Media Contact: Christine Schilke, Communications Director, Connecticut Main Street Center
860.280.2356, christine@ctmainstreet.org
HARTFORD, JULY 6, 2017 – The Connecticut Main Street Center is pleased to announce Patrick McMahon as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective August 21, 2017. Mr. McMahon will succeed CMSC’s founding CEO John Simone, who is retiring after leading the organization for the past 17 years.
Mr. McMahon currently serves as the Director of Economic Development for the Town of Suffield, and has previously worked in economic development in the towns of Windsor and Windsor Locks. Mr. McMahon brings a wealth of experience in neighborhood and downtown revitalization, small business development, historic preservation, land use planning, community facilities and infrastructure development, and housing services. He is the Immediate Past President of the Connecticut Economic Development Association (CEDAS), and a member of the Northeast Economic Development Association (NEDA).
Mr. McMahon is passionate about Main Street revitalization and community development, and is very familiar with CMSC through participation in its member community network. Mr. McMahon also worked closely with CMSC as an integral member of a coalition that secured passage of new Tax Increment Financing (TIF) language during the 2015 legislative session, making it easier for all towns to take advantage of this valuable economic development tool. Subsequent to the bill’s passage, Mr. McMahon was instrumental in drafting TIF District Master Plans passed in Windsor Locks (becoming the state’s first TIF District) and Suffield.
“I am looking forward to working with the Board of Directors and staff of the Connecticut Main Street Center, as well as member municipalities, State agencies, private sector supporters and others to enhance downtowns throughout the State,” said Mr. McMahon. “There is great untapped economic and community development potential in our downtowns, town centers and village districts. It will be our role to unleash that potential so that our Main Streets are the thriving hearts of community life and economic opportunity.”
Mr. McMahon was chosen after an extensive search process led by a Transition Committee of the CMSC Board of Directors, and assisted by the Nonprofit Professionals Advisory Group, LLC(NPAG). The national search involved outreach by NPAG to more than 230 individuals, with a total of 53 candidates applying for the position. The CMSC Board of Directors was committed to identifying a candidate to serve as an engaging ambassador that will foster and develop deep relationships and strong, innovative alliances with key funders, partners, advocates, and political entities.
CMSC’s Board and staff are excited to begin working with Mr. McMahon as he leads CMSC’s efforts to become a transformative organization, a statewide champion, and a national model of large-scale systemic change in downtown revitalization and management.
Knowing he is leaving the organization in good hands, CMSC’s current CEO John Simone expressed total confidence in successor. “‘I’ve had the pleasure of working with Patrick throughout my entire Main Street career, starting 20 years ago when I was the executive director of First Town Downtown, Windsor Center’s Main Street organization,” said Mr. Simone. “In the ensuing years we’ve had the opportunity to work together on many occasions, and I can wholeheartedly say he is the right person for the job. He has the vision, passion and commitment to lead the board, staff and Main Street network on the exciting path we have set for ourselves.”
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About Connecticut Main Street Center
CMSC’s mission is to be the catalyst that ignites Connecticut’s Main Streets as the cornerstone of thriving communities. CMSC is dedicated to community and economic development within the context of historic preservation, and is committed to bringing Connecticut’s commercial districts back to life socially and economically.
CMSC is supported by its Founding Sponsors, the CT Department of Economic & Community Development(DECD) and Eversource Energy. CMSC is also supported by its Growth Sponsors, UIL Holdings Corp. and the State Historic Preservation Office . More information is available at www.ctmainstreet.org.