May 31, 2022
PRESS RELEASE
Marceline, MO – The Board of Directors of Downtown Marceline is pleased to announce the hiring of Dave Tavres as Executive Director, following the exit of our wonderful founding executive director, Toni Sportsman. Dave has helped us with a few small projects in recent times and has a great passion for Walt Disney’s hometown of Marceline, so we’re looking forward to utilizing his skills and abilities.
Downtown Marceline is a 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to the support and improvement of our historic downtown district, through local events, projects to assist Main Street area merchants, and broader awareness of our magic city.
Tavres said, “I fell in love with Marceline the first time I visited years ago, and have wanted to be involved however I could. As an admirer of Walt Disney, I want to share Marceline with as many people as I can.”
Dave began his non-profit career in 2002 as a Board Member for a group that served many California State Parks as a cooperating association. He later formed the Bodie Foundation, which is dedicated to protecting Bodie State Historic Park’s future by preserving its past. His software and project management career started in the early 1990s at Microsoft and other software companies.
Over the years, his small business consulting allowed him to follow his passions, including being a history Tour Guide and locomotive engineer at Disneyland, as well as co-founding the Carolwood Foundation, the nonprofit that operates Walt Disney’s Barn in Burbank, CA. Eventually, those passions for Walt Disney and all things Disney, prompted him to write the next chapter of his own story by moving to Marceline. In his limited spare time, Dave enjoys sharing his DeLorean car, tinkering with model trains, and helping others with their technology.
Please join us in welcoming Dave as our new Executive Director of Downtown Marceline on Main Street USA.
For more information about Downtown Marceline, visit our website at www.DowntownMarceline.org or call (660) 460-5366.