OTTUMWA —
The Main Street Ottumwa board of directors hopes to begin the search soon for its third executive director in six years.
Following MSO executive director Cindy Woodbury’s resignation last week, the board is in the midst of planning a retreat to “see where we want to go in the next couple of years and what we want our new director to have,” said board president Fred Zesiger.
“We’re just at the very beginning stages, but we’re getting along fine,” he said. “We still have one part-time employee with us, Barb Sasseen, thank goodness. We’re moving day by day.”
MSO will keep office hours from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, and Zesiger said the board will try to get somebody in the office on Mondays and Fridays.
MSO was designated as a Main Street Iowa program in May 2006, and Woodbury directed the organization for five of the last six years. Genevieve Borich preceded her as the organization’s first executive director.
“She [Woodbury] took us from where we were at that point to where we are now, there’s no question about that,” Zesiger said.
In Woodbury’s absence, Zesiger said he will act as the point of contact for the organization.
“She’ll be missed,” Zesiger said. “She really did do a great job. We wish her the very best in what she chooses to do. It’s an extremely complicated job that is pretty thankless.
“Being the only paid employee is sometimes sort of overwhelming.”
Zesiger said the board plans on publicizing a job description within the next month or so. The retreat will give the board time to decide what direction they want MSO to go and what strengths the new director should have.
“We’re in a good spot,” he said. “People are starting to see changes downtown.”
Under Woodbury’s leadership, MSO developed events such as Lunch in the Park, Free Movies in Central Park, Upstairs/Downtown, Walk on Art Street and the History Walk, as well as developing upper-story living spaces downtown.
The KMGO and Appanoose Rapids Brewing Company buildings were also rehabilitated, as well as the future Market on Main project, a community marketplace that will revitalize the former Plum Crazy building.
“With the help of volunteers and committees, Woodbury was the guiding force behind Walk on Art Street, the business boutique and other Main Street projects,” Zesiger said. “She certainly was one who did a lot of the steps to achieve those.”
Woodbury could not be reached as of press time Wednesday.
Local News
September 6, 2012
Main Street Ottumwa moves forward
MSO board to look for new director after Woodbury resigns
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