Downtown Worcester Business Improvement District picks new executive director
Photo I Courtesy of the Downtown Worcester Business Improvement District
Katelyn O’Brien, executive director of the Downtown Worcester Business Improvement District
The Downtown Worcester Business Improvement District, an organization working to strengthen the downtown economic and cultural landscape, has named Katelyn O’Brien as the nonprofit’s new executive director, effective this coming Monday.
As head of the BID, O’Brien will work alongside the city’s downtown property owners, business leaders, and community stakeholders to forge partnerships aimed at improving the area for businesses, residents, and visitors.
O’Brien replaces previous executive director Evelyn Darling who announced her plan to step down from the role in September but agreed to stay on in her executive capacity during the BID’s search for her successor. Darling had held the position since April 2019.
O’Brien comes to her new role having most recently acted as assistant town administrator and HR director for the Town of Norfolk, leading the town’s strategic planning initiatives and economic development projects, according to a Tuesday press release.
“Her proven leadership in municipal government and economic development, combined with her collaborative approach, makes her the perfect fit to guide our district into its next phase of growth. I’m confident that Katelyn will strengthen our relationships with local stakeholders and continue to drive the ongoing transformation of Downtown Worcester,” Julian Wade, board chair of the BID, said in the release.
The BID collaborated with Plymouth-based consulting firm Community Paradigm Associates to assist its search for a new executive leader.
“Downtown Worcester already has a terrific community with tremendous potential, and the BID team has done an incredible job of creating transformative programs, initiatives, and experiences in its first six years,” O’Brien said in the release. “I look forward to connecting with the Downtown Worcester community, listening to their ideas, experiences, challenges, and goals, and helping to create a more dynamic, inclusive, and thriving district that serves as the heart of the city.”
Established in 2018, the BID represents more than 100 property owners located on Main Street, Myrtle Street, Francis J. McGrath Boulevard, and Foster Street. The nonprofit is funded largely through a property tax on land within the district.
Mica Kanner-Mascolo is a staff writer at Worcester Business Journal, who primarily covers the healthcare and diversity, equity, and inclusion industries.
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