Nancy Bird to lead Iowa City Region Improvement/ Small business Partnership

IOWA CITY — Nancy Bird, former executive director of the Iowa City Downtown District, has been named CEO of the newly merged Iowa City Region Improvement and Iowa City Small business Partnership.

“These are two good organizations coming collectively,” Bird told The Gazette. “Leadership on each boards have worked collectively to bring the two collectively seamlessly — the group has a vibrant vision for the future — and I am truly excited to get to operate with them.”

Boards of the two organizations voted in November to merge July 1 to superior concentrate on financial wants in the neighborhood, which includes kid care, workforce shortages and reasonably priced housing.

Bird will get started in June and lead the two organizations by way of a rebranding and in implementing the bylaws and legal structure authorized by the two boards final November.

Robin Therme, chair of the merged board of directors, mentioned in a news release Thursday that the board is excited to bring Bird’s expertise and talent to the new organization.

“Her broad expertise in neighborhood improvement and her track record of executing a clear vision make her ideally equipped to meet the wants of this new organization,” Therme stated.

Adam Keune, former chair of the Iowa City Small business Partnership, echoed Therme, emphasizing his self-confidence in Bird’s capacity to lead the new organization.

“As we embark on this fascinating new chapter as a combined organization, we have each self-confidence in her capacity to steer us toward development and heightened effect, furthering our attain and amplifying the constructive distinction we make in the Johnson County neighborhood,” Keune mentioned.

Bird, whose salary was not disclosed, led the Iowa City Downtown District for pretty much a decade.

With her departure, the downtown district’s board appointed Betsy Potter, the existing inventive solutions director, as its new executive director.

Comments: 319-368-8877 liam.halawith@thegazette.com