For more than two decades, Joe Spencer has engineered growth and vitality in downtown Saint Paul. As the first president of the Saint Paul Downtown Alliance, Joe works across public and private sectors to build a strong, vibrant downtown and create a positive experience for visitors, residents and workers alike. With his leadership, the Downtown Alliance created the Downtown Investment Strategy to align public and private investment priorities to transform downtown; launched a new brand and subsequent marketing campaigns that reinforce the promise that downtown Saint Paul is Your Place to Grow; and partnered with property owners to create the Saint Paul Downtown Improvement District to deliver clean and safe services, and activated the streets with hundreds of free events, public art installations and more.

A lifelong Saint Paul resident, Emma Burns is a motivated startup specialist dedicated to strengthening her community. As Director of Operations for the Saint Paul Downtown Alliance, she oversees the organization’s day-to-day operations and drives initiatives that enhance downtown’s safety, cleanliness, and vibrancy. Emma manages the Alliance’s public space activations, supports the Downtown Improvement District, and leads special projects that bring together business leaders, city officials, and community partners to advance downtown’s economic vitality. She also plays a key role in organizational strategy and internal systems, ensuring the Alliance can deliver on its mission at scale. Before joining the Downtown Alliance, Emma worked with two local retail startups, where she improved customer experiences, expanded into new markets, streamlined operations, and fostered community engagement. She currently serves on the Visit Saint Paul Board of Directors and is a graduate of both the Saint Paul Area Chamber’s Leadership Saint Paul program and the International Downtown Association’s Emerging Leader Fellowship. Emma lives in Saint Paul with her husband, their two babies, and their dog.

Melissa Ferlaak is a strategic communications and marketing leader with more than 15 years of experience advancing mission-driven organizations through public relations, brand storytelling, community engagement, and audience development. She currently serves as Director of Communications for the Alliance, where she leads communications strategy, media relations, marketing initiatives, and storytelling efforts that support the vitality and growth of downtown Saint Paul. Her work focuses on elevating public visibility, strengthening stakeholder engagement, and championing the people, businesses, and experiences that shape the downtown community.

Prior to joining the Alliance, Melissa held senior leadership roles at some of Minnesota’s most respected arts/entertainment and nonprofit organizations, including Six Flags (Valleyfair), Children’s Theatre Company, Hennepin Theatre Trust, and the Cowles Center for Dance & the Performing Arts. She holds a Master of Music in Vocal Performance from the New England Conservatory and a Bachelor of Science in Music from the University of Wisconsin–River Falls.

Andrew Sun is the Executive Administrator at the Saint Paul Downtown Alliance, where he supports board operations, financial administration, and special projects across the organization. He has coordinated major initiatives including the Reimagine Downtown St. Paul community engagement process, the Ambassador Recognition Event, and the Annual Meeting. A Minneapolis resident who works daily in St. Paul, he brings a genuine Twin Cities perspective to his work on downtown vitality, one shaped by living at the intersection of two distinct and dynamic cities. After growing up in New Jersey and spending a formative decade in New York City, where he developed both his artistic career and a deep belief in the vitality of urban life, Andrew put down roots in Minnesota. He served at Minnesota Opera as both a Resident Artist and Executive Manager, and has taught at NYU and the Manhattan School of Music. As a classically-trained pianist and conductor, he has performed at Carnegie Hall, the Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concerts, and locally with St. Croix Valley Opera, most recently playing keyboard in the pit orchestra for the national tour of The Phantom of the Opera at the Orpheum. A Merola Opera Program and Music Academy of the West alumnus, he brings that artistic depth to his commitment to the cultural and civic life of downtown St. Paul. He is also a community mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters and a certified Mental Health First Aid responder.