RENO, Nev. — The Downtown Reno Partnership (DRP) board of directors has selected Neoma Jardon as the organization’s next executive director. Jardon will take over for Alex Stettinski who was recently announced as the next CEO of the San Jose Downtown Association.
The search committee considered candidates from across the country but was hoping to fill the position from within the Reno market.
“We narrowed it down to three candidates – including one from Dallas – but Neoma rose to the top with her skills and experience, her connections in the community, and her deep understanding of and passion for downtown Reno,” said Chris Shanks, DRP board president.
Jardon will lead DRP’s efforts to provide advocacy, leadership and services that address downtown’s most pressing challenges and opportunities, while guiding a cohesive approach to funding, management, marketing and maintenance of Reno’s urban core.
To fully devote her time to furthering the mission of the DRP, Jardon will be stepping down from her seat on the Reno City Council.
“While I am sad to be leaving everyone at the City of Reno, and the advocacy work I have done on behalf of the residents of Ward 5, I am thrilled to be following my passion of bettering Downtown Reno in this new position,” Jardon said.
A Nevada native, Jardon spent more than 20 years at McDonald Carano Wilson as the administrator and director of human resources. Since 2012 she has served on the Reno City Council representing Ward 5 which includes northwest Reno as well as parts of downtown. She has used her business management expertise to shape and support municipal policy designed to elevate the quality of life, expand local business and enhance public safety.
Jardon will start her new post on Aug. 15; Stettinski will stay on through Sept. 5 to help with a seamless transition.
“I’m thrilled for Neoma to serve as my successor,” said Stettinski, who has been in the role since 2018 when DRP was formed. “Through her work on Reno City Council and as a Downtown Reno Partnership board member, I’ve seen her passion for downtown Reno in action. I have every confidence that she will continue to propel downtown Reno forward, transforming it into a more vibrant community that is safer, cleaner and friendlier.”
“We’re incredibly grateful to Alex and his leadership over the past four years,” said Shanks. “Even though he was new to Reno at the time, he brought incredible experience and energy to the role and we’re thankful for the positive, far-reaching impact his contributions have made. We look forward to this next chapter for the Downtown Reno Partnership as Neoma carries out her vision for the organization.”
The Downtown Reno Partnership is a 501c6 nonprofit business improvement district whose core purpose is to make downtown Reno a safer, cleaner, friendlier district for residents and visitors. The Downtown Reno Partnership is funded by downtown-area property assessments and contributions. Those funds pay for operations, street maintenance administered by Reno Public Works, extra downtown Reno Police officers, Streetplus-administered Ambassadors, marketing and economic development.
The Downtown Reno Partnership is a private-sector-led and managed Neighborhood Improvement Project under NRS271.
More information on the DRP is at downtownreno.org.
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About the Downtown Reno Partnership
As Downtown Reno’s business improvement district, the Downtown Reno Partnership is leading a new spirit of cooperation among property owners, businesses, residents and the community by providing a range of services designed to retain, expand and attract businesses and investments to improve Reno’s urban core. The district encompasses some 120 city blocks and includes private and publicly owned properties where new services are financed by a self-imposed and self-governed property assessment in order to make Downtown Reno cleaner, safer and more vibrant.