About Us

If you've wandered up Wisconsin Avenue NW and discovered something charming or unique, you've found what Georgetown Main Street exists to champion. For nearly 10 years we’ve supported the independent businesses, hosted community events, and showcased the neighborhood identity that makes Georgetown the 8th most visited Main Street in America.

our VISION

Georgetown Main Street’s vision is to build a vibrant, inclusive, and collaborative commercial corridor that champions diverse small businesses and continues to grow the local and unique nature of Georgetown.

our MISSION

Georgetown Main Street’s mission is to strengthen the vitality of Georgetown’s small businesses by representing, promoting, and supporting the Wisconsin Avenue commercial corridor and engaging residents, businesses, community organizations, and visitors to build a vibrant Georgetown.

Georgetown Main Street is small and mighty, made up mostly of volunteers from the community.

Meet The Team

Main street

Map

The Georgetown Main Street Corridor stretches along Wisconsin Avenue NW from K Street to the south and Whitehaven Parkway to the north plus half a block east and west off Wisconsin Avenue NW. 

Map showing a red transit route along Wisconsin Avenue NW, from Whitehaven Parkway NW in the north to Water Street in the south, with several stops marked along the route.
Georgetown Main Street — BID & GMS

Our Partners in Georgetown

Georgetown BID

Georgetown Main Street and the Georgetown Business Improvement District (BID) are complementary organizations working together to support a thriving Wisconsin Avenue corridor. Where the BID shapes the neighborhood experience, GMS strengthens the businesses that make the neighborhood worth experiencing.

BID

Up to the front door

  • Clean Team & Community Safety Program
  • Neighborhood Beautification: Wreaths & Flower Baskets
  • Support Homeless Services
  • Major Marketing Campaigns
  • Online Directory
  • DC Gov't Contractor
  • Business Recruitment
  • Economic Development Data
  • Transportation Initiatives
  • Host of French Market

Both

Shared services

  • Events
  • Social Media
  • Share Business Resources
  • Landscaping & Beautification
  • Business Data Tracking

GMS

Through the front door

  • Grants
  • Annual Survey
  • Technical Assistance
  • One-on-One Support
  • Networking Events
  • Recurring Events
  • Community Volunteers
  • Host of Art All Night, Fall Market
  • 1700 & 1800 Blocks of Wisconsin

Other Georgetown partner organizations:

  • CAG Logo

    Citizens Association of Georgetown

    Georgetown's neighbors and its small businesses are stronger together. We partner with the Citizens Association of Georgetown on promotional and social programs that bring residents down the street and through the door, turning neighbors into regulars.

  • Georgetown Heritage Logo

    Georgetown Heritage

    Georgetown's history doesn't just live in books. Georgetown Heritage brings it to life through programming along the C&O Canal and by championing public art and culture throughout the neighborhood. We work together to make sure Georgetown's story is told in the streets where it happened.

  • GMS logo

    Georgetown Ministry Center

    Every neighbor deserves to be seen and cared for. Georgetown Ministry Center provides essential services and compassionate support to our unhoused neighbors.

  • Georgetown Village Logo

    Georgetown Village

    Aging in place should mean staying connected. Georgetown Village builds the networks of support that allow Georgetown residents to remain in the neighborhood they love.

Part of the DC Main Street Network

Georgetown Main Street is one of 29 DC Main Street programs coordinated by the Department of Small and Local Business Development. Main Streets are a network of nonprofits across the country that promote community revitalization through place-based economic development.  

Georgetown Main Street received the highest level of accreditation for 2026.

Logo with a street lamp, a snowflake, and the text 'Main Street America 2026 Accredited.'
Logo for the Department of Small and Local Business Development with a stylized arrow and four stars.
Graphic logo for Main Streets District of Columbia featuring stars and bold text.

Annual Reports

2023
2024
2025

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Georgetown Main Street is a volunteer-driven organization. Meet our Board of Directors many are residents or own Georgetown businesses. All love this community and want to see it thrive.

Our Team

A woman with light brown hair, smiling, wearing a light-colored blouse with chain and pocket details, standing against a plain gray background.

Rachel Shank

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

  • Rachel Shank joined Georgetown Main Street in 2019 after receiving her Master of Public Administration from the George Washington University. Rachel is committed to building strong bonds between the small business community, the Georgetown neighborhood, and university through events and storytelling. 

    You can find Rachel walking up Wisconsin Avenue popping into shops, with a smile.

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Emma Duffy

SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER

  • A woman with shoulder-length brown hair wearing a light pink sleeveless blazer, smiling against a plain light-colored background.

