New 2023 Board MEmbers
I am honored to be joining the Board of Downtown Washington Inc. I am first and foremost a mom, grandma, and wife living in Marthasville, MO. Adding a branch of our business here has been on my five year business plan and I accomplished that in my fifth year with Main St. Real Estate, when we moved into the office at Elm & 4th this past August.
Why Washington? There is something truly magical about this town, and I feel a lot of that has to do with the efforts, past and present, of Downtown Washington, Inc. It was important to me to choose a downtown location for our office because Washington draws people both locally and abroad. I love that our downtown area is a thriving destination and place to live and works cohesively with our city leaders to enhance our growth.
I have been a realtor since 2016. I manage nine agents in my office and am a producing agent myself. Prior to that, I owned a successful photobooth company for ten years. I sold my company in 2018 to do real estate full time. In addition to real estate, I am a social media manager for three businesses. I love the marketing aspect of my profession and love that Downtown Washington, Inc. does such an amazing job marketing the organization and events!
I am proud to have served on the Board of the Warrenton Downtown Association for three years. I am very familiar with Missouri Main Street’s four point approach and I’ve had the opportunity to travel for trainings with them. Serving as the marketing director and event planning chair has given me the opportunity to help the Warrenton community grow. I have experience working with City leaders, assisting with strategic planning, attending Board of Alderman meetings, and presenting on behalf of the association. Thank you for this opportunity to serve our community, downtown businesses, and the people of Washington as a whole!
I am a proud graduate of the College of Architecture and Design at Kansas State University, with over 30 years of experience in the planning and design of communities and public spaces. A registered landscape architect and community planner, I have developed neighborhood and downtown plans for communities across the Midwest, including Rolla, Cape Girardeau, Sikeston, Chillicothe, Canton, and Columbia. My designs include numerous plazas, parks, and waterfronts such as Silver Moon Plaza in Chillicothe, The District Gateway in Columbia, Animals Always Plaza at the St. Louis Zoo, and The Monumental Entrance Amphitheater on The Arch Grounds in St. Louis.
I am a member of the American Society of Landscape Architects and the American Institute of Certified Planners. I teach a course in site design at the Missouri Botanical Garden and am a member of the Board of Directors for Missouri Main Street Connection. I currently serve as the Capital Projects Manager at Forest Park Forever in St. Louis and consult with Main Street communities through my own firm, Fora Planning & Design, LLC.
The stock of historic brick architecture is my favorite characteristic of Downtown Washington. The various historic brick buildings sitting above the river give Downtown Washington a historic aesthetic and civic charm, essentially a classic Midwest river town. The new infill developments also reflect a high level of design and craftmanship which align perfectly with the historic structures. The buildings, businesses, institutions, and events all offer Downtown Washington as a highquality destination, for locals and visitors alike.
Holly Wunderlich (Piontek) has been the owner of I.B. Nuts in Downtown Washington for four years. She was born and raised in Washington and has loved getting to know the customers and other local business owners as well. She was previously in the financial industry working at Edward Jones for 13 years.
Working in Washington has been a wonderful opportunity. Not only do I have less of a commute, but I also get to be on my feet and talk to people all day. I enjoy being able to easily take a walk before or after work, pick up the kids from school, hit a local park, or grab snacks from Andy’s. There are so many cool spots in Downtown that allow our family to make fun memories and stay active. I look forward to helping the community thrive and showcase all that we have to offer.
Thank you for your Contribution!