goal for the next year is to expand and grow the Ormond Beach Farmers Market, held every Thursday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at City Hall Plaza.

The celebration also marked another milestone: Parker's 10th anniversary with Ormond MainStreet.

Parker began her work with the nonprofit in 2014 when she attended a celebration event. From that moment, she was "captivated by the charm and potential of Ormond Beach," said Ormond Beach City Manager Joyce Shanahan in a speech at the event.

"She felt such a connection to this community that she decided to make it her home — and aren’t we all so fortunate that she did," Shanahan said. "Looking back now, it’s clear that her decision wasn’t just a personal one — it was a gift to all of us here in Ormond Beach."

Parker began as the Community Engagement and Events coordinator and was promoted to executive director in 2022, following the retirement of Julia Truilo.

"She brought a fresh perspective, new ideas, and boundless energy to every project she touched," Shanahan said. "Over the years, she has consistently been a driving force behind many of the events and initiatives that have made MainStreet Ormond Beach such a vibrant and thriving place."

Parker's leadership has been transformative, Shanahan added, with one of her achievements being bringing the statewide MainStreet Conference to Ormond in 2022. The event put the city on the map by highlighting the charm of the downtown and showcasing its potential as a destination for visitors and professionals, she said.

Parker's leadership makes her special, Shanahan said. 

"With her infectious smile, her can-do attitude, and her unwavering patience, she has guided MainStreet and this community with a rare combination of compassion and tenacity," Shanahan said. "She often reminds us, 'Everyone sees the value of MainStreet, but it takes a few dedicated believers to make things happen in this community.' And Becky, through your leadership, you have inspired us all to believe — not just in the potential of downtown Ormond Beach, but in the value of community, creativity, and connection."

The recognition for her 10 years with MainStreet came as a surprise to Parker, who was gifted with the original rendering of the latest mural in the works for the downtown, which is nearing completion outside of Swillerbees Craft Donuts on the beachside. Parker said she felt honored. 

"I feel like it is such a privilege for me to work alongside people that I really respect, on both the professional and personal level, at the city and at the chamber and the museum and the Historical Society," Parker said. "It's the people that really make the time and effort worth it. They all made me feel very special and appreciated. When I first started here, I certainly did not plan on staying all of these year, but Ormond Beach is such a special place, and this is where I decided to put down roots."

 

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