BID welcomes Geoff Brault as executive director
TROY, N.Y. » The board of directors of the Downtown Troy Business Improvement District has appointed Geoff Brault as the organization’s fourth executive director.
Bringing more than 15 years of Hudson Valley nonprofit, marketing, tourism, and community development experience to the Collar City, Brault will ensure the Downtown Troy BID remains an active and positive force supporting the district’s businesses, residents, and visitors. He succeeds Katie Hammon, who led the organization for the last six years.
“We are excited to welcome Geoff to downtown Troy,” said Matt Callahan, board president, Downtown Troy Business Improvement District. “From our first meeting, it was apparent he is passionate about our mission, shares our values, and has a creative and collaborative mindset that will serve our downtown well.”
Brault arrives in Troy from Poughkeepsie, where he served as the director of marketing and communications for Walkway Over the Hudson, a nonprofit organization supporting the growth and success of Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park, a nationally-renowned tourism destination welcoming more than 600,000 visitors each year. Previously, he directed social media and digital marketing for the 10 hospitals of the WMCHealth Network and was the director of communications for the Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to serve as the executive director of the Downtown Troy Business Improvement District,” Brault said. “I believe creating and sustaining a vibrant, inclusive, and thriving community like the one in Downtown Troy is intentional work, and an organization like the BID has a unique and important role in the promotion, economic development, and beautification that contributes to completing that task.”
In addition to his professional experience, Brault supported the mid-Hudson Valley as a board member of The Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse, associate board member of the Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce, chairman of the Hudson Valley Young Professionals, and member of the Dutchess County Economic Development Advisory Council and Think Dutchess Marketing Committee. He has been honored with the Dutchess County Forty Under 40 Shaker Award and featured among Hudson Valley Magazine’s “Generation Next” — a group of young leaders dedicated to advancing the region. In 2019, he was named “Tomorrow’s Hero” by the Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse.
“There’s no question that Troy is a city on the rise, and I’m thrilled to be here,” Brault said. “As I’ve begun to know the members of the BID’s board of directors, meet local business owners, and experience a bit of life in Troy, it’s clear there is a palpable energy and spirit of cooperation here that excites me about the future of this exceptional city. I look forward to contributing to the forward progress that’s being made each and every day.”
Brault is a graduate of Marist College. He currently resides in downtown Troy.