Wed. October 31, 2007
NEW LEADERSHIP AND MEMBERS APPOINTED TO DOWNTOWN DC BUSINESS
IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS
(Washington, DC) — The Downtown DC Business Improvement District (BID) has announced new Board of Directors’ officers and members, under the leadership of Matthew J. Klein, president of Akridge, who will serve as chairman for the fiscal year 2008.
BID Executive Director Richard H. Bradley said, “Matt Klein brings an incredible wealth of experience and wisdom to our Board. He has a clear understanding of Downtown’s relationship to the city’s economy and vitality, and will play a key role in helping to formulate a vision for the next 10 years of growth and development in this area.”
New officers on the BID Board of Directors include: First Vice-Chair and Treasurer, Bradley Edwards, general manager of the Renaissance Washington, DC Hotel; Second Vice-Chair, Peter Johnston, senior vice-president and regional manager for Boston Properties; and Secretary, Jane Taylor, vice president of marketing for Washington Sports and Entertainment.
Other individuals joining the Board for the first time include: Dean Cinkala, partner, JBG Companies; Ron Linton, representative, Downtown Cluster of Congregations; Tom Meyer, executive vice president, Clyde’s Restaurant Group; Vincent Orange, regional vice president, DC, Pepco; and Tony Reed, regional administrator, General Services Administration (GSA).
With more than 20 years in the real estate industry, Matthew J. Klein joined Akridge in 1998 and is responsible for overseeing corporate planning, acquisition and development, asset management, project finance, lender/partner relations and the financial stewardship of the Akridge operating companies.
“I am honored to have been selected as chairman,” said Klein. “As we celebrate the BID’s 10th anniversary this year, my colleagues on the Board and I hope to make significant gains toward improving Downtown parks and public spaces, implementing transportation innovations and seeking alternatives for people living without homes.”
Klein assumes the role left by outgoing chair, Howard Riker, vice president of Hines. During Riker’s tenure, the BID successfully renewed its legislative charter for another five years and continued delivering premium services to the business community. While diverse new development projects and public space improvements brought added energy and excitement to the city’s commercial core, the BID established strong partnerships with the federal and municipal governments, like the GSA’s new “Good Neighbor Program,” which supports the business community’s efforts to maintain a city’s vitality. In addition, the BID launched successful transportation initiatives, such as the DC Circulator bus and congestion management strategies for the K Street corridor.
“The BID has taken on the role of clarifying what makes Downtown great,” said Riker. “Matt Klein will have a unique opportunity to raise the bar and deliver even greater value to stakeholders with new brand positioning for Downtown and by leading the charge on issues, such as making Downtown more environmentally sustainable.”
About the Downtown DC Business Improvement District
The Downtown DC Business Improvement District (BID) is a private, non-profit organization that provides safety, hospitality, maintenance and beautification, homeless, economic development, transportation, streetscape and marketing services to Washington’s center city. The BID promotes Downtown DC as a premier commercial, cultural and residential destination. For more information, visit http://www.downtowndc.org/.
###