About

Downtown 7

ABOUT US

The Champaign Center Partnership is a membership-based business organization providing marketing and promotion opportunities for our members as well as opportunities for collaboration, education, and networking. We now offer a residential membership component, where residents can become members to receive priority access to events, exclusive deals from member businesses, and information about our districts. See our members here. Our organization includes the districts of Downtown, Campustown, and the central commercial area along University Avenue and First Street known as Midtown. These districts are collectively known as Champaign Center.

Click here to read our FY21-22 Annual Report

OUR MISSION

The mission of the Champaign Center Partnership is to foster a vibrant, inviting, and active core Downtown, Midtown, and Campustown by strengthening business and building community.

Our vision is to create healthy and vibrant micro-urban areas for our residents and visitors through marketing, advocacy, and special events.

We encourage and educate the public to shop locally throughout the year. When you spend $100 at a locally-owned business, $68 stays in your community.

CP Wine Walk
Night shot.

CULTIVATE CHAMPAIGN CENTER

Cultivate Champaign Center is a 3-year strategic visionary guide that will elevate the organization to meet the needs of a dynamic city center. The next three years represent a transitional period for a relatively young organization with a sights set on expanding special services while also maintain current operations. In so doing, the CCP will be positioned to create a better sense of place by utilizing public spaces, assisting with business retention and attraction, and helping to ensure economic and community vitality in Champaign’s city center. Cultivate Champaign Center was approved by the CCP board of directors in June 2022.

Click here to read Cultivate Champaign Center

Membership

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OUR HISTORY

We are a 501(c)6 organization founded in 2010 through a merger of the Champaign Downtown Association and the Campustown Business Group. The partnership between the two historic commercial centers of the community opened a new chapter in joint marketing and cooperation between the areas.

How to Join

Our Memberships

To learn more about membership benefits and how to become a member, click here. To see what our members are saying about us, click here. Read the highlights report from our FY2022 Annual Meeting Celebration here.

MEET OUR STAFF

Xander - Esquire

XANDER HAZEL, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
director@champaigncenter.com
217-352-2400

Alexander “Xander” Hazel joined the Champaign Center Partnership in March 2020 as Executive Director… and then the pandemic happened. Originally from an incredibly rural town in Indiana, he completed his bachelor’s degree at Earlham College in Richmond, IN, and earned a master’s degree in entomology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Xander has several years of professional experience in the nonprofit sector where he has held positions as the events & engagement coordinator and eventually acting executive director at the Orpheum Children’s Science Museum in Champaign, IL, secretary of the board for the Champaign Center Partnership, co-chair for the Champaign-Urbana chapter of the Emerging Museum Professionals, and stewards council co-chair for the Graduate Employees’ Organization AFT/IFT 6300. He is excited to bring a fresh, data-driven perspective to propel the CCP forward. In 2022, Xander received The Outstanding Young Persons of Illinois Award from the Illinois Jaycees. Xander proudly serves on the UIUC Homecoming Committee, NAWC Welcoming Week Committee, Champaign County Bike Month Committee, and East Central Illinois Community Organizations Active in Disasters (COAD).

Xander has called Champaign home since 2014. He lives in downtown with his too-many-to-count houseplants and pets. He enjoys the diverse cultures and entertainment that the Champaign community has to offer. For instance, you may encounter him enjoying drinks downtown or exploring the natural areas throughout the Midwest.

 JENNA MANOLAKES, MARKETING AND EVENTS COORDINATOR

coordinator@champaigncenter.com

 

Jenna Manolakes joined the Champaign Center Partnership as the Marketing and Events Coordinator in September 2021. She is originally from Champaign but decided to give a different U of I a try and received her bachelors degree in creative writing from the University of Illinois in Chicago.

While in Chicago Jenna combined her love of theater and event planning and began marketing the shows she would perform in across the city. Soon she moved to Nashville, TN where she worked as a marketing and events coordinator as well as an artist representative in the thriving music industry. In Nashville, Jenna met and married her husband and eventually returned to Champaign.

Since coming back to Illinois, Jenna  coordinated The Homer Soda Festival in 2017 before stepping in as the activities director at an assisted living facility. In that position she worked heavily in both marketing and in house event planning. Recently Jenna joined RE/MAX Choice as a broker where she is able to use her love of marketing to help clients find their dream home.

