Beverly Main Streets has been shaping the landscape of downtown Beverly since its founding in 2002. Although many years have passed since an engaged group of community members started the organization, Becki Greene and Erin Truex have worked diligently to reflect the core values the organization was founded on while remaining adaptable to the future.
Becki serves as the Community Engagement Manager and joined Beverly Main Streets in 2022. Having previously spent a collective six years working for small businesses on the North Shore, she felt ready to take the next step in serving and supporting the small business community as well as the residents, visitors, and artists who make towns and cities like Beverly so special. Becki is an experienced theatre artist and brings this passion for creative expression to her role. “Collaboration is a vital component in bringing any collective vision to life,” she shares. “Whether you’re onstage, backstage, on the design team, or cheering from the audience–you’re playing a necessary part. This can be said of our work at Beverly Main Streets. Everyone we interact with contributes to the big picture. And it’s an awesome picture!”
Erin joined Beverly Main Streets in 2024 as their Executive Director. After a 15 year career in nonprofits in various management roles, Erin wanted the opportunity to run a nonprofit. Beverly Main Streets became an easy decision. “I had candid conversations with Paul Gentile (BMS Board President and owner of Gentile Brewery) and Dr. Jamie Engel (BMS Board Member and owner of Aligned for Life Chiropractic) during the interview process. I didn’t want to make the leap to Beverly Main Streets without knowing there was a strong team in place. Between Becki and the Board of Directors, I felt like I was set up for success before my first day.”
Over the years, Beverly Main Streets has grown its community events to reach over 10,000 annually, supported small businesses through meet-ups and resource sharing, and led public art installations through their role as the managing partner of the Beverly Cultural District.
“I would say one of the biggest challenges we’ve faced is just reminding people and ourselves that we are only two people. We both really love Beverly and there’s so much to highlight and so much to accomplish. I think it’s important to have a healthy balance of striving to do more while still stopping and appreciating what we’ve been able to accomplish with our team.” shared Erin.
Something that is not a challenge? A group of volunteers that make events possible. “We would be nothing without our volunteers. They truly make the organization run and whether it’s through our committees that inform our strategies or day of volunteers that are up at 6 am directing traffic at Arts Fest, volunteers show up for us in so many meaningful ways.”
While there is a lot of uncertainty in the world, one thing is for sure- Beverly Main Streets is here to stay, says Erin. “We are so invested in this community and are continuing to find ways to better support the downtown. The sky’s the limit for what we can accomplish when we work together.”
