Downtown Mobile Alliance Promotes Jessica White, Maggie Shreve as Ellis Foster Departs for Chamber

The Downtown Mobile Alliance promoted Jessica White to vice president of operations and Maggie Shreve to marketing manager as economic development director Ellis Foster leaves for the Mobile Chamber.

By James Bullard

October 30, 2026 · 7:23 am 4 min read

Downtown Mobile, where the Downtown Mobile Alliance works to promote and develop the business district.

MOBILE, Ala. — The Downtown Mobile Alliance has promoted two longtime staff members, elevating Jessica White to vice president of operations and Maggie Shreve to marketing manager, as the organization adjusts its leadership team following the departure of its economic development director for a job with the Mobile Chamber.

The changes give two employees with a combined 13 years at the Alliance larger roles at the nonprofit that promotes, manages and works to develop downtown Mobile. Both have spent their tenures handling the day-to-day work that keeps the organization’s programs, events and communications running.

Jessica White steps up to vice president of operations

White has been with the Downtown Mobile Alliance for seven years. Over that time, her responsibilities have grown steadily to include stakeholder relations, organizational decision-making and the management of daily operations.

In announcing the promotion, the Alliance pointed to White’s extensive institutional knowledge, her experience and the increasing leadership responsibilities she has taken on as the reasons for her new title.

As vice president of operations, White will continue to oversee the organization’s operations and programs. She will also take on a larger leadership role in three areas:

Stakeholder engagement, working with the property owners, businesses, residents and partners who have a stake in downtown
Strategic initiatives, helping shape and carry out the Alliance’s priorities for the district
Organizational decision-making, with a greater voice in how the Alliance sets its direction

For an organization like the Alliance, stakeholder relations are a central part of the job. Downtown districts bring together a wide mix of interests, from restaurant and shop owners to office tenants, developers, residents, churches, cultural institutions and city government, and keeping those groups informed and working toward shared goals is a constant task.

Maggie Shreve named marketing manager

Shreve has spent six years with the Alliance and now leads its marketing and communications efforts. Her work includes the organization’s social media strategy, digital and print marketing initiatives, and promotional campaigns that spotlight downtown businesses, events and community development.

Over the past year, the Alliance said, Shreve’s responsibilities expanded to include a broader role in shaping the organization’s overall communications strategy. She oversaw the Alliance’s rebranding and the successful launch of its new website.

Shreve also plays a major role in promoting and managing downtown events and activities. In addition, she is responsible for communicating the impact of the Alliance’s work to its members, partners and the broader community.

That last responsibility is a significant one for a membership-based downtown organization. Showing members and partners what their support produces, whether through new businesses, public events or improvements to the district, is an important part of how such groups sustain participation and funding.

Ellis Foster moves to the Mobile Chamber

The promotions come as Ellis Foster leaves his post as the Alliance’s economic development director to become director of governmental affairs at the Mobile Chamber.

During his time with the Alliance, Foster helped build relationships and strengthen connections that support downtown Mobile’s continued economic growth. The Alliance thanked him for his contributions and for the relationships he established throughout the community, and said it looks forward to his continued impact in his new position.

Foster joined the Alliance as director of economic development in January, leading developer recruitment, stakeholder engagement and grant management. In his new role at the chamber, he will help carry the business organization’s advocacy agenda, including representing the Mobile business community in Montgomery during legislative sessions, and coordinate the chamber’s Governmental Affairs Committee.

What the Downtown Mobile Alliance does

The Downtown Mobile Alliance is a nonprofit organization focused on downtown Mobile’s business district. Its work generally falls into a few broad areas:

Promotion: marketing downtown as a place to shop, dine, live, work and visit, and supporting events that bring people into the district
Management: coordinating with property owners, businesses and the city on the day-to-day condition and appeal of downtown
Development: recruiting developers and businesses, connecting property owners with resources and pursuing grants for downtown projects

The Alliance also recognizes downtown businesses through programs such as its member of the month honor and supports dining promotions such as downtown restaurant week.

A busy time for downtown Mobile

The staff changes come during a period of significant change for downtown Mobile. Projects underway or in planning include a new arena, the proposed River Walk Plaza tower, a new commercial airport terminal at the Brookley Aeroplex and the start of construction on the Interstate 10 Mobile River Bridge and Bayway project.

Those projects are expected to affect how people travel to, around and through downtown in the coming years, from new visitors arriving by air to lane closures and detours tied to bridge construction. For the Alliance, that means plenty of work keeping businesses informed and continuing to make the case for downtown as a destination.

With White taking on a larger leadership role in operations and stakeholder relations, and Shreve leading marketing and communications, the Alliance has placed two of its most experienced staff members at the center of that effort.