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

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

Boards of the two organizations voted in November to merge July 1 to far better concentrate on financial desires in the neighborhood, which includes youngster care, workforce shortages and cost-effective housing.

Bird will start out 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, stated in a news release Thursday that the board is excited to bring Bird’s knowledge and talent to the new organization.

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

Adam Keune, former chair of the Iowa City Organization Partnership, echoed Therme, emphasizing his self-assurance in Bird’s capability to lead the new organization.

“As we embark on this thrilling new chapter as a combined organization, we have each and every self-assurance in her capability to steer us toward development and heightened influence, furthering our attain and amplifying the good distinction we make in the Johnson County neighborhood,” Keune stated.

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.

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