Retiring Board Members

The board bids farewell to Jessie Reuben as liaison for the Museum District Woman’s Club. We will miss her laughter and sense of humor at the board meetings but are happy to announce her recent membership on the Mother’s Day House & Garden Tour committee. Jessie and her husband Jay participated as homeowners for the tour and have been enthusiastic supporters of the neighborhood. We are pleased to keep Jessie in the ranks of leadership for the MDA.

Matt Suttle is leaving the board after tenure as communications director. Anyone who the receives the Monday e-news from the MDA is familiar with the professionalism and talent that Matt brought to the board. We are excited for Matt’s recent engagement and extend best wishes as he starts a new chapter with his fiancée. Hopefully they will find their way back to the Museum District some day.

The board bids farewell to Nick Simopoulos who served as city liaison for the past year. In addition to starting a law practice, Nick and his wife Jodi welcomed a baby girl in 2019. We wish them well as they adjust to their growing family.

Ron Russ has retired from the board after several years of service as the safety chair. Ron provided thorough crime statistic reports and practical safety guidance for residents. Fellow board members appreciated his positive approach to life and level-headed contributions to issues before the board. We look forward to seeing Ron enjoying his retirement, listening and dancing during jazz nights at the VMFA.

New Board Members

Allison Schutzer is now serving as city liaison for the board of directors. Allison has lived in the Museum District for the past five years with her husband Matt. She is a licensed real estate agent with the Deborah Edgar Real Estate Group as well as the brokerage’s event coordinator. Allison was first drawn to MDA leadership as development increased rapidly on her block of Ellwood Ave. Richmond is growing and changing. Allison believes it is up to its current residents to mold the future into a safer, more beautiful, well-informed and diverse community. The Museum District can carry the torch in this endeavor. Allison hopes to be the voice representing all voices within our community to the City of Richmond. In her spare time, Allison enjoys singing with the Richmond Symphony and writing creative nonfiction.

The board of directors is thrilled to officially welcome Beth Bostian as communications chair. Beth has been contributing to the board for the past few years as a graphic design and marketing consultant. She is also a long-time member of the Mother’s Day House & Garden Tour committee. Joining the board is a natural evolution due to her skills and leadership. Beth was the recipient of the 2018 MDA Star Award for her outstanding support of the community. She recently took over management of the Monday e-news, so look for her to make her mark in your inbox. Beth and her husband Ben Hopkins share their home with sibling French Bulldogs named Hilda Mae and Gaston.

Caley Crawford has taken on the role of safety chair for the board. For the past two years she has been an active participant on the traffic committee, leading the way for calming measures in the neighborhood. Caley is originally from Athens, Georgia and bleeds red and black (Go Dawgs!). She has worked in federal agricultural government relations for over a decade. Caley is excited to be a member of the MDA board and work for the common good of the Museum District and our fair city. She resides on Grove Ave. with her husband Andy and their three children.

Janine Doyle has joined the board of directors as The Columns representative. Janine moved to the neighborhood in May 2019 with her husband Connor after living in Chicago for seven years, although she is not new to the area having grown up in Midlothian. With a background in nonprofit marketing and communications, Janine eagerly joined The Columns committee in September, penning her first piece in the November 2019 - January 2020 issue about a new Richmond nonprofit. Janine can often be found walking her terrier Obie through the VMFA Sculpture Garden or visiting her sister’s tattoo shop on Belmont Ave.

Pam Whisenant is the new Museum District Woman’s Club liaison to the board of directors. Pam is a Grove Ave. resident and has been an active member of the Woman’s Club for several years. She brings with her community building experience and has already begun sharing ideas for collaboration.

Jack Middleton is now serving as the Chair of the Land Use and Zoning Committee. After growing up in Henrico, Jack moved to the Museum District four years ago upon graduating from the University of Virginia. He currently works for a real estate development firm focusing on multifamily projects throughout the southeast and wanted to lend his knowledge of the development process to promote the growth of a healthy and livable Museum Distric. Outside of work Jack enjoys experiencing Richmond’s burgeoning food and beverage scene as well as Richmond’s many natural amenities.

