Kerri Milton, executive director of the Downtown Penticton Association, is counting down her final days that post, and training her replacement.
The DPA has chosen Lynn Allin to replace Milton, coming to the business organization from the Penticton Arts Council, where she also filled the role of executive director for the last three years.
A 24-year resident of the Penticton, Allin owned and ran a variety of Okanagan businesses before starting her work with the arts council.
According to the DPA release, Allin loves the downtown and already has experience networking downtown businesses, vendors and city staff. She’s looking forward to creating even more partnerships and meeting the business owners whom she has not had the chance to connect with yet.
Allin said the DPA has a large mandate with many accomplishments and challenges that she looks forward to being involved with, including the continuation of what has been started with the revitalization of Main Street.
Milton and Allin already have a working relationship through a variety of events and city committees.
“We are excited to welcome Lynn to the DPA staff and look forward to working with her in a new capacity. The DPA board would also like to thank Kerri for her almost four years of exceptional work in helping to build a better downtown Penticton and we wish her the best of luck in Victoria,” said Leigh Follestad, DPA president.
“Without Kerri’s active and passionate enthusiasm, we feel the DPA members would not be where we are today,” said DPA vice-president Christina Conquergood.
Milton announced that she was moving on in late May, taking a position as executive director of the Downtown Victoria business association.
Milton said she wasn’t looking for the opportunity, but was headhunted. Still, she is looking forward to returning to Vancouver Island, where she grew up.