We love historic downtowns!

Enhancing the economic, social, cultural and environmental well-being of historic downtown business districts in Missouri.

Public and Private INVESTMENT

$1000000000

Net new businesses

834

Net New jobs

4109

volunteer hours

444113

Designated Missouri Main Street communities report economic impact in their districts each quarter. Cumulative totals for the program.

 

Our Team

Our team is an honest, hardworking group that provides resources, training and support to historic commercial neighborhoods in the state of Missouri. We all have huge hearts for downtown communities, small businesses  and historic preservation. We know that together, with our partners and members, we can make a difference in Missouri.


Gayla Roten

State Director

Gayla has served as State Director for MMSC since November 2007. She has over 20 years of experience in downtown revitalization and was one of the seven founding board members of MMSC. Gayla has effectively developed, administered and raised millions in funds from state, federal and foundation grant programs. These resources provide Missouri Communities the training and advocacy needed to revitalize the historic “heart” of their communities. She is passionate and driven to serve Missouri communities. Gayla is married to Ken and has three children and grandchildren. She enjoys and cherishes all the family time she can fit into her hectic schedule, the outdoors comes as a natural therapy garden to her, decorating is a second nature and travel is a must.

Keith Winge

State Community Development Director

Keith has been a part of the Missouri Main Street team since 2013 as the State Community Development Coordinator. He works with Missouri communities to organize, develop and grow their Main Street program. Before joining Missouri Main Street, Keith was a founding board member and then the first Executive Director for the Main Street program in Excelsior Springs where he resides. When he is not traveling the state, you can find him running 5Ks, gardening or cooking and eating good food.

Ben White

Program Outreach Specialist

Ben has been working as the Program Outreach Specialist since November 2019. He previously served as the director of Main Street Chillicothe. He has a B.S. in Historic Preservation from Southeast Missouri State and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration with a Community Planning Certificate from the University of Illinois-Springfield. His interests include playing sports, reading, and spending time with his family and friends. He loves traveling and exploring the world with his beautiful wife Alicia.

 

   

 

STACI COX

Executive Assistant of Network Services

Staci joined MMSC after being an active volunteer for the Get Plugged In... Downtown Conference since 2013. Staci has a B.S. in Historic Preservation and a B.A. in History from Southeast Missouri State. She also has a Master's Degree in Public History with an emphasis in Historic Preservation. Her interests include genealogy, architecture, reading, exploring downtown communities, restoration projects, sketching, and painting. She loves spending time with her family and her two children. 

 

 

 

 

 

 logan breer

Communication & Brand Specialist

Logan joined MMSC after graduating from College of the Ozarks in 2021. He received a B.A. in Communication Arts with an emphasis in Public Relations and a minor in Accounting. Logan has many fond memories of the visiting Saint Louis with his family throughout his childhood, growing up south of the city. Now he uses those memories to contribute to efforts in the new UrbanMain initiative. His previous experience in the small town of Kimmswick led him to develop a gratitude for the quaint small towns and districts across Missouri. His interest includes serving the Branson community through Teaching English as a Second Language program (TESOL), tending to and growing his plant collection, and playing board games, and his Switch.

 

Diane Hannah

Program Assistant

Diane joined the staff of Missouri Main Street Connection in 2016 and works as a grant writer and on special projects. She has been involved in Main Street work either as a volunteer or professional staff person since 1989 when she owned her own retail business in downtown Clinton, Missouri, and became the first board president of Clinton Main Street, Inc. Over the years, and through many changes, she became the Main Street Director in Clinton where she served for eleven years. She was one of the founding board members of MMSC in 2006, and has served on the Advisory Board of Directors since that time. Diane enjoys traveling with her husband, Ed, and trying to keep up with their four sons and thirteen grandchildren. Together they enjoy gardening and taking care of their country home, nine cats and one dog.

 

 

 

 

   
 

KATELYN BROTHERTON

Resource Development Coordinator

Katelyn joined Missouri Main Street Connection upon her graduation with honors from Southeast Missouri State University in 2015. She received a B.S. in Historic Preservation with a minor in Management. Katelyn has always had an appreciation for history as well as travel, especially finding unique destinations which made working at Missouri Main Street a perfect fit. Her previous experience includes work in customer service and graphic design. In addition to these skills, she is also educated in downtown revitalization, preservation, and architectural assessment. Katelyn also enjoys genealogy, reading, watching movies and shopping for new finds at antique stores.

 

 

  

 krystal torres

Accountant

Krystal joined MMSC 2019. In 2017, she graduated from Northwest Arkansas Community College with an Associate Degrees in Business Management and Accounting Technologies. Additionally, she is a locally owned small business owner of a commercial cleaning company. She loves spending time with her husband and son, but when she can sneak away, she loves spending time in her art room and enjoys home organizing projects.