From Recovery to Leadership: Meet ADID Ambassador Supervisor Chris S.

When people talk about the impact of the Asheville Downtown Improvement District Ambassador team, they often talk about clean sidewalks, hospitality, safety support, and visible care for Downtown Asheville.

But behind that work are real people with powerful stories — including Ambassador Supervisor Chris S., who was recently nominated for a Hospitality Hero Award presented by Explore Asheville.

Before joining the Ambassador team, Chris served in the U.S. Navy SEABEEs, an elite construction force supporting all branches of the military, and later worked as a Navy recruiter. After experiencing the loss of his fiancée, Chris went through a prolonged period of depression and substance use.

Eventually, he made the decision to seek help.

After completing rehabilitation at First at Blue Ridge, Chris graduated from the program and joined the Asheville Downtown Improvement District Ambassador team.

Today, he describes this role as one of the proudest accomplishments of his life.

“This job helped me regain my independence,” Chris shared. “It gave me purpose again.”

As an Ambassador Supervisor, Chris helps lead a team that works every day to make Downtown Asheville cleaner, safer, and more welcoming. That work includes litter removal, hospitality and wayfinding, business check-ins, graffiti removal, and responding compassionately to the realities of an urban environment.

For Chris, some of the most important work happens through small moments of connection.

He believes simple gestures — a conversation, a blanket, a cigarette, or simply acknowledging someone’s humanity — can make a meaningful difference for unhoused neighbors Downtown.

One of the moments that stands out most to him happened during recent winter storms, when severe weather made roads dangerous and public transportation unavailable. During those weekends, Ambassadors helped clear snow and ice from high-traffic areas, supported nearby homeless service providers, and helped connect dozens of people to emergency shelter and transportation.

Read more about those severe weather response efforts here:
ADID Ambassadors Show Up for Downtown During Severe Weather Response

You can also watch coverage from Citizen Times highlighting the Ambassador team’s work during the storm response here:
Watch the Citizen Times coverage here.

Chris says he has also witnessed a major shift in how Downtown businesses and community members view the Ambassador team.

“Early on, some people were cautious or unsure of us,” he said. “Now people wave, say hello, thank us, and understand the value of having Ambassadors Downtown.”

He remains especially proud of the resilience and compassion of the team — particularly when handling difficult and often unseen work like biohazard cleanup, severe weather response, and supporting vulnerable community members with dignity and care.

Participating in Buncombe County’s Point-in-Time Count also deeply impacted Chris, strengthening his understanding of the lived experiences of unhoused individuals and reinforcing why this work matters.

Chris’ story is one of resilience, recovery, and service — and we are incredibly proud to celebrate this well-deserved recognition.

Congratulations, Chris. Downtown Asheville is better because of you.