When Jenna is not working you can find her spending time with her husband and her newborn daughter. Jenna can’t wait to bring her passion for events and marketing to the eclectic events going on in Champaign!

MEET OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Erik Riha- Chair

ILLINI UNION
CAMPUSTOWN
Erik has been with the University of Illinois since 2006. He started at Campus Recreation as the Lead Assistant Director of Marketing, and has been at the Illini Union for the past four years serving as Marketing Director. He leads the eight-person Union marketing team to manage marketing and communications for the unit’s 16 program and retail operations. Prior to coming to Champaign, he was the Publications Coordinator for Recreational Sports at The Ohio State University, where he received his M.A. in Sport and Exercise Management. Erik joined the CCP Board in 2017 and chaired the 13 Thursdays committee to promote Campustown businesses. He also served as a panelist at CCP’s Speed Marketing session and as a team lead volunteer at the Parade of Lights.

ErikPhoto
Erik Riha -
Chair

Laurie Coward - VICE CHAIR

Busey Bank

Laurie Coward is Senior Vice President & Small Business Banker for Busey Bank, a subsidiary of First Busey Corporation.

After receiving a Bachelor of Science from Indiana University in Bloomington, Laurie began her career in banking in 2002. A decade later, Laurie joined Busey as a Commercial Lender later transitioning to such roles as Retail Market Lending Development Manager and Small Business Banking Manager before assuming her current role. With an understanding of the unique challenges and circumstances small businesses face, Laurie supports and helps entrepreneurs grow their business forward.

Laurie and her husband are raising two children, a girl and a boy, in Mahomet, IL. They have resided in Mahomet since 2012.

LaurieCoward2
Laurie Coward -
VICE CHAIR

Rachel Voss - SECRETARY

CHAMPAIGN PARK DISTRICT
APPOINTED

Rachel Voss is a nerd that loves C-U! Originally from Southern Illinois, Rachel moved here in 2009 to attend the University of Illinois as a Wheelchair Basketball athlete. After college, she couldn't think of a better place to be than C-U! 12 years later, she is now focused on helping Champaign grow as the Marketing Coordinator for the Champaign Park District. If you can't catch her in the parks, you will find her creating disability representation in TTRPGs like Dungeons & Dragons.
Rachel Voss Champaign Park District
Rachel Voss -
SECRETARY

Adrian Astorina

CENTRAL ILLINOIS BAKEHOUSE

MIDTOWN

CCPlogooverphoto
CHRISTINA ASKLUND

Adrian Astorina

LIVE ACTION GAMES

DOWNTOWN

Adrian Astorina is a guy who likes video games.  Although new to the board, most of his work background been spent in Champaign-Urbana small businesses, as an employee or manager.  In 2012, he founded Live Action Games, a retro and modern video game store.  Adrian is very much invested in the future of Champaign, and is an active mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters, in addition to living and working downtown.  

Adrian Astorina
ADRIAN ASTORINA

JENNIFER BRYANT

TOWNEPLACE SUITES BY MARRIOTT
CAMPUSTOWN

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JENNIFER BRYANT

ERIC CAIN

FLATLAND TATTOO STUDIO
CAMPUSTOWN

EricCain
ERIC CAIN

Lauren Gramly

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY RESTORE

MIDTOWN

LaurenGramly
LAUREN GRAMLY

DANNY INIGUEZ

CITY OF CHAMPAIGN

APPOINTED

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DANNY INIGUEZ

MICKIE PHETCHAREUNE

STICKY RICE

DOWNTOWN

Untitled design
MICKIE PHETCHAREUNE

Contact

Champaign Center Partnership
301 N. Neil St. Suite 400
Champaign, IL 61820
217-352-2400
info@champaigncenter.com

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Champaign Center Partnership is a 501(c)6, membership-based, nonprofit organization representing over 130 businesses, organizations, and individuals concentrated in Champaign’s Central Business District Downtown, Midtown, and Campustown.

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Champaign Center Partnership
301 N. Neil Street, Suite 400
Champaign IL, 61820

217-352-2400
info@champaigncenter.com