19 apply for BSD executive director's position

By Lisa Brody

According to the city of Birmingham, as of Thursday, June 22, it has received 19 applicants for the vacant executive director's position with the Birmingham Shopping District (BSD), with the goal of having it filled in August.

The position became vacant on May 3, when Sean Kammer, then the executive director, resigned just shy of one year into his tenure with the city, citing problems with some members of the governing board of the business group. His resignation was effective immediately.

Kammer had been chosen by the city from a field of over 40 applicants following the early December 2020 resignation of former BSD executive director Ingrid Tighe, who was hired as the economic development director for Oakland County. Kammer is now executive director of Main Street Pontiac.

According to Marianne Gamboa, communications director with the city of Birmingham, there have been 19 applicants applying for the posting for the executive director position so far. They plan to begin interviewing in early to mid-July, and she said they hope to fill the position by early August.

The Birmingham BSD is funded through a special assessment on all commercial, non-residential property in areas of downtown and other business districts of Birmingham. The executive director works with merchants, business owners, retailers, landlords, and commercial real estate brokers.