    Iesha Holy

    Board Chair

    Iesha is the Owner and Founder of EuroBronze Sunless Studio located at 1616 Wisconsin Avenue.

  • A woman with long gray hair, wearing glasses with black frames, and a green patterned lace blouse, smiling at the camera against a plain background.

    Allison Cooke

    Board Vice Chair

    Allison is a fierce advocate for the independent restaurant community in the DMV and nationally. She recently retired from a career in hospitality design at CORE architecture + design, where she was a Partner. She played an instrumental role in shaping the design of some of DC’s most beloved restaurants for nearly 20 years. Her passion has now shifted to assisting restaurants with the myriad operational, social, and economic challenges they face. Her relationships with chefs, owner-operators, and other food and beverage professionals allow her to connect our GMS restaurant community with educational and consulting resources to level up their businesses.
    Allison is a member of the Independent Restaurant Coalition, a supporter of FAB (an annual business workshop for women in the food and beverage industry), and an advisor to Farms Work Wonders (a non-profit in Wardensville, WV that invests in the futures of Appalachian youth).

  • Close-up portrait of a woman with curly, voluminous hair, wearing pink lipstick, hoop earrings, and a colorful top, smiling at the camera.

    Rian Holt

    Board Treasurer

    Rian is a multifaceted entrepreneur and leader who combines technical, analytical, and business skills to deliver innovative solutions and services. As the Franchise Owner and Area Developer of Washington D.C. and Montgomery County at THE DRIPBaR, she co-owns and operates a health and wellness company that provides IV infusions and quick shots to help clients optimize their physical and mental health. She am passionate about creating a positive impact in my community and improving the quality of life of others through holistic and preventive care.

    Rian is also the founding member of The Brilliant Black Girl Collective, a nonprofit organization that empowers and supports young Black women in Birmingham, AL through mentoring, networking, advocacy, and financially.

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    Mary Beth Hasty

    Board Secretary, Economic Vitality Chair

    Mary Beth co-owns and manages Build Design Center at 1631 Wisconsin Ave NW.

  • A woman with curly black hair smiling, wearing red lipstick, gold earrings, and a black top against a plain gray background.

    Charissa Benjamin

    Board Member

    Charissa is a marketing communications professional with over 20 years experience in a diverse cross-section of industries, with a specialty in hospitality and lifestyle PR. She has worked in internal communications roles as well as boutique and mid-size agencies, promoting everything from spirits to traveling entertainment shows to AIDS service organizations. In 2012, Charissa launched Savor PR, an independent PR consulting company, with a focus on restaurants, hotels and travel. Savor PR has represented some of the best restaurant, hospitality and food and beverage brands in the Washington, DC region and was named by Forbes as one of the 'Best PR Firms' in 2020/21.

  • A smiling woman with curly red hair, wearing a pearl necklace, a white collared shirt, and a dark blazer, posed against a neutral background.

    Ann Goldstein

    Board Member

    1) Where is your favorite small business to eat in Georgetown?

    We are addicted to chicken salad from our neighborhood bodega, Scheele’s if I can only pick one!

    2) What do you love most about Georgetown?

    It’s walkability, depth of character and sense of community, it’s a real neighborhood with residential and commercial co-existing harmoniously!

    The charm of bygone eras’ still influence our modern lives.

    3) Where do you take guests to visit when they come into town?

    Too numerous to name; but a canal boat tour will be at the top of the list this season!

    A stroll to the waterfront, coffee several times a day, never at the same spot, Compass, Blue Bottle, Baked and Wired…a beer a Martin’s and a hike around Roosevelt Island to name a few!

  • A woman with blonde hair, wearing glasses, gold hoop earrings, a pearl necklace, and a tan blazer, smiling against a plain white background.

    Colleen Girouard

    Board Member

    Colleen is a Georgetown resident.

  • A professional headshot of a man with short dark hair, smiling, wearing a dark zip-up sweater over a collared checkered shirt, against a plain light gray background.

    Alex Walker

    Board Member

    As a retail broker, W. Alexander Walker has been providing landlord and tenant representation services for restaurants and retail operations in the Washington, DC Metro Area for over 15 years. Prior to forming MILLER WALKER Retail Real Estate with Bill Miller in 2012, Alex was Vice President of the Retail Services Group at Transwestern.

    In 2006, Alex was awarded Transwestern’s Rising Star Award for the Mid-Atlantic Region and in 2009. He represented the Tenant in the Washington Business Journal’s Best Retail Deal of the Year. Alex has also consistently been named a CoStar Power Broker and in 2013, he was named one of the 35 Under 35 in DC Commercial Real Estate by Bisnow.

