Director of Committee for Downtown Yakima resigns

Sean Hawkins’ fervor for downtown Yakima is as strong as a preacher’s passion for faith.

Now Hawkins will bring that fervor to a new city.

Hawkins, 33, has resigned as executive director for the Committee for Downtown Yakima, effective the end of January. He will be moving back to his hometown of Louisville, Ky., to serve as project manager for Block by Block, a firm that works with cities and towns nationwide to maintain clean and safe programs in their downtown areas.

Hawkins said he enjoyed his job and living in Yakima, but it was time to return to Louisville to be closer to his family and his girlfriend.

Since coming to the organization in February 2007, Hawkins has taken leadership in several key projects such as the development of the First Fridays program and the creation of a downtown wine and dining guide.

Anyone who knows him says that Hawkins literally breathes, sleeps and lives in downtown, said Jamie Stickel, president of the board for the Committee for Downtown Yakima and vice president of sales at the Yakima Herald-Republic. Each morning, Hawkins walks from his apartment at the Bridmar on Third and Yakima avenues to his office on North Third Street.

Even at the end of his work day, Hawkins can be seen eating and socializing in several downtown establishments, most likely talking about the assets of the downtown area.

Hawkins’ enthusiasm for the area helped in changing people’s negative perceptions of downtown Yakima, Stickel said.

“You don’t hear much of the naysayers now,” he said. “The ones you hear most are the advocates and Sean was the most vocal advocate.”

For Stickel, a major achievement was the development of a new “business improvement district,” where nonprofits, businesses and property owners were taxed to provide permanent funding for downtown improvements.

In order to develop the district, the Committee for Downtown Yakima had to gain the support of 60 percent of property owners within the designated downtown area.

Stickel credits Hawkins — and his ability to build relationships — with getting the district moving and gaining the necessary support.     

“It’s passion. It’s hard work; it’s a little bit of proselytizing,” Stickel said.

A national search for Hawkins’ successor will begin immediately, but the organization has no set target date to fill the position, Stickel said. The salary is about $60,000 a year.

“There’s an urgency, but there’s a desire to do it right,” he said.

In the meantime, a new staff member came on board Thursday to aid in the transition.

Jamie Lee Stickel,  24,will serve as project administrator for the Committee for Downtown Yakima. Stickel is the daughter of board president Jamie Stickel.

Her duties will include managing phone and Web inquires about the organization, writing weekly e-mail updates and maintaining the Web site, www.downtownyakima.com. She also will work with board members to help keep the organization intact during the search process for Hawkins’ successor.

Jamie Lee Stickel, a 2002 Selah High graduate, returns to the area from Seattle, where she worked as a sales assistant for Cannon Fish Company. Prior to that, she did Internet marketing for Seaview Chevrolet. She has a bachelor’s degree in communications from Washington State University.

She said she was drawn to the opportunity of being involved in marketing the downtown area, a great passion for her father and grandfather, who was involved in revitalization efforts in downtown Portland.

Jamie Stickel said he was not involved in interviewing his daughter for the position and abstained from voting for her hire.

 As the search gets started, Hawkins said he’s focused on providing information to the board and staff to ensure a smooth transition. He said he’s confident the organization will continue to thrive.

“I think we are a good organization that has a vibrant future,” he said.

* Mai Hoang can be reached at 577-7685, or at mhoang@yakimaherald.com.