ENID, OK - In honor of Women's History Month, Main Street Enid proudly commemorates the exceptional contributions of five remarkable women who have led the organization as Executive Directors over the past three decades. Since its establishment in 1994, Main Street Enid has remained steadfast in its commitment to preserving and developing the downtown district through innovative initiatives and collaborative partnerships, which has turned into 70 million dollars in private reinvestment in Downtown Enid.
Dawn Muncy, an esteemed member of the Enid community and founder of Muncy Photography, initiated a project to honor the women who have led Main Street Enid throughout its history. Muncy, herself a recipient of numerous accolades within the photography industry, captured the spirit and legacy of these leaders in a stunning group portrait taken at the iconic Enid Symphony Hall.
The five executive directors, Patty Stallings/Youngblood (1994-1997), Anita Luetkemeyer (1997-2001), Lindy Chambers (2001-2012), Kelly Tompkins (2012-2019), and Natalie Rapp (2019-Present), have each played a pivotal role in shaping downtown Enid into a vibrant hub of culture, commerce, and community.
Lindy Chambers, who served in various capacities within Main Street Enid, including as a volunteer, board member, and director, highlighted the collective effort of women and men in making downtown Enid a premier destination for shopping, dining, and entertainment. Anita Luetkemeyer's tenure saw Main Street Enid's remarkable achievement of winning the 2001 Great American Main Street Award, a testament to her leadership and dedication to downtown revitalization. Kelly Tompkins reflected on her time as executive director, emphasizing the importance of creating an inviting atmosphere that transported visitors to a vacation-like experience in downtown Enid. Under Natalie Rapp's guidance, downtown Enid has seen innovative projects like the introduction of the Holidays on Ice Downtown Ice Rink, which is set to embark on its fifth season, and the implementation of permanent building lighting, enhancing the downtown ambiance. Beyond their roles with Main Street Enid, these women have continued to serve and uplift the Enid community in various capacities, embodying the spirit of dedication and leadership.
Dawn Muncy expressed her admiration for these women and their enduring legacy, stating, "Enid is fortunate that all but one of our Main Street Enid directors still live in Enid and continue to serve our community in other positions. These amazing women have built an Enid legacy with a lot of blood, sweat, and tears. We see them hard at work out and about everyday. I wanted to show off their formal side with a beautiful environmental group portrait. Their first 30 years have been a resounding success. I look forward to the next 30 years of building and promoting downtown and Main Street Enid. I wanted to honor their service by photographing them in one of Enid’s iconic downtown treasures, Enid Symphony Hall."
As Main Street Enid celebrates its first 30 years of success, the organization looks forward to the continued inspiration, growth, and promotion of downtown Enid under the leadership of Natalie Rapp and future directors.
For more information about Main Street Enid and its ongoing initiatives, please visit www.mainstreetenid.org.
