By Melonie Magruder
Lookout News staff

July 26, 2011 – When Downtown Santa Monica, Inc.'s Andrew Thomas was growing up in Puerto Rico and Panama before moving to New Orleans, he thought he was going to be a rock star. His bachelor's degree in English from Tulane University was a mere nod to his parents' suggestions that a Plan B might be in order.

But by the time Thomas moved to the southland in 2001, he had morphed from an ambassador of garage bands to Bayside District's ambassador of Downtown Santa Monica.

On August 1, the former Director of Operations for Downtown Santa Monica, Inc. will take over as Executive Director of the new Westwood Village Improvement Association, where he hopes to bring the same efficient, yet friendly, service to merchants, visitors and residents near the UCLA campus.

They will get an experienced hand.

When Thomas arrived from San Francisco to work for Bayside District 10 years ago, he was tasked with making sure Downtown, including Third Street Promenade, was clean and welcoming. It is a mission, Downtown officials agree, that he has accomplished.

Thomas, however, is characteristically modest.

"Working here has been a joy," Thomas says. "The level of sophistication of this organization and its genuine dedication to its merchants is second to none. I was lucky to land here."

Thomas says that the nature of his work has changed over the years. When he first arrived, budgets were limited and relied on grants from the city for operations and management. Downtown officials had to "work to gain some influence.”

"It was more than just a fresh coat of paint and putting up some holiday decor," Thomas says. "We needed to bring the energy level up."

When the Property-Based Assessment District was approved three years ago, Downtown Santa Monica was able to raise its budget by some $3.5 million and devise programs that would service not just merchants, but visitors and locals.

The District used the money to spruce up the streets, alleys and parking lots under a $1.2 million enhanced maintenance program Thomas supervised. And he oversaw a comprehensive $1.3 million Ambassador Program put in place after touring other cities' hospitality districts, including those in Denver, Colorado and Austin, Texas.

“We flooded the streets with ambassadors," Thomas says, referring to the more than 40 employees who roam the Downtown district dispensing directions and friendly tips and lending a helping hand.

"We spent a lot of time studying who uses Downtown and the Promenade and when, and locals make up a pretty high percentage of that traffic,” Thomas says. “Our ambassadors get information that anyone would need to make their Downtown experience more efficient and more fun."

And provide invaluable help. Thomas takes pride in the small gestures that often go unnoticed. One city ambassador, he says proudly, found a local resident's checkbook on the sidewalk. Noting the address, the ambassador drove the checkbook over to its owner after his shift.

Like that extra help quietly dispensed with a smile, much of Thomas' duties flew under the radar. In his line of work, it was the lack of attention that meant he was doing his job.

"At any one time, the Promenade might have 15,000 to 20,000 people on the street, he says. “That demands pretty constant vigilance."

Thomas says he will miss Downtown, where he spent a crucial part of his life among those he considers family, but he looks forward to his new challenge awaiting him across the 405.

“Santa Monica has been my life for the past 10 years,” Thomas said. “I’ve built a life with my wife down here, and I’ll always love it. But I’ll be working with a smaller organization now. Westwood is that tremendous iconic neighborhood. It’ll be a great, fun challenge.”

And Thomas has never given up on the rock star reverie. He still plays bass every other weekend for a ten-piece band, complete with horn section, and found time to write a business manual, “Garage to Gigs: A Musician’s Guide.”

“I might be working weekdays in Westwood,” Thomas said. “But you’ll probably find me playing some holiday party at Shutters on the weekend.”