The new executive director of the Historic Downtown Kennewick Partnership is excited to join the community-focused organization.

The downtown association recently hired Jess Stangeland to the

full-time position. Her first day was April 15.

“I love the community down here, and I know a lot of the business

owners already,” she said.

Stangeland is a Tri-City native who most recently worked for two years as manager at Fuse SPC, Richland’s co-working community. She helped oversee Fuse’s move into a newly renovated building last year.

Stangeland said she’s excited to join the downtown Kennewick group,

as the area is at a tipping point with the opening of Columbia Gardens Urban

Wine and Artisan Village, plans for a culinary institute, the opening of the new

commercial Red Mountain Kitchen and other building renovations.

“It is imperative that HDKP not only be a healthy, thriving organization

but that we have a seat at the table. I plan to increase our revenue through

sponsors and membership; build strong relationships with the port, city, regional

chamber, and public and private entities surrounding the downtown; and rally

this community to form more grass-roots efforts to revitalize downtown,” she

said.

Stangeland has a bachelor’s degree in economics from Seattle

University. Her career has taken her through the real estate, nonprofit

administration and retail management sectors.

Additionally, she has served as a board director for Leadership

Tri-Cities and Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce and has been involved in

numerous community organizations, such as TriConf, Tri-Art for Giving and DrewBoy

Creative. She was also executive producer for TEDxRichland and TC Tech Summit. 

“We had a great slate of candidates to review for the position,

but one kept standing out from the others,” said Jay Freeman, board president

for HDKP, in a news release. “We are very excited to have Jess come work for

us. Her skill set will be a good addition to the operational improvements we are

making internally.”