Main Street Vermilion (MSV) has worked since 2001 to promote downtown economic and business development, historic preservation, community revitalization, beautification and tourism. This year, the organization has a new executive director and two women filling new roles on the board of directors.
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Kate Repola is the new execuitve director of Main Street Vermilion.Kate Repola assumed the position of executive director Jan. 1, succeeding Marilou Suszko who departed having served that role for seven years.
On the board side of things, Micah Roberts is now president after holding the office as vice president. She has more than 20 years’ experience in medical sales and is the owner of Erie and Anchor, a lifestyle brand and nautical storefront that provides nautical clothing and other products.
After serving on the board for two years, Sarah Ross moves to vice president. Ross is executive director for a local economic development corporation.
Although key roles have new faces, residents and visitors may not notice many changes, Repola anticipates.
“I am hoping that there is no need to ‘notice,’” she says, “MSV has a reputation of changing and adapting when needed. We are always willing to try new things. That won’t change.”
Ross said no matter who is in what role, the work remains unchanged.
“Our mission remains the same, and we’re so excited to have found new leadership that was already engaged in that mission and is as passionate about it as our existing staff and volunteers,” Ross says. “At the board level, we’re heavily focused on future planning — bringing in the next generation of volunteers. We hope you will see that it’s even easier to get involved with Main Street Vermilion.”
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Micah Roberts has assumed the role of Main Street Vermilion president.
Repola, an active community volunteer, serving as the chair of the Parks & Recreation Board, has been involved in the Main Street Beach & Park project. She was born, raised and educated in Vermilion, is a graduate of Bowling Green State University and is married to Kurt Repola. They have two teenage children, Max and Georgia.
Her biggest passion — outside her family — is volunteering.
“Volunteers are the lifeblood of Main Street,” Repola says. “Our board of directors, programs and events are all helmed by volunteers. The culture of volunteerism is and has always been strong in our community. We count almost 9,000 volunteer hours annually.”
Ross had similar sentiments.
“I enjoy working alongside many other volunteers, being able to use the passions, hobbies and expertise to be a part of something bigger, and productively contribute to our community,” she says. “It’s an amazing community building effort. Downtown Vermilion is a special place; as soon as we moved here eight years ago and experienced Main Street in summer, we knew we were here for life.”
Roberts threw her hat into the volunteer role because of Suszko, who helped Roberts find a storefront for Erie and Anchor.
“She knew I had always dreamed of having a storefront and she immediately reached out when she realized there would be an opening on the corner of Main and Liberty,” Roberts says. “Since opening my doors in 2020, Main Street has provided me with phenomenal support, resources to thrive in a pandemic and events that drive people to visit our community. When the previous president, Eileen Bulan, reached out to ask if I would join the board, I could not say no.”
What drives Rapola and the other volunteers is recognizing what they have in Vermilion.
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Sarah Ross is vice president of Main Street Vermilion.“They aren’t building new ‘historic downtowns’ anymore, and Vermilion has one of the best,” she says. “Through our work with Heritage Ohio and Main Street America, we are charged with the historic preservation and economic development of this special place.
“We know what we have and are passionate in preserving it.”
Not only are they preserving it, they’re adding to it.
During Ice A Fair, adults and children alike can watch artists create beauty from a block of ice. Residents and visitors will also notice flowers that spill over their baskets throughout downtown. Those are just a few things MSV brings to the table, which includes Vermilion in Bloom, Public Art Vermilion and Vermilion Arts Guild.
“We like to say that Main Street Vermilion adds the extras to our small town in a great lake,” Repola says. “Through MSV and our partner programs we are able to add those special somethings that make Vermilion so special. As a fourth generation Vermilionite — now raising my kids here – there is no place that I would rather be. Having the honor of working for an organization whose sole purpose is making Vermilion the best place it can be is thrilling and extremely rewarding.”
Roberts agrees.
“I think that Main Street works hard to secure relationships with our city as well as the business sector to showcase all our small town has to offer,” Roberts says. “As Kate mentioned, we add the extras in a variety of ways: We provide family friendly events, partnership opportunities, design improvements, access to funding, beautification and place-making. We want to make sure that our small town on a great lake is a place that people want to enjoy for years to come.”
If there was one thing Repola would change about Vermilion, it would be the perception that it’s only a summer destination.
“We usually have milder winters than one would expect and fall is stunning,” she says. “We are truly a four-season destination.”
Ross said she wants to see continued development on the “ends” of town.
“We are seeing more investment and development on the ‘ends’ of downtown, such as at the northern end of downtown with significant investments in Main Street Beach; the west end of downtown with new businesses opening up, such as Harbourtown Trading Company and capital improvements at Captain Bell House Bed & Breakfast; the south end of downtown with improvements to Victory Park; and the east end with efforts to light the bridge.”
Outside of MSV, Repola has her hands full with two high schoolers living under her roof. And although many perceive today’s teens as lazy and uninvolved, Repola has a different take.
“Raising two teenagers is eye-opening,” she says. “I am excited about the next generation, they are smart, kind, socially aware and ready to get involved. Teens often get a bad rap – I am the first to remind anyone who will listen that they are citizens and deserve a place at the table where decisions are made. My goal is to have a teen representative on our Board of Directors soon.”
Roberts also has children — Tyler, 17, Audrina, 14, and Kensington, 11 — and she hopes they see and learn from the volunteer efforts of her and her husband, Timothy.
“I enjoy knowing each and every day that I am setting an example of hard work, dedication to my community and a desire to make an impact with my children,” she said. “My goal is they will learn from seeing my husband and I give back in various ways and look to contribute to their community as they grow up.”
It’s absolutely a family affair for all three women, as Ross and her husband, John, have 4-year-old twins, Raymond and Lillian.
“My twins are in preschool and learning all about our community and its place in the world,” Ross said. “It’s amazing to see early childhood development and the role that being in community plays in that and I’m so excited for them to grow up in and build that in Vermilion.”
Roberts said residents and visitors can expect big things from MSV in the near future.
“A lot will be happening in the upcoming weeks and months as we approach our peak season,” she says. “Work will continue at Main Street Park and Beach over the summer and we are excited to see the art installation ideas from Public Art Vermilion come to life.”