DLBA Selects New President and CEO

LONG BEACH, CA – September 1, 2022 - The Board of Directors of the Downtown Long Beach Alliance (DTLB Alliance) (DLBA) today is pleased to announce it has selected Austin Metoyer to serve as the organization’s new President and CEO effective September 7, 2022. DLBA is a non-profit, community-based organization whose mission is to cultivate, preserve and promote a healthy, safe, and prosperous Downtown. By balancing the interests of the residents, as well as businesses, the DLBA creates tangible progress by way of vested interest and solidified partnerships across local, municipal, and commercial lines.

“The Board is excited to name Austin Metoyer as President and CEO and recognizes him as the next generation leader for the organization. The appointment demonstrates the Board’s recognition of internal talent and trust in Austin’s leadership,” said Loara Cadavona, MBA , DLBA Board Chair. “He led the organization over the last year through a successful complex property-based improvement district (PBID) renewal process that will allow DLBA to continue the great work serving Downtown for many years to come. Austin is not only a recognized leader within the City of Long Beach, but he is also well-respected in the urban place management industry.” Metoyer, who joined DLBA in 2016, has been instrumental in guiding economic development and advocacy and led the organization’s efforts to successfully renew the Downtown PBID for the next decade.

He was chosen by the Board after a thorough national search led by an independent Search Committee that reviewed and vetