The Downtown Stockton Alliance’s (DSA) Board of Directors has chosen Cynthia Fargo as the organization’s next chief executive officer. Ms Fargo, who currently serves as Economic Development Manager of City Heights Community  Development Corporation, San Diego, CA, will take up office on November 18. 

“After a thorough and comprehensive search process, we believe we identified the best applicant to assume leadership of this organization,” said DeeLynn Rivinius, DSA’s Interim Board Chair. “Cindi has over twenty five years of diverse experience in business improvement district management and commercial district revitalization with four different city 
programs. This practical knowledge combined with her non-profit management skills make her uniquely qualified to lead the 
Alliance.” 

After the last CEO, Leandro Vicuna, stepped down to return to his career in banking wealth management, the DSA’s Board of Directors decided to look for new candidates locally and nation-wide. Various search methods were utilized ranging from job posts on the International Downtown Association website to direct contact with leaders of downtown and business 
associations in California. 

The DSA’s Board of Directors appointed a Search Team who selected seven most qualified candidates from the pool of 
original nineteen applicants. After interviews, the Team identified three final candidates who were invited to Stockton to tour
downtown and for final interviews. 

“I am very excited to have this opportunity to lead the Downtown Stockton Alliance into a new era of programming, service, and place making in the Downtown District. I feel that both Stockton and its downtown are poised for greatness and have a vision of where they want to go,” commented Cindi Fargo. “I look forward to working with community members and leaders, property and business owners, partners and investors that dedicate their energy and resources to making downtown a 
magnet for creativity and investment – a lively, comfortable place where people live, work, shop, and play.” 

Ms Fargo holds a bachelor’s in Urban Studies and Planning and minor in Anthropology from University of California, San Diego, CA. She received the Centennial Award, State of New Mexico, for La Placita in New Mexico in 2010; honored in 2011 by the National Main Street Center, National Trust for Historic Preservation, for twenty five years of leadership; received a 
Woman of Achievement Award in 2005 from Business and Professional Women, Livingston, Montana; received the State of California Governor’s Award for Excellence – Economic Development, 1994, and State of California Governor’s Award for Design, 1994. She is also a program founder in Encinitas, CA, a Great American Main Street City, 2003. A native Californian, she spent most of her life here. She is passionate about her family, the arts, the outdoors, travel, cooking and animals. Ms Fargo and her husband are looking forward to becoming home owners in Stockton. 

Source: Downtown Stockton Alliance