• Scott Elmquist
• One of Venture Richmond's most popular events is the Richmond Folk Festival.

Downtown booster nonprofit Venture Richmond has tapped Lisa Sims as its executive director, according to an announcement from the organization.

Sims has filled the position as interim director since Jack Berry left to run for mayor in April.

• Lisa Sims is the new executive director of Venture Richmond.

Venture Richmond produces a variety of downtown events, most of them centered on the Brown's Island area, such as Friday Cheers, the Richmond Folk Festival and Dominion Riverrock, which announced its headline musical acts this week. It also produces Easter on Parade and the 2nd Street Festival.

Sims recently led Venture Richmond's first strategic planning process in a decade, the group's board chairwoman, Mary Doswell, said in a release.

Sims has been with Venture since 2006, according to the announcement, serving as deputy director for the past five years. She was executive director of the convention and visitors bureau in Asheville, North Carolina, before moving to Richmond in 1998.