Meet Downtown Santa Monica's Newest Faces

January 23, 2013 -- Downtown Santa Monica Inc. (DTSM) has two new staff members, and they are helping to put a new face on the agency that helps run the heart of the city.

Office manager Laura Borsecnik is the first face visitors see when they enter DTSM's offices on the Promenade. In addition to assisting callers and visitors, Borsecnik is in charge of everything from making sure the office is running efficiently to taking minutes at meetings.

An avid traveler who spent 20 months trekking through Asia, Australia and New Zealand, Borsecnik likes to stroll through Santa Monica, where she has lived for 12 years.

"Seeing the inner workings of Downtown is really impressive," said Borsecnik, who worked with non-profits in the philanthropic field before joining the Downtown team. "Normally you don't see why things change or are being done, so it's great to see how thoughtful the process is."

Cheryl Bagby, DTSM's new digital marketing manager, is helping to put a new virtual face on the agency. Bagby, who has a background in destination marketing, oversees the development, implementation and management of digital marketing and integrated communication strategies.

Her appointment to the newly created post is part of a larger restructuring effort to "enhance the agency's online and digital presence and ensure that all marketing objectives for Downtown Santa Monica are met," officials said.

Bagby oversees DTSM's newly designed website, which uses mapping technology that makes finding businesses easier, allows visitors to pinpoint their destination and locates landmarks, parking structures and other attractions.

Bagby also is in charge creating effective social media campaigns and enhancing the Downtown visitor experience digitally," DTSM officials said.