Departing President Leaves DRA Poised to Continue Revitalization and Enhancements of Downtown Raleigh
RALEIGH, NC (February 2, 2017) – The Downtown Raleigh Alliance (DRA) announced today that David Diaz has been selected as the new president of Tysons Partnership, a collaborative engagement effort between local and state stakeholders in Fairfax County, Virginia. Diaz has served as president and CEO of the Downtown Raleigh Alliance since 2007.
“While we are sad to see David leave the Downtown Raleigh Alliance, his new position with Tysons Partnership is a testament to the exceptional work he has done in elevating downtown Raleigh as a unique business and leisure destination,” said Jon Wilson, Chairman of the Board. “David leaves DRA well-positioned to capitalize on the momentum of the revitalization of the downtown area and enhancing the quality of life and its economic success.”
Over the past decade, the DRA has been instrumental in attracting over two billion dollars in new public and private investments, creating the first comprehensive retail strategy plan for downtown Raleigh. The Alliance has created a diverse array of annual programming that now includes more than 120 outdoor events that attract over one million visitors. In addition, the DRA has been awarded numerous awards for its “You-R-Here” campaign.
“I am proud of what the DRA has accomplished over the past decade and I thank our board members and the business community at large for helping making our efforts possible,” said Diaz. “As this new position gives me a chance to move closer to family, it was an opportunity I could not turn down. Nevertheless, I will always remain a champion of Raleigh and look forward to assisting during this transition in every way I can.”
The board of directors will appoint an interim director in the near future, while a national search will take place to replace Diaz, whose last day will be March 10.
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About Downtown Raleigh Alliance (DRA):
DRA is an award-winning nonprofit organization whose mission is to continue the revitalization of Raleigh’s downtown. The Alliance enhances the quality of life and positively impacts the economic success of downtown through six core services: 1. Safety & Hospitality Ambassadors; 2. Strategic Branding & Community Communications; 3. Events Production; 4. Retail Attraction & Merchant Promotions; 5. Strategic Partnerships & Stakeholder Engagement; and 6. Strategic Planning. For more information about DRA, please visit www.YouRHere.com.