WPCNR MAIN STREET JOURNAL. From The Downtown District Management Association (Edited). October 6, 2004: The White Plains Downtown District Management Association (BID) announced Tuesday that it has unanimously selected Rick Ammirato to be the new Executive Director of the BID. Mr. Ammirato begins his new assignment next Tuesday, he said Thursday morning.
Mr. Ammirato is the friendly, always cooperative office manager, press liaison, researcher, preparer of news releases and producer of Mayor Delfino's public appearances for City Hall, replaces Kathleen Gunn, former Executive Director who took the position of Assisant City Manager of Fort Lauderdale, Florida one week ago.
“I am pleased to announce the appointment of Rick Ammirato as our new Executive Director,” said Jeffery Stillman, Chairman of the downtown BID. “Rick brings with him an exceptional knowledge of City government and has worked closely with the BID as it has strived to improve the downtown. I believe this will be a smooth and seamless transition.”
“Rick has been a tremendous asset for my administration as we worked to revitalize our downtown and City. He has done a great job and I’m sure he’ll continue to work just as successfully with the BID,” said White Plains Mayor Joseph Delfino.
The Ammirato File
Mr. Ammirato comes to the BID after two and half years of working as a Policy Specialist for White Plains Mayor Joseph Delfino. During his tenure with the City, Mr. Ammirato has worked closely with the Mayor and his senior staff to manage development in the downtown and continue the City’s remarkable renaissance. He holds a master’s degree in communications from Georgetown University and has an extensive background in marketing, communications and development.
Ammirato said of his predecessor, Ms. Gunn: “Kathleen left the BID in a strong position to capitalize on the downtown’s growth. I look forward to the opportunity of taking the downtown to the next level and to cultivating and encouraging more partnerships between stakeholders,” said Ammirato.
The BID’s functions include supplementing the work done by the City to revitalize downtown White Plains. Its activities encompass marketing the downtown through citywide events such as the Downtown New Year’s Celebration, operating the Clean Sweeps Program, the Ambassador Program and the Planter Program and promoting the downtown locally and nationally.
