Birmingham Shopping District's Strategies Moving Forward

With over 20 years of downtown management experience, Cristina Sheppard-Decius leads the Birmingham Shopping District as its Executive Director, bringing forth both fresh and proven economic and marketing strategies for Downtown Birmingham.  

Sheppard-Decius is known nationally and locally for her proven track record of revitalizing Downtown Ferndale  during her tenure as the Executive Director of the Ferndale Downtown Development Authority from 2000 to 2015, and also for building a collaborative organizational framework in Downtown Dearborn from 2015 to 2022 through her company POW! Strategies, Inc. 

Her 25 years of knowledge and know-how in public relations, marketing, volunteer organizational management, and economic development provide the basis for developing and implementing strategies to grow downtowns.

Recognized as one of Crain's Detroit Business 40 Under 40 in 2009, Sheppard-Decius holds a B.A. in Public Relations from Western Michigan University and is a Certified Main Street Manager of the National Main Street Center. Sheppard-Decius serves as the Chairperson of the Michigan Downtown Association (MDA) and has previously served on the International Council of Shopping Centers Michigan Alliance.