Main Street Minutes

This is the first Main Street Minutes written for the Mogollon Connection by Payson Main Street Merchants Guild (PMSG). The Mogollon Connection has asked us to keep them and you informed on what’s up with PMSG and Main Street. Rest assured you are getting the true story.

Five years ago five main street merchants formed an advertising group to promote the First Friday Art & Antique Walk. The event was successful and other merchants wanted to get involved. The result was an expansion in membership. These new members were not art or antique merchants. The group unanimously voted to change the name of the event to First Friday on Main Street Block Party. The National Main Street Commission awarded the event a First Place state wide win for best event in 2008. We also made the decision to form a non-profit corporation. The non-profit status allows the Guild to do many great things for the merchants. We can maintain the historical heritage of Main Street and Payson while expanding our events.

Andy Kofile is the President of PMSG. He is the owner of MoJoe’s Café. He is also a Board Member of KCMA non-profit radio station. This keeps him involved in many community efforts and events. He has been a business owner for 23 years. He spent 15 years with the Maricopa Sheriff’s Department.

Minette Richardson is the Vice President of PMSG. She was dubbed the official contact for First Friday Block Party and Main Street by Mayor Kenny Evans. She is the owner of Down The Street Art Gallery. She was the Vice-Chair of Green Valley Redevelopment Area Commission (GVRA), and served on the Payson Event Center Planning Committee (PECTEC). She is a past Main Street Board Member, and was chair of Main Street Program Promotions. She has been a Main Street activist for 20 years, and has owned a business for 40 years.

Cindy Kofile is the Secretary/Treasurer of PMSG. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design, and is the owner of Re-Runs Boutique. She too is a Board Member of KCMA non-profit radio station. She served on the Streets and Transportation Advisory Committee (STAC), and was a Big Brothers Big Sisters President. She was involved with the Kiwanis. She graduated the town’s Leadership Academy, and put together the Payson Patriot for two years.

You can see how active we have been and still are in the community. PMSG has many successes. Among them is the EggStravanza, 4th of July Parade, Electric Light Home Town Holiday Parade and Oktoberfest with the Rim Country Home Brewers. We have registered these names to events to protect and enable us to expand these events. We developed http://www.whatsuppayson.com, a website for town wide businesses. Mayor Kenny Evans and the Town Council proclaimed Main Street the heart of Payson.

This is a responsibility we take very seriously and spend hundreds of hours on monthly. We aren’t doing it alone. We have many great advisors and merchants who share in the work. In future Main Street Minutes you will learn more about PMSG’s plans for the future, updates on events and merchant happenings.

We love this community even in these hard economic times. We hope to inspire you to get involved in our community. Support it by attending all town events and happenings. When so few can accomplish so much, imagine what we can do as a community.

In the coming weeks, look for Main Street Minutes for the real story.

For more information on PMSG and what’s happening in our town you can call Minette at (928) 978-1119 or check out www.PaysonMainStreet.com.


	Main Street Minutes This is the first Main Street Minutes written for the Mogollon Connection by Payson Main Street Merchants Guild (PMSG). The Mogollon Connection has asked us to keep them and you informed on what’s up with PMSG and Main Street. Rest assured you are getting the true story. Five years ago five main street merchants formed an advertising group to promote the First Friday Art & Antique Walk. The event was successful and other merchants wanted to get involved. The result was an expansion in membership. These new members were not art or antique merchants. The group unanimously voted to change the name of the event to First Friday on Main Street Block Party. The National Main Street Commission awarded the event a First Place state wide win for best event in 2008. We also made the decision to form a non-profit corporation. The non-profit status allows the Guild to do many great things for the merchants. We can maintain the historical heritage of Main Street and Payson while expanding our events. Andy Kofile is the President of PMSG. He is the owner of MoJoe’s Café. He is also a Board Member of KCMA non-profit radio station. This keeps him involved in many community efforts and events. He has been a business owner for 23 years. He spent 15 years with the Maricopa Sheriff’s Department. Minette Richardson is the Vice President of PMSG. She was dubbed the official contact for First Friday Block Party and Main Street by Mayor Kenny Evans. She is the owner of Down The Street Art Gallery. She was the Vice-Chair of Green Valley Redevelopment Area Commission (GVRA), and served on the Payson Event Center Planning Committee (PECTEC). She is a past Main Street Board Member, and was chair of Main Street Program Promotions. She has been a Main Street activist for 20 years, and has owned a business for 40 years. Cindy Kofile is the Secretary/Treasurer of PMSG. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design, and is the owner of Re-Runs Boutique. She too is a Board Member of KCMA non-profit radio station. She served on the Streets and Transportation Advisory Committee (STAC), and was a Big Brothers Big Sisters President. She was involved with the Kiwanis. She graduated the town’s Leadership Academy, and put together the Payson Patriot for two years. You can see how active we have been and still are in the community. PMSG has many successes. Among them is the EggStravanza, 4th of July Parade, Electric Light Home Town Holiday Parade and Oktoberfest with the Rim Country Home Brewers. We have registered these names to events to protect and enable us to expand these events. We developed http://www.whatsuppayson.com, a website for town wide businesses. Mayor Kenny Evans and the Town Council proclaimed Main Street the heart of Payson. This is a responsibility we take very seriously and spend hundreds of hours on monthly. We aren’t doing it alone. We have many great advisors and merchants who share in the work. In future Main Street Minutes you will learn more about PMSG’s plans for the future, updates on events and merchant happenings. We love this community even in these hard economic times. We hope to inspire you to get involved in our community. Support it by attending all town events and happenings. When so few can accomplish so much, imagine what we can do as a community. In the coming weeks, look for Main Street Minutes for the real story. For more information on PMSG and what’s happening in our town you can call Minette at (928) 978-1119 or check out www.PaysonMainStreet.com.