MDA Honors Neighborhood Stars

Each November the Museum District Association Board of Directors recognizes one resident and one city employee who have demonstrated exceptional support to the neighborhood throughout the year. This past year, however, the board recognized four residents and a city employee for their continuous support of the Museum District.

Linda & Bill Muse

Linda & Bill Muse were recognized for years of generously sharing their beautiful Monument Avenue home with MDA members during the annual Spring Fling. They have also graciously opened their home for the Mother’s Day House & Garden Tour twice, most recently in 2019. We appreciate the trust they extend and their seemingly endless hospitality.

Eric Brakman

Eric & Katherine Brakman were recognized for faithfully maintaining a dog waste station on Grove Avenue for six years. They purchased and installed the station at their own expense in 2013. Since then, they have hauled thousands of pounds of dog poop. Surprisingly, the Brakmans do not even own a dog of their own. Thank you from many dog owners!
*The Grove Avenue waste station was recently retired. Persons interested in assuming ownership of the station may contact any MDA board member.

Mark Olinger

Mark Olinger, Director of Planning & Development Review for Richmond, was honored for his service to not only the Museum District but the entire City of Richmond. Mark has been spearheading the Richmond 300 Master Plan for the past few years and has hosted numerous resident forums to receive input about the growth of Richmond over the next 20 years. He is a tireless advocate for the city and its residents. The MDA appreciates that Mark makes himself accessible and carries out his duties with optimism.

President's Column

It is truly an honor and pleasure to be elected the president of the Museum District Association. I thank my neighbors for their support, as well as our incoming MDA board. The MDA is a tremendous organization and I would be remiss if I did not thank our outgoing president Stephen Versen for his leadership over the last two years. I am excited to be the next steward of the MDA. During my tenure I hope to make some small, positive impact to our neighborhood, and, by extension, the City of Richmond. The MDA will continue to focus on our neighborhood schools, conscientious development and community engagement.

While I have had the opportunity to meet many of you, I hope to meet everyone who is involved in the MDA, as well as those who are invested in the betterment of our neighborhood. The Museum District is my home, in the city I love. I adopted Richmond as my home eight years ago. After graduating from the University of Virginia, I attended law school at the College of William & Mary. Upon graduation, I joined the Richmond City Attorney’s Office. For three years, I defended the City and its officers in all civil lawsuits. I have since transitioned to private practice, to the law firm of Ogletree Deakins, where I counsel and advise employers on federal and state employment laws.

I have been a resident of the Museum District for the last five years. It is without question the best place to live in the city. From our walkable streets, varied businesses, excellent restaurants and incredible museums, there is nowhere else I would rather live. It is my love for our neighborhood that inspired me to become more involved in the MDA.

This past year I served as the chair of the Land Use and Zoning Committee. The Museum District is a dynamic neighborhood. Our zoning allows us to review and consider development that often requires special use permits and variances. In this way, while development is in high demand — especially denser residential — our neighborhood association has the ability to weigh in and make our recommendations to the City Council on almost every new project. The MDA will continue to engage developers in a transparent process, provide feedback and advise the City on the comments and concerns of our residents.

In addition to the MDA’s popular and historical events — Spring Fling, Mother’s Day House & Garden Tour and National Night Out — be on the lookout for more young professional happy hours, member recruitment events and volunteer opportunities with our schools. These community socials have been a tremendous success and foster a stronger neighborhood by bringing us together more often.

I invite you to reach out to me and say hello. I want to be a resource for you and assist you in whatever capacity I can as president of the MDA. I am so inspired by all the great work of the MDA board and look forward to carrying on that tradition over the next year. I hope to meet each and every one of you soon!