UP to outgoing Cheyenne Downtown Development Authority Executive Director Amy Surdam, whose last official day on the job will be Jan. 15.

Though she was only in the job a year and a half, Surdam helped shape the downtown improvement organization into a much more vital group. Instead of sitting on the sidelines and wringing its hands about why people don’t come downtown, the DDA has started new initiatives under Surdam’s leadership that have produced real results – from adopt-a-block cleanup efforts to a bike sharing program to façade improvement and microloan programs.

In announcing her imminent departure, Surdam cited “philosophical differences” between her and Mayor-elect Marian Orr – her opponent in this year’s mayoral race. We’re sorry to see the outcome of that campaign negatively impact the real, tangible efforts that have been made to improve Cheyenne’s downtown. And we encourage Orr and the City Council to do all they can to support the DDA and Surdam’s successor.
​
To read more click here.

About Surdam:

“The fact that we had two wonderful candidates for mayor in this city is very positive,” Corra said, adding that a female mayor is an inspiration to women statewide. “We’re excited to support it from a nonpartisan perspective.”

Dave Marcum is a political science instructor at Laramie County Community College. He said Surdam and Orr both appear to be competent, have expertise and have knowledge of local conditions.

“These factors basically removed the female component out of the question, though Cheyenne benefitted from having two quality candidates, which gave people a nice choice,” he said.
​
"Both candidates (for Cheyenne mayor) came across as being highly qualified and ran pretty good campaigns.”

Click here to read more.

CHEYENNE – Amy Surdam will resign as executive director of the Cheyenne Downtown Development Authority next month.
Her last official day on the job will be Jan. 15.
“I think there are philosophical differences between myself and the new administration,” Surdam said Thursday.
The new administration is Cheyenne Mayor-elect Marian Orr, who defeated Surdam in the Nov. 8 election for the city’s top job.
“I feel the DDA will be better served under different leadership. I feel like I’ll be more effective in other ways, and I look forward to being involved and focusing my efforts on other projects to better Cheyenne,” Surdam said.
When asked to elaborate on those differences, she said, “I want a positive, thriving community.”
The decision to leave was hard to make, and one she considered for a while, she said.
Surdam announced her departure Thursday in a letter sent to DDA Board President Wally Erickson and board members.
Cheyenne DDA is a downtown improvement organization.
The authority taxes property owners who live inside its boundaries.
In her letter, Surdam noted that she is proud of accomplishments during her tenure. The board appointed her in May 2015.
These accomplishments include establishing a bike sharing program, the installation of a temporary ice rink at the Cheyenne Depot Plaza, developing designs to update alleys in downtown Cheyenne,
moving ahead with the 17th Street Lighting Project and efforts to open a grocery store cooperative.
Other steps ahead include strengthening the façade improvement program, developing a microloan program and creating an Adopt the Block effort, she said.
“I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know many developers, business owners and entrepreneurs. I have loved connecting people and being a catalyst for projects and the success of others,” she wrote.
Erickson wrote in an email that Surdam has been an integral part of DDA’s success over the past year and a half.
“She is an extremely passionate advocate for downtown. She is an extremely hardworking, dedicated leader and has worked countless hours in moving the DDA and downtown forward in a positive direction,” Erickson wrote.
Surdam allowed the board to focus more on policy and strategy through her effective handling of day-to-day management and DDA activities, he added.
“She has been the catalyst in shaping the DDA into a much more effective and organized entity,” he wrote, adding Surdam was instrumental in numerous projects, programs and plans.
“She will be greatly missed at the DDA, but I believe she will continue her advocacy for Cheyenne’s downtown in other capacities,” he added.
The board is working on a transition plan that it will discuss at future meetings, he said.
DDA recently hired Andy Hogan, who brings a strong marketing background, Erickson said. Hogan will work closely with DDA Program Director Desiree Brothe and the board to handle daily operations in the interim.
“We are also looking forward to working closely with the new city administration, including Mayor-elect Orr and City Council, in our future strategies, planning efforts and projects,” Erickson wrote. “We believe those discussions, as well as the continued collaboration with the other economic development organizations, will help us shape our direction in 2017.
“We will likely decide direction for staffing the executive director position after this coordination occurs,” Erickson concluded.

If you're looking for interesting information on our community, please don't hestitate to visit the Best and Worst podcast. I enjoyed participating...