MVA Manager to Also Head Springfield Ave. SID

Julie Doran, manager of the Maplewood Village Alliance (MVA), will step into a new role as manager of both the MVA and the Springfield Avenue Partnership (SAP), said Mayor Vic DeLuca Tuesday morning.

Vitrano announced last week she would step down at the end of June for personal reasons.

The two improvement districts will continue as separate entities with their own boards and budgets, with Doran heading both, said DeLuca. 

The MVA and the SAP are special improvement districts that use funds from assessing commercial properties, as well as funding from the township, for capital improvement, facades, business recruitment and special events and marketing.

Doran has been manager of the MVA since 2009, replacing Amy Koehler. Previously, the position was held by Allison Ziefert followed by Virginia Lamb Falconer. Doran's background was in marketing communications.

"Julie has the skills, experience and personality that makes her perfect to take on the Springfield Avenue Partnership in addition to the Maplewood Village Alliance," said DeLuca. "She will bring a marketing background to the Avenue and be the feet on the street. I look forward to her joining the Partnership."

Vitrano has been in the position since the beginning of 2011.

"[A]fter almost 30 years of supporting volunteers and staff working hard to improve their business districts and communities, I find myself in a position that will allow me to spend more time with my family and on more personal priorities," wrote Vitrano, who said she is not retiring but is scaling back her work activities.

"Diana did a terrific job as the district manager for the past few years," said DeLuca. "She moved the Partnership to another level with social media and brought the Harvest Festival to the Avenue. She built a sense of cohesion among business and property owners. I will miss working with her."

DeLuca explained that the new arrangement will enable the township to further its efforts in development and marketing under the "One Maplewood" concept.

"I'm so excited to be joining the SAP and continuing the successful programs that have been established along the Avenue," said Doran. "One of my favorite parts of working with the MVA has been getting to know so many new people and I am very much looking forward to getting to know even more merchants, property owners, community groups and individual residents in Maplewood through my work with the partnership."

She continued, "I hope to bring some efficiencies of scale to operations and streamline synergistic opportunities like the townwide Maplewood Restaurant Week."

Doran's appointment will be officially announced at Tuesday night's Township Committee meeting.