Downtown Camas Association’s events manager named organization’s next executive director

Leah Nichelson will take reins after Carrie Schulstad steps down later this year

Camas Farmers Market Manager Leah Nichelson, left, chats with florist Richard Xiong of Xiong Flower Farm on July 22 at the Camas Farmers Market. Nichelson will become the new Downtown Camas Association executive director after current director Carrie Schulstad steps down later this year. (Photos by Taylor Balkom/The Columbian)

Camas Farmers Market Manager Leah Nichelson stands for a portrait Wednesday at the Camas Farmers Market. Nichelson will become the new Downtown Camas Association executive director after current director Carrie Schulstad steps down later this year. (Taylor Balkom/The Columbian)

Camas Farmers Market manager Leah Nichelson stands for a portrait Wednesday at the Camas Farmers Market. Nichelson will become the new Downtown Camas Association executive director after current director Carrie Schulstad steps down later this year. (Taylor Balkom/The Columbian)

Camas Farmers Market Manager Leah Nichelson, left, buys raspberries from Izzy Rodriguez of Pheasant’s Eye Farm on July 22 at the Camas Farmers Market. Nichelson will become the new Downtown Camas Association executive director after current director Carrie Schulstad steps down later this year. (Taylor Balkom/The Columbian)

To Leah Nichelson, downtown Camas was once a place people passed through, not a destination. She remembers being dropped off at the Liberty Theatre as a child to see a movie, then heading home past boarded-up storefronts and mostly empty sidewalks.

Now, she’s about to take over leadership of a downtown that’s nearly full, bustling and considered a safe and attractive hangout for people of all ages.

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