The Paul Harris Fellow Award is one of the highest honors presented by Rotary International. It recognizes individuals who exemplify Rotary’s motto, “Service Above Self,” through their commitment to making a difference in their communities.For more than 20 years, Kristi has been a driving force behind the development, revitalization, and promotion of Downtown Rochester. As Executive Director of the Rochester Downtown Development Authority, she has helped transform Rochester into one of Michigan’s premier destinations, particularly during the holiday season.
Kristi’s leadership, creativity, and commitment to local businesses were especially evident during the COVID-19 pandemic, when she created the Love Local campaign. The initiative encouraged residents to support Rochester’s small businesses and helped many businesses weather an extraordinarily difficult time.
Kristi brings more than two decades of experience in downtown development and destination marketing. Her responsibilities include business recruitment and retention, marketing, site development, community relations, fundraising, and administration of Rochester’s award-winning Big, Bright Light Show, which attracts more than one million visitors to Downtown Rochester each year.
One of Kristi’s newest projects reflects that same vision for Rochester: The Market + The Graham.
The project will create a new, elevated farmers’ market and community gathering place at the existing Farmers’ Market lot at Third and Water streets. Plans call for expanded indoor and outdoor market spaces, a performance stage, ADA accessibility, restrooms, seating, and landscaping.
The Rochester DDA is leading the project, with funding coming from DDA tax capture funds and a grant distributed through Main Street Oakland County.
From supporting local businesses to creating new gathering places and bringing hundreds of thousands of visitors to Rochester, Kristi Trevarrow has consistently demonstrated what it means to put community first.
Kristi, your creativity, leadership, and dedication to Rochester truly embody Rotary’s ideal of “Service Above Self.”