As someone who fell in love with Helena through its downtown, Alysia Ryan said she’s excited to uplift local stores as executive director of the Business Improvement District.

“I want to see Helena thrive without losing its historic charm,” she said.

Alysia Ryan began working as Helena Business Improvement District executive director on Aug. 5, 2024.

The BID is a nonprofit that advocates for economic growth in downtown Helena. It’s led by a volunteer board, each member serving four-year terms.

She replaces John Dendy, who retired from executive director in April, and Megan Helton, who served as interim executive director June and July.

She officially began working with the BID Aug. 5. Currently on her agenda is investigating how to put on the annual Parade of Lights and hiring a program manager, a new role.

"We're excited to have some new people on board," BID treasurer Brianne Harrington said. Fresh perspectives have always been valuable in growing downtown, she said, and she's eager to see how Ryan can help with the big picture goals of the BID, like encouraging new development and building residential space.

Before this job, Ryan worked 14 years as the director of government affairs at the American Rental Association, living in Moline, Illinois.

Though Ryan wasn’t born and raised in Helena, yearly elk-hunting visits charmed her, and she moved to the Queen City with her husband in May.

“The Board was looking for someone who knew how to work with different agencies,” she said. In her work with the ARA, she knew how to fundraise and appeal to government interests while accomplishing her business’s goals.

She sees the work she’ll be doing with the BID as a similar practice — translating business needs to the layperson and finding a middle ground.