Richard Bishop leaving Uptown, BID posts; search for replacement underway

A search is underway to fill one of the most critical nonprofit management positions in Columbus.

Uptown Columbus Inc. and Business Improvement District President Richard Bishop has informed the boards that govern the two organizations that he will be retiring next year.

“It is time for new leadership and a new direction,” Bishop said on Tuesday. “I have been in this job a lot of years and at my age, it is time to do something different. This is a good time to turn it over to someone else.”

Bishop, who will turn 66 in September, was hired as president of Uptown Inc. in September 2005, leaving the job of deputy city manager of Columbus that he had held the previous four years. Uptown Inc. and the Business Improvement District had split during a political struggle prior to Bishop’s hiring. Along with the respective boards, he helped bring the two organizations back under one umbrella in 2008.

Uptown Inc., funded in part by the city, event income and private contributions from corporations, individuals and foundations, 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.

Mat Switft, president of the W.C. Bradley Co. real estate division, called Bishop the “right person in the right place at the right time.”

“He brought a lot of core competencies to this job,” Swift said. “His long-term vision has greatly benefited Uptown, but he also has this incredible attention to detail.”

Swift also praised his work ethic.

“He is here every morning before 7 — and that is Monday through Sunday,” Swift said. “He also is here after 11 many nights.”

Reynolds Bickerstaff has been chairman of the Uptown Columbus Inc. board for more than seven years, and he has grown to appreciate Bishop’s steady leadership and vision.

“He’s done an amazing job,” Bickerstaff said. “When he came on more than 10 years ago, he knew what needed to be done. He had all the experience, character and attitude to get it done. He had the project management skills to do the job. He got us through a very difficult Broadway streetscape project and he was instrumental in his work on the whitewater project.”

Chris Losonsky, chairman of the BID, said that Bishop was able to build on a plan that was in place by one of his predecessors, BID President Burnie Quick.

“I think what Richard was able to accomplish was he took the plan that was set in place by Burnie and was able to bring it to fruition,” Losonsky said. “What he has done is truly make this an entertainment district. He helped take it to what it is now — the place to go.”

Losondky said finding a replacement was going to be tough.

“It is going to be tough because it wasn’t just a job, his heart was in it,” Losonsky said. “It is going to take someone with charisma and personalty.”

Bickerstaff said the selection committee hopes to have a replacement for Bishop by the end of August and have that person in the job early next year. Bishop’s retirement is not effective until June 30, 2017. The plan is to have Bishop work with the new person in a variety of roles until that time.

Since posting the opening last month, Bickerstaff said there has been a lot of interest in the job. A seven-member search committee comprised of representatives from Uptown Inc. and the BID will narrow down the applicant field and make a recommendation to the respective boards.

“I have personally spoken to 13 or 14 people who are interested in it,” Bickerstaff said. “We will narrow it down to five or six, then two and three and finally one.

“There is not really another Richard Bishop,” he added. “It is going to be a tough job trying to find his replacement, but we really are not trying to replace him with another Richard. We are looking for the person who is right for today, someone who will get us where we want to go.”

This story was originally published July 19, 2016 at 1:59 PM with the headline "Richard Bishop leaving Uptown, BID posts; search for replacement underway."