DDA hires new events coordinator

There’s a new smiling face behind events in downtown Oxford and his name is Michael Johnson.
The 29-year-old Oxford resident was hired by the Downtown Development Authority last week for the next 30 days pending board approval of a contract for him. A maximum of $15,000 a year was budgeted for the position.
‘I wanted to be a part of the community, explore the different events they have and see what I can do to help make Oxford a better place,? he said.
Johnson’s lived in town for two years with his wife, Keliann.
The young couple is expecting their first child, a girl, in early August.
Prior to his new position with the DDA, Johnson’s worked as a substitute teacher, communications manager for the Detroit-based Little Caesar Enterprises, senior account executive at Mullen Advertising and Public Relations in Detroit and communications coordinator for Delphi Product & Service Solutions in Troy.
Johnson believes his event planning and media relations experience in the corporate world will be an asset to the DDA as he endeavors to make local happenings ‘really family-friendly in order to bring people downtown.?
Ultimately, Johnson is working toward becoming an elementary school teacher.
He said this DDA job is a perfect fit for him as works toward earning his degree from Oakland University.
‘I would love to (teach in Oxford), if I had the opportunity,? Johnson noted.

DDA hires new events coordinator added by CJ Carnacchio on April 29, 2009
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Meghann Snow is ready to start planning major events like Celebrate Oxford and the Scarecrow Festival.
‘It’s something I enjoy doing,? said 1996 graduate of Lake Orion High School, who’s lived in Oxford Township for five years. ‘I’m definitely a people-person. I’m very outgoing and extroverted.?
Monday was Snow’s first official day as the Oxford Downtown Development Authority’s events coordinator, a part-time position that pays $15,000 annually with no benefits.
Snow’s love of planning weddings and birthday parties for the special people in her life led to this latest career move.
‘Both times this job was posted, people came to me and said this is perfect for you,? she said. ‘Friends and family have told me that this is something I should pursue.?
Her career background is primarily in the financial field. She got her start as a high school co-op student at Oxford Bank.
She later worked as a technical trainer for new tellers at T&C Federal Credit Union between 1998-2001. As a financial coordinator at the Plymouth-based CUNA Mutual Group from 2001-02, Snow gained experience in planning seminars and marketing.
Snow took 4? years off from her career to start a family with her husband of almost eight years, Jason. The couple has two children ? Cannon, 4, and Kamden, 3.
In 2007, she went back to work as a production coordinator for the Clarkston-based Frontline Marketing Group. There she created high-end marketing materials while working closely with clients, vendors, designers and sales staff.
Snow said she’s very excited about her new position with the DDA and the opportunity it affords her to do something she loves ‘for the town that I live in.?
‘This should be fun,? she said.

DDA hires new events coordinator added by CJ Carnacchio on March 26, 2008
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