Thursday, March 6, 2025
Georgetowners were aware for months that Joe Sternlieb, the well known CEO and top spokesperson for Georgetown’s very active Business Improvement District (GBID), was leaving his position as CEO-president of more than 12 years.
But it’s another thing to go to a farewell party in a popular Georgetown waterfront restaurant, Nick’s Riverside Grill, that was filled with city VIPs, BID staffers, board members past and present and Georgetown residents and workers all gathered to say goodbye. Wow, he actually was leaving.
Party-goers also raised a glass to former BID Vice President Nancy Miyahira, now with Georgetown Heritage as its Director, Arts & Culture.
“A new generation will be making the decisions,” said Sternlieb with his characteristic slow smile and casual shrug, when asked about the fate of some of his favorite projects, such as the aerial gondola between Georgetown and Arlington.
Sternlieb oversaw the development of a number of big plans, including the renovation of the canal boat and its management transition to Georgetown Heritage. Among many other things, Sternlieb guided the commercial district through the elimination of the long-standing liquor license cap and steered BID members through the challenges of the pandemic shutdowns. He encouraged the arrival of new retail and restaurants — helping with the revival of Georgetown businesses. Mayor Muriel Bowser now calls Georgetown “the hottest place in D.C.”
Friends and colleagues from around the town and city attended the Feb. 25 fete and toast to Joe. Among his BID brethren were, according to the Georgetown BID, Natalie Avery (Executive Director, Friendship Heights Alliance), Kenyattah Robinson (CEO, Mount Vernon Triangle CID), Maura Brophy (CEO, NoMa BID), Colleen Hawkinson (Executive Director DC BID Council). Claire Carlin (SVP of Partnerships & Alliances for Destination DC) and Rich Bradley (former Executive Director of DowntownDC BID). Former BID employees who were there included Jamie Scott (Deputy Chief of Staff and Interim Director of Business Development for DMPED), Will Handsfield (Bicycle Program Specialist at DDOT) and Greg Billing.
“There are new challenges and changes impacting Georgetown and D.C. businesses,” Sternlieb told the Georgetowner. “Many large retail and office buildings may be converted to condos as are many newly built properties (on Prospect Street, for instance). This pattern may lead to Georgetown BID considering a hybrid business/resident representative model that many BIDs throughout the country are considering.”
Sternlieb will be an executive fellow for the Federal City Council. The new Georgetown BID CEO, Deborah Kerson Bilek, will begin her job in April.
Paul Caswell (DLCP), Terese Wilson (BID Board Chair), Greg Casten (BID Board Vice Chair), Matt Millage (Georgetown BID Director of Public Space Operations), and Sal Carter (General Manager, Georgetown BID Clean Team). Photo by Bill Starrels.
Restaurateur Paul Cohn and Anthony Lanier of EastBanc with former D.C. Council members Charlene Drew Jarvis and Jack Evans. Photo by Bill Starrels.
The Georgetown BID’s Debbie Young, Events Director, and John Wiebenson, Vice President, Operations. Photo by Bill Starrels.
Longtime Georgetown BID Board Member Richard Levy. Photo by Bill Starrels.