Uptown Columbus Inc. president and CEO resigns

Ross Horner has resigned from his position as president and CEO of Uptown Columbus Inc. as of last week, according to a press release from the organization.

Horner has headed both Uptown Columbus Inc. and the Uptown Columbus Business Improvement District (BID) Inc. since September 2016.

Prior to that he served as director of the Columbus Civic Center for five years. He replaced Richard Bishop as president and CEO of both Uptown organizations.

Horner is a North Dakota native. Prior to coming to Columbus in 2011, Horner was director of marketing at the Bismark (N.D.) Civic Center. He also worked at the Carver Community Cultural Center in San Antonio, Texas, where he was marketing and public relations director.

The release states that an interim president and CEO will be named to handle daily functions while the organizations search for a replacement.

Helena Coates, chair for Uptown Columbus, Inc., said, the board “will begin a formal search for Uptown’s next President/CEO immediately to keep the good work of our organization going and continue to make Uptown Columbus the best place to live, work, and play in our region.”

“We are excited about the next several years as the community continues to grow and thrive,” Coates said.

“Both boards appreciate the years of service he has given Uptown and we honor the work and accomplishments he has made during his time with Uptown. We certainly wish him well in his future endeavors,” said Leah Braxton, chair of Uptown Columbus BID, Inc.

Horner declined to comment on Monday.

Uptown Inc. is funded by event income and private contributions from corporations, individuals and foundations, and focuses on the economic development of downtown.

The BID, as it is commonly called, is funded by an additional tax levied on downtown property owners. It focuses on safety and cleanliness. Both organizations are involved in marketing downtown and promoting events to attract people to the area.

A previous version of this article inaccurately described the funding structure of Uptown Columbus Inc. The organization is funded by event income and private contributions from corporations, individuals and foundations.

This story was originally published January 26, 2020 at 3:18 PM.