Closer is a conversation about the strategies that make cities social – and why that’s the smartest investment in the urban toolkit.

Kris Larson is President and CEO of Central Houston, Inc., where he works with business, civic, and community leaders to advance the continued growth and vitality of Downtown Houston and the city’s urban core. As the former Board Chair of the International Downtown Association and a longtime leader in downtown and place management, his work spans economic development, public space, transportation, planning, advocacy, and the partnerships needed to build strong and resilient city centers.

The Times Square Alliance works to improve and promote Times Square, one of the world’s most recognizable urban districts. The organization manages public spaces, provides sanitation and public-safety services, supports businesses, produces events and public art, and advocates for the continued vitality of Times Square as a place for New Yorkers, workers, performers, and visitors from around the world.

Tim Tompkins is a longtime leader in urban place management and the founder of SharedCity, a consultancy focused on helping cities and downtown organizations create more vibrant, inclusive, and resilient places. Previously President of the Times Square Alliance, his work spans public space, economic development, arts and culture, placemaking, and the evolving role of downtowns in civic life.

Chelsea Gondeck is CEO of the Downtown Partnership of Colorado Springs, where she works to strengthen Downtown as the economic, civic, and cultural heart of the region. Her work spans placemaking, economic development, mobility, public space, and partnerships, including leading the award-winning transformation of AdAmAn Alley.

The DowntownDC Business Improvement District works to strengthen the heart of Washington, DC as a vibrant, welcoming, and economically thriving urban center. Its work spans public-space management and activation, economic development, hospitality, events, placemaking, and advocacy, bringing together businesses, property owners, residents, and civic partners to support the continued evolution of downtown.

Lukas Umana is Senior Director of Public Space Operations and Activations at the DowntownDC BID, where he leads work to create clean, safe, vibrant, and memorable public spaces. His work brings together placemaking, public art, events, hospitality, and creative partnerships to strengthen Downtown DC and demonstrate the economic and community value of great public-space experiences

Kimberly Bares is President and CEO of The Magnificent Mile Association, representing businesses, property owners, institutions, and attractions along Chicago’s iconic North Michigan Avenue. Her work focuses on economic vitality, placemaking, advocacy, public realm improvements, and strengthening the Magnificent Mile as a vibrant destination for Chicagoans and visitors alike.

Tampa Soulwalk is a public art and cultural heritage trail celebrating the stories, people, and places that have shaped Tampa’s Black communities. Connecting murals, historic sites, landmarks, and public spaces across several neighborhoods, the project invites residents and visitors to experience Tampa’s history through art, storytelling, and place.

Caroline Keesler is part of the team at the Tampa Downtown Partnership, working to support a vibrant, connected, and welcoming Downtown Tampa. Her work includes placemaking, public-space activation, events, and programs that bring people together and strengthen the downtown experience.

Tampa Downtown Partnership works to cultivate a vibrant, diverse, and welcoming downtown through programs focused on economic development, public space, transportation, placemaking, and quality of life. Bringing together businesses, residents, civic partners, and community organizations, the Partnership helps shape Downtown Tampa as a connected and active urban center.

Third Place Makers is a placemaking platform founded by Ivy Lupco that explores and advances the people, ideas, and strategies behind vibrant communities and meaningful places. Through its consulting practice and conversations with place-management professionals, it connects ideas with action across placemaking, community engagement, activation, partnerships, and public-realm strategy.

Ivy Lupco is the founder and principal consultant of Third Place Makers, a Tampa-based placemaking practice focused on creating places where people feel connected and belong. Her work spans public-space activation, community engagement, public art, events, and inclusive urban experiences. She also hosts Third Place Makers Talk a podcast exploring the people, projects, and ideas shaping places and communities across the country.

One of Canberra's most loved pieces of public art, Big Swoop is a larger than life sculpture of an Australian magpie pecking a chip.

The cheeky sculpture sits in the city's Petrie Plaza and is a nod to Canberra's unique urban wildlife. It was created by Canberra resident and artist Yanni Pounartzis and unveiled in 2022.

Sitting at 2.4 metres high and 3.5 metres long, Big Swoop is Canberra's contribution to Australia's list of "big things".

The City Renewal Authority leads the renewal of central Canberra, working across public space, development, placemaking, events, and community engagement to create a more vibrant and welcoming city centre. Its work spans places including Civic, Braddon, Dickson, Haig Park and the Acton Waterfront, with projects ranging from major streetscape improvements to grants, cultural programming and public-space activation.

Kristi Clark is City Place Manager with Canberra’s City Renewal Authority, where she works to make the city centre more active, welcoming, and connected. Drawing on a background in events, performance, and community engagement, her work includes placemaking, programming, public-space activation, and supporting the businesses and communities that bring central Canberra to life

Careyann Weinberg is Director of Economic Vitality at the Downtown Norfolk Council, where she leads programs supporting businesses, entrepreneurship, and the continued growth of Downtown Norfolk. Previously the longtime director of Selden Market, an award-winning retail incubator, her work connects small-business development, storefront vitality, placemaking, and community building.

The International Downtown Association’s Emerging Leader Fellowship is a professional development program for rising leaders in the place-management and urban-district field. The intensive program brings together a cohort of professionals from around the world for leadership development, peer learning, and exploration of the complex challenges facing downtowns and urban places.

Beyond the formal program, the Fellowship builds a lasting network of practitioners working across business improvement districts, downtown organizations, economic development, placemaking, and related fields—strengthening both individual leaders and the broader profession.

Sheffia Randall-Nickerson, MBA is currently the Chief Engagement and Collaboration Officer at University Circle Inc., the community service corporation responsible for developing, serving and advocating for University Circle as a vibrant and complete neighborhood. Sheffia also held the positions as President and CEO of the Center for Arts-Inspired Learning, a non-profit arts education organization and Assistant Director of Community Engagement and Education at Playhouse Square in the center of the Cleveland Theatre District.

Kate Borders is President of University Circle Inc., the community development organization serving Cleveland’s University Circle district. Her work focuses on strengthening one of the country’s most significant concentrations of cultural, educational, and healthcare institutions through placemaking, economic development, transportation, public space, and community partnerships.