Foster Business Association elects Board; mulls future

Check in and find out how business people along SE Foster Road are planning to keep their Neighborhood Business District energized …

Around the table at Foster Area Business Association board meeting, Member-at-large Marco Sanchez, former FABA Venture Portland District Manager Jeff Lynott, Co-Presidents McKenzie Malone and Chris Correnti, and outgoing President, Danielle Deschenes, gather to discuss the future of the organization.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton

Former and current members of the Foster Area Business Association (FABA) Board of Directors met on Wednesday evening, March 12, to discuss the future of their Neighborhood Business District, and to brainstorm ideas to increase the vitality of their commercial area.

One of the topics discussed was possibility of funding cuts, in this City of Portland budget cycle, to Venture Portland — the “association of Portland Neighborhood Business District associations” which provides support and training services to organizations like FABA.

“It’s true, possible funding issues with Venture Portland certainly would directly affect FABA,” commented the organization’s new Co-President, Chris Correnti of Portland Digs Real Estate.

“We’re looking at how to sustain the finances for this organization, so we can keep providing initiatives better connecting our businesses with the neighborhood – and create a deeper ‘sense of story’ and community, by working together,” Correnti told East Portland News after the meeting adjourned.

FABA Co-President Chris Correnti makes a point during the discussion about future projects

Specifically, Correnti said, FABA has lost their Venture Portland District Manager Jeff Lynott. “But indirectly, we still do have a good neighborly connection with Jeff.”

Another change this year is that FABA won’t be holding its signature “place-making” event – the “Foster-Powell Summer Soirée” – this summer, as it has in past years.

[See our East Portland News story and video about their 2014 event: CLICK HERE.]

“It is postponed for a year; but, we do have our eyes set on bringing it back, bigger and better in 2026,” Correnti remarked.

Here are three of this year’s FABA Board Members: Marco Sanchez, McKenzie Malone, and Chris Correnti.

McKenzie Malone, from FernDate, explained that there were three active Board members at this particular meeting. “Chris and I will be FABA’s Co-Presidents, and Marco Sanchez, of PDX FIT, will be a Board Member-at-large this year. Other Board members, not present, include Kayla Banta of Red Castle Games and Hank Brentlinger from Hank Makes.

“At this point, we’re really excited to be able to re-imagine this new era for the organization, utilizing different resources and how they’ll be allocated. We’re working to find sustainable ways of serving our community.

“And, please allow us to express our gratitude to the staff of Red Castle Games for providing our meeting space here tonight,” Malone concluded.

Find out more about the Foster Area Business Association from their website: CLICK HERE.

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