Bianca Shoneman, who has been the president and CEO of Fayetteville’s Cool Spring Downtown District since September 2019, has stepped down from her role with the city.
To ensure continued momentum during this transition period, the CSDD Board has formed a Transition Team composed of members from the CSDD Executive Committee, the Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County and the City of Fayetteville. This team will lead the organization as it leans into its recently adopted strategic plan. The Board is committed to maintaining the energy and vision cultivated under Shoneman's leadership and will release a job announcement for the CEO role in the coming weeks.
In the interim, the Board has announced that Ashanti Bennett has been appointed Interim President of CSDD. A creative connector with a passion for the arts and humanities, Bennet brings nearly 20 years of experience in nonprofit arts administration to her role. As the Director of Special Projects at CSDD, Bennet has successfully curated significant community events, including the Juneteenth Jubilee and the Night Circus.
Bennett's dedication to storytelling, her passion for the transformative power of creativity, and her commitment to serving the community make her the ideal leader during this time of transition. A proud Fayetteville ‘replant,’ Bennett draws inspiration from her roots and education at George Mason University, where she interned at the Folger Shakespeare Library. Her unwavering commitment to fostering community enrichment aligns perfectly with CSDD’s mission.
As Interim President, Bennett is looking forward to building on Shoneman's momentum and amplifying Downtown Fayetteville as a premier destination to live, work, play, and invest.
The Cool Spring Downtown District is a nonprofit organization that was created in 2017 to foster arts and entertainment to draw people to downtown Fayetteville.
It is funded in part from the Arts Council, the City of Fayetteville, and money earned from events held throughout the year.
“It is with a heavy, heavy heart that I am writing to formally announce my decision to resign from my position as CEO with the Cool Spring Downtown District effective January 2, 2025,” she said in an email to her board of directors. “This decision was not made lightly, and it comes with deep gratitude for the opportunity to serve this incredible organization and community.”