A Niagara Region 40-under-40 award winner, Amanda MacDonald is Executive Director of the Niagara Falls Downtown Business Improvement Area, with past Executive Director experience for both Downtown Welland and Oshawa, Ontario. Amanda is also a Teaching Assistant and guest speaker for Brock University’s Recreation and Leisure Studies program and places community development as a core value and the reason for her success. She is an alumnus of Durham College, Canadore College and Brock University, while also currently completing her MA of Applied Health Science, and her Masters of Management at Trent University. Amanda is also the Grants and Sponsorship Manager for the Spark Niagara Innovation Hub, and has her own firm NicMac Consulting Group specializing in areas such as grants, sponsorship, marketing and municipal governance. Amanda continues her commitment to the community by dedicating her skills to various notable organizations and community events within Southern Ontario, including but not limited to, serving as a board member on the provincial Central Counties Tourism Board, Board member on both the Durham College Alumni Association and Foundation Board, and on the provincial Ontario Business Improvement Area Board of Directors.