GLOUCESTER — The Gloucester Main Street Preservation Trust has named Cristie Thomas as its new executive director.
Effective Jan. 3, 2022, Thomas will be replacing Jenny Crittenden, who has been at the Executive Director position for about 16 years. Crittenden will be moving on to her new position as Senior Vice President of Retail Alliance in Norfolk.
“It’s apparent that Jenny and the Board of Trustees have accomplished tremendous achievements in her tenure,” Thomas said. “I am excited to continue what she started and to bring the Trust into the next chapter of its mission of maintaining that focus on Main Street, supporting the business and property owners and bringing initiatives for more revitalization.”
Thomas previously served as the executive director of Marietta Main Street, where she helped make Marietta, Ohio’s oldest city,, a regional destination.
Under her leadership, Thomas saw Marietta Main Street grow its revenue by 156 percent, helped launch new programs to help promote local businesses, and created strategic plans for outdoor recreation and public art spaces.
Gloucester Main Street Preservation Trust states that Thomas will be moving with her family to Gloucester sometime between Christmas and New Year’s Day.
“I have big shoes to fill,” Thomas said. “I look forward to developing relationships and forging partnerships with area stakeholders, folks on Main Street, and with local government. I’ll be reaching out to start establishing those one-on-one relationships soon after I start, letting people get to know me. I plan to be a really good listener, aiming to learn what different folks love about Gloucester and what they see as the next steps for downtown so I can identify patterns as they emerge and learn how my strengths can best be directed to continue maximizing the already outstanding impact of the Trust.”
Thomas has plans to meet with local business owners during the Gloucester Village’s Holiday Open House next month.
Locals seeking more information on Gloucester Main Street Preservation Trust can visit Gloucester Village’s website.
