Improving conditions for businesses, attracting and retaining businesses, and improve the overall experience for those who use the district.
History of BID & Board Of Directors
Business Improvement Districts (BID) exist throughout the country, in large cities and small, and each one has a unique scope of work. What all BIDs have in common, however, is their underlying purpose to improve conditions for businesses in a specific area; attract and retain businesses; and improve the overall experience for those who use the district. A BID enables stakeholders to decide which services to provide to meet the district's unique needs.
To that end, the Durango Business Improvement District was formed in 1997 with a mission that has evolved from the original narrow focus of studying the feasibility of a possible conference center, to a broad brush of sustainability within the District through marketing programs, special event support and management, and capital projects that helps support businesses in the District. The District’s boundaries are the Central Business District and North Main Avenue to the city limits.
The Durango BID is funded by a 2 mill levy, an additional property tax constituents in the district have assessed on themselves, through 2041. It augments those revenues with proceeds from speciale vents and sponsorships.
BID has a physical office located at 850 1/2 Main Ave., Suite 2.
Please consider signing up for BID's weekly E-Newsletter that is published every Wednesday. You will receive accurate and timely information from us once a week.
BID also hosts a monthly meeting for Downtown and North Main District business owners, and anyone interested in activities in the District. BID's Coffee and Conversation meeting is held every month (except July and December) on the second Friday from 8:30 to 9:30 am at TBK Bank's Downtown branch in the Community Room. Everyone is invited. BID's monthly board meetings are also open to the public. Click HERE for a list of all upcoming meetings, and a few days before each meeting an agenda will be posted on that page.
Geoff Overington is the Employing Broker and Operating Principal of Keller Williams Realty Southwest Associates in Durango, Colorado. Although not a native, Geoff was raised in Durango. He moved to the west coast of Florida for about ten years after graduating Durango High School and then returned to Durango in 1995 with his wife, Karen, and their two (then) small children. First licensed in Colorado in 1995, Geoff spent the first five years in real estate listing and selling with his wife and business partner, Karen. He became the company’s Sales Manager in 2000 and Broker in 2005. During his years as manager, he has trained and coached agents in providing knowledgeable assistance, focusing on areas of expertise, monitoring industry trends and maintaining constant communication with customers and clients. Geoff works to maintain the company’s image and reputation in the market, to ensure the company is known for honesty and integrity, and to provide a higher level of customer service and the best value in client representation.
Professional accomplishments: 29 years in Colorado real estate; 10 years in commercial banking; extensive training and contract knowledge; member of local charity and community boards; economic development advocate for Durango and La Plata County; Past President of the Durango Area Association of Realtors; Past Colorado Association of Realtors Director (DAAR); Past Realtor of the Year.
Owner of Tippy Canoe, bio coming soon!
Born and raised in Durango, Colorado, Colin Carver is a second-generation owner of Carver Brewing Co. He holds a BA in Chemistry and Environmental Studies from Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon and previously worked as a renewable energy consultant for geothermal energy projects prior to owning Carver's. Now, alongside his sister Claire, he runs Carver Brewing Company which is known for award-winning craft beer, excellent food and being a community hub of Durango.
Originally from Rhode Island, Carly Van Hof Thomson earned a BS in Restaurant & Resort Management from Colorado State University in Fort Collins. After several years training managers for Breads of the World (Panera Bread), Carly moved to Durango in 2009 with her husband, Chris, Investigative Sergeant for Durango Police Department. In Durango, Carly continued to develop her career at Purgatory Ski Resort for over 7 years, eventually leading the Food & Beverage team and overseeing operations of nine Food & Beverage outlets. In 2017, Carly joined the team at Zia Taqueria. Now co-owner of both Zia Taqueria and Sage Fresh Eats, Carly represents the North Main District on the BID board.
Carly is the proud mom to two active Durango kids, Ada (18) and Grady (13) and enjoys living, working, and giving back in our amazing community.
Maury Leysens is currently an owner and operator of Giaco LLC. Giaco oversees property holdings, management and retail operations in downtown Durango. Maury is entering into his third career with the Hand Bound Books shop on Main Ave.
His first career was as a registered nurse with a BS degree from University of Iowa working in mental health and family counseling.
His second career was as a computational scientist in the agricultural and biotech industries. This career started with positions on the Cleft Lip/Palette project and the Human Genome project. It extended to biotech startups in San Diego, CA and F500 companies in Des Moines, IA and Durham, NC. Maury has extensive high performance computing and machine learning experience performing DNA analysis as both a developer and manager.
Maury has been deeply involved in arts and culture since his time studying for a Classics Degree at U of Iowa. This included board membership and executive committee appointments for the Des Moines Arts Festival, the Des Moines Arts center contemporary collectors, and corporate liaison between DuPont and the Des Moines Arts Center. Most recently served on the Durango Arts Center board.
Tanya Clegg is the Director of Marketing and Communications for the Business Improvement District. She joined BID in 2016.
Most recently Tanya served for four years as Underwriting Manager/Assistant Development Director for KSUT Public Radio. Over the years, her position also evolved into managing the station’s fundraisers, including the popular Annual Silent Auction and Party in the Park. As Underwriting Manager, she worked closely with some 300 businesses in the region and led KSUT to record underwriting sales each year.
A graduate of Colorado State University with a BA in Speech Communications, Tanya was raised in Breckenridge, Colo. enjoying ski racing, horseback riding and the “mountain life.” After spending time in Fort Collins and Denver following her graduation from CSU, she moved to Durango in 2001 to reconnect with small-town life as well as family.
She served as Volunteer Coordinator for the Adaptive Sports Association for nearly five years upon her arrival in town, and her subsequent positions, before joining KSUT, include Volunteer Events Coordinator for the Humane Society and, with San Juan BOCES, helping secure employment for students with disabilities.
Tanya lives in Durango with her husband Vance and their son. tanyac@downtowndurango.org
Tim Walsworth has served as the Executive Director for the Durango Business Improvement District since January 2013. Since he has been hired, BID has grown its budget, taken on the management of the San Juan Brewfest, relocated its office, added new programs, and improved its service and communications to its constituents.
Prior to assuming the position of Executive Director of the Durango Business Improvement District in January 2013, Tim Walsworth served as the President and CEO for United Way of Southwest Colorado for 10 years. Additionally, he has more than 15 years of nonprofit management experience and worked for two leading United Way chapters prior to arriving in Southwest Colorado.
A graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, with a Bachelor’s in Journalism with a focus on Public Relations, Tim began working for United Way/Capital Area in Austin in 1996. Within three years, he rose to the senior staff for the organization’s Community Investment department, responsible for investing United Way resources for the improvement of the overall health of the community.
In Oct. 1999, Tim took on a consulting role with Pikes Peak United Way in Colorado Springs, but soon secured a permanent position as a lead fundraiser overseeing the fundraising activities for nearly 300 accounts. He supervised loaned employees (employees of other businesses that are loaned to United Way to augment campaign staff as part of the business’ support of the annual campaign) and other support staff. In 2001, he accepted the Director of Marketing and Communications position within the same United Way.
In January 2003, Tim moved to Durango to assume the position of President and CEO for United Way of Southwest Colorado. During his tenure, United Way of Southwest Colorado generated more than $6.1 million in funding for local needs and revamped the process it uses to invest the funds raised each year. timw@downtowndurango.org