Frank McKenna
Chairman

Who Are Yer

Frank is the founder member and Chairman of Downtown Liverpool In Business, that now boasts a membership of over 300 – a membership that includes some of Liverpool’s most influential businesses and entrepreneurs.

Previously, he was a full time politician, serving as the Deputy Leader of Lancashire County Council and Leader of the North West Regional Assembly. He also chaired Economic Development Company, Lancashire Enterprises and worked as a Parliamentary Assistant to a Lancashire MP for seven years.

Described at that time as “the most powerful politician in the North West”, Frank has re-established himself as a key figure in the region, via his business interests. Named as one of the most influential people in Merseyside by the Liverpool Daily Post, he was also placed in the Liverpool Echo’s 2008 ‘Scouserati’ list, and appeared in Liverpool.com as one of the most popular Liverpudlians to invite to a party!

Frank served as a member of the Merseyside Entrepreneurs Think Tank, a group established by the Government Office in 2003, and has an impressive network of contacts within the hierarchies of government institutions, regionally and nationally.

He is a regular contributor to local, regional and national media and has written extensively about regeneration, politics and business development. He is also an accomplished public speaker, regularly addressing conferences, seminars and dinners.

An avid Evertonian (a season ticket holder for over thirty years), his favourite Liverpool band is China Crisis, his fave Liverpool tune ‘When I dream’ by Teardrop Explodes. Liverpool’s famous waterfront is Frank’s favourite place and he enjoys the odd drink in a number of local establishments including The Newz Bar, Living Room and Bar & Grill.

frank.mckenna@downtowninbusiness.com

Nancy Barton
Office Manager

Who Are Yer

Nancy spent her early working years running her own fashion design business.  She later went on to university to study fashion/textiles and following on with a career in retail buying, which gave her broad experience in large and small businesses, culminated in her current position at DLIB.

Her main interests include, interior design, she enjoys contemporary exhibitions but happiest (browsing) in small vintage shops and boutiques with unusual one off designs.

Nancy along with Frank is a true blue!
Her favourite restaurant has got to be Panoramic, great food with amazing views. Favourite Merseyside Building is the iconic St Georges Hall. Most enjoyable places to visit are Calderstone Park and Crosby beach, home to Gormley’s another place.

nancy.barton@downtowninbusiness.com

Roger Jonas
Events Manager

Who Are Yer

Roger’s professional career started in set design at the Chester Gateway Theatre back in the 70’s. After a spell as production manager, he moved to Liverpool in 89 to raise funds to open Easy Street Arts Centre and has since managed a number of City venues.

Prior to joining DLIB, he spent two years as production manager with Black Box; a Liverpool based creative arts business where he was responsible for managing their corporate events and North West touring programme.

His “sense of theatre” is a major influence as an Events Manager, a career that has brought about past relationships with both independent TV, the BBC and many regional businesses.

Roger is a seasoned equestrian, photographer and playwright. His most recent play was nominated for Best Comedy at the Buxton Festival.

He is a supporter of Liverpool Football Club; his favourite Liverpool band is Shack; and the River Mersey ferry terminal is his favourite place in the city.

roger.jonas@downtowninbusiness.com

Lucy Shotter
Membership
Coordinator

Who Are Yer

After graduating from the University of Manchester, Lucy razzed off to Davos in the Swiss Alps to manage a luxury chalet and to improve her ski and après ski technique! She also spent a year travelling the world, horse riding in Mongolia, bungee jumping in NZ and scuba diving in Thailand, though her trip was nearly terminated prematurely by a close encounter with Jaws whilst surfing in Australia!

Having survived that ordeal she decided that she had the courage to mix it with the big fish and joined Downtown Liverpool as a Membership Co-ordinator in October 2009.

Lucy believes there are two great teams in Merseyside, Liverpool FC and her Sunday League netball team! Post match analysis often takes place in the restaurants on Duke Street, her favourite being Sapporo. Depending on the result, she can either be found having a few drinks in Alma de Cuba or dancing the night away in Mojo!

lucy.shotter@downtowninbusiness.com

Chris Wilcox
Website
Coordinator

Who Are Yer

Chris Wilcox permenantly joined the DLIB team in June 2008, after successfully completing a year’s work experience in 2007. He is the Website Co-ordinator, and you should contact him regarding any online queries, or technical jargon.

A student for four years at Liverpool John Moores University, Chris studied Computer Games Technology, but has shunned a potential career in the multi-millionaire industry of games, to join Downtown and get drunk more often!

An avid music follower, Chris is an accomplished guitarist, and knows the most about music in the Downtown office (despite what Roger and Frank believe to the contrary).

Chris is a blue nose, and one of his fondest memories is being at Wembley to watch Everton lift the F.A Cup in 1995! There could only be one choice for his favourite Liverpool band -The Beatles.

chris.wilcox@downtowninbusiness.com

Mike has worked for a number of accountancy firms in the North West in the period from 1983 through to 1992, qualifying as a Chartered Certified Accountant in 1989. In 1992 he left the profession to join the team he has supported all his life, Everton Football Club, as internal auditor, becoming Financial Controller in 1995. In 2004 he was appointed Head of Finance and Company Secretary at the Club. During his time at Everton Mike was responsible for managing a number of complex due-diligence exercises relating to take-overs share issues and funding/investment transactions, supervising a 10-man Finance Department throughout, as well as handling financial and operational aspects of all the many business activities that make up the day to day activities of a football club.

In late 2006 Mike took the decision to leave Everton FC to team up with Nemesis Networks and play his part in growing and developing the business.

In 2009 Mike was appointed finance consultant to Downtown.

mike.cheston@downtowninbusiness.com

Chris McKenna
Assistant Events
Coordinator

Who Are Yer

Chris previously worked for British Telecom before joining the Downtown team in September 09 after travelling the globe for the best part of 3 years.

Obviously a travel enthusiast, Chris is also a thrill seeker, who is a regular on the ski slopes, and once threw himself out of a plane 14,000 feet above the Great Barrier Reef.

In his younger days, he was a half decent footballer and played at Academy level for Everton and Preston North End.

Chris, being a sensible man, is a big Evertonian, which would mean his favourite place to visit in the city is the famous Goodison Park. (He was also very fortunate to play there as a youngster).

For an after work drink Chris’ enjoys a beer in The Noble House and enjoys eating at Il Forno and Alma de Cuba. If he was putting a record on the jukebox, his choice would be simple, the greatest band ever, The Beatles.

chris.mckenna@downtowninbusiness.com