    Alex is a fifth-generation Washingtonian who attended Landon School for Lower and Middle School; Institut Le Rosey – an international boarding school in Switzerland for High School. Then, Lafayette College, from which he graduated in 2003 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Government & Law and English.

  • A woman with shoulder-length brown hair, smiling and wearing a red patterned top, against a plain white background.

    Ellen Waugh

    Volunteer Chair

    A stroll to the waterfront, coffee several times a day, never at the same spot, Compass, Blue Bottle, Baked and Wired…a beer a Martin’s and a hike around Roosevelt Island to name a few!

  • A woman with long brown hair, wearing a beige top and rectangular gold earrings, smiling and winking at the camera against a plain gray background.

    Melanie Hayes

    Marketing & PR Committee Chair

    Melanie, a Vice President with TTR Sotheby’s International Realty, has been with the firm since 2012 and primarily focuses on transactions in Northwest DC. As a long-time DC resident, having lived in Georgetown and Kalorama, and licensed in all three jurisdictions, Melanie is able to offer her buyers and sellers her personal knowledge of the city and its surrounding areas.

  • A woman with long braids smiling, wearing a black blouse, against a neutral background.

    Gwendolyn Coleman

    Governance Committee Chair

    Gwen is the Director of the Office of Neighborhood Life at Georgetown University.

  • A smiling man with gray hair and a gray beard, wearing a light gray striped polo shirt, standing against a plain light beige background.

    Joe Norton

    Board Member

    Joe Norton is the owner of Norton Physical Therapy & Performance in Georgetown, where he founded his practice six years ago to provide personalized, one-on-one care for active adults and runners. He chose Georgetown for its unique blend of neighborhood connection and city energy, allowing him to build strong relationships within the community while staying connected to Washington, DC. Since opening, he has grown the practice from a single provider to a team of eight physical therapists and has developed partnerships with local gyms, running groups, and wellness organizations through workshops, injury screens, and community events. Joe is passionate about helping people stay active and building a business that contributes meaningfully to the Georgetown community.

  • A woman with shoulder-length blonde hair wearing a black sleeveless top and a pearl necklace, smiling at the camera.

    Amy Gleklen

    Board Member

    Amy is the Founder and CEO of Next Game Plan, a leadership and career coaching firm serving senior and emerging leaders from small to multi-million dollar businesses. In addition to her coaching practice, Amy led CEO peer advisory boards with Vistage and works with the Wharton School in their MBA coaching programs. She has an MBA from Wharton, MS in Counseling from Johns Hopkins, and leadership coaching certification from Georgetown. She is the founder of the Business Leaders Roundtable for Georgetown Main Street and serves on the Economic Vitality Committee.

  • A woman with long brown hair smiling, wearing a white sweater with navy blue stripes and a scalloped collar, against a neutral beige background.

    Samantha Ring

    Board Member

    Samantha Ring is the Co-Founder & Managing Director of Boatwell (previously Boat House Apparel), a resort lifestyle brand and Georgetown concept shop known for its local storytelling and curated retail experiences.

    As both a resident and business owner, Samantha is deeply invested in Georgetown and the energy of the neighborhood.

  • A professional headshot of a man with short brown hair wearing a dark blazer over a white shirt, smiling slightly, against a plain gray background.

    David Suski

    Board Member

    David is a business Banker with M & T Bank.

Committees

Our volunteer-run committees are the driving force behind Georgetown Main Street’s work and impact in the community. 

  • Chair: Rachel Shank

    Allison Cooke, Lianne Farbes, Colleen Girouard, Ann Goldstein, Iesha Holy, Vicki Johnson, Michael Angelo, Sarah Smith, Ellen Waugh

  • Chair: Melanie Hayes

    Charissa Benjamin, Emma Duffy, Iesha Holy, Jeanne Jennings, Samantha Ring, Zoe Shields, Duk-ki Yu

  • Chair: Mary Beth Hasty

    Faith Broderick, Allison Cooke, Amy Gleklen, Rian Holt, Robert Hughes, Allen Meizlish, Maya Patel, David Suski, Alex Walker

  • Chair: Gwendolyn Coleman

    Mary Beth Hasty

  • Chair: Ann Goldstein

    Colleen Girouard, Ellen Waugh

Group photo of diverse women and men dressed professionally, seated and standing in front of a backdrop with the Georgetown Main Street logo.

Learn more about the work our committees do