Leadership

• Loan programs
• Real estate development
• Business start-up, location, and expansion

Bethany grew up in Danville, Kentucky, a small town in central Kentucky that is also home to her alma mater, Centre College. Bethany moved to New Orleans as a young professional and ending up earning her PhD in Geography from Louisiana State University in 2010. Her academic and professional pursuits have centered around community documentary and preservation work. She was also involved in various recovery and research projects in southern Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina and the 2010 BP Oil Spill. Prior to her work at NewTown, Bethany moved back to her hometown and served as Executive Director of Danville’s longstanding Main Street program. Bethany moved to Macon in 2016 with her dog Prince, a charming Pomeranian, to join the NewTown team and be part of the city’s growing community building movement.

At NewTown, Bethany manages all of NewTown's investment programs for real estate and businesses. Bethany is responsible for working with people who are interested in locating businesses downtown, helping them find suitable sites, and making necessary connections with agencies for building improvements. If you are interested in developing property or starting, relocating or expanding your business downtown, Bethany is your best resource.

• First point of contact for loan clients 
• Business coaching and strategy 
• Group trainings (including Developers’ Academy, Entrepreneurs’ Academy, and Downtown Diversity Initiative)

Ricardo is from Fayetteville, North Carolina and is an alumnus of High Point University, where he received a Bachelor of Science in business administration with a concentration in marketing. Ricardo joins the NewTown Macon staff with over 12 years of sales and consulting expertise. 

Ricardo is the proud father of a creative teen daughter. Both a newlywed and new to Macon, Ricardo and his family enjoy exploring their new home and are looking forward to all the adventures Macon has to offer.  

At NewTown, Ricardo is responsible for one-on-one coaching services to potential and current loan applicants.  He also coordinates NewTown’s support programs serving Macon-Bibb’s small business and real estate development communities. 

Ricardo thinks the apple scones at Z Beans are amazing with a caramel latte. He and his wife love going to the Douglass Theatre for live jazz and plays.