Christine Davis, executive director of the Carlsbad Village Association (CVA) for 12 years, will step down at the end of 2026.
Davis announced her departure in a letter posted on the CVA website Sept. 30, saying the decision had been nearly a year in the making. Her husband Bill is retiring from Harley-Davidson, where he worked as a motorcycle tour guide and was away from home up to six months a year.
"I feel that it is time for me to do the same soon and look forward to making up for some of that lost time together," Davis wrote.
The CVA's board executive committee is leading the search for her replacement with help from a Main Street consultant. The goal is to have a new executive director in place by early 2027. The job description became available Oct. 5, and interested candidates can email [email protected].
Davis said the next leader will need to navigate downtown development pressures, possible streetscape upgrades and the push to create a long-term funding source such as an assessment district. She will stay on as a part-time consultant through the first quarter of 2027 to help with the transition, provide input on CVA's new five-year strategic plan and complete a modification to the Farmers Market conditional use permit.
Before leading CVA, Davis owned Coolest Shoes in California, a shoe store on State Street. She joined the CVA board as its retail representative, then became part-time program manager in May 2015, according to a CVA profile. She sold her business in March 2019 to direct the association full time.
The job grew. Under Davis, the State Street Farmers Market expanded to generate more than $2.5 million annually with a waitlist of more than 100 vendors, according to a CVA retrospective. The organization's weekly eNewsletter now reaches 7,200 subscribers, and CVA programs about 30 events a year beyond its 52 weekly farmers markets.
Davis won the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce's Entrepreneur of the Year and its first Entrepreneur of the Decade award. New Village Arts honored her with its Community Impact Award at the organization's 25th Anniversary Silver Gala on May 9.
Her final Village Voices gathering is set for Tuesday, Nov. 10, from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at the Dea Hurston New Village Arts Center, 2787 State St. The free event will include a preview of holiday programming and a look ahead at CVA's 2027 plans. Networking and coffee start at 8 a.m., with the program running from 8:45 to 9:30 a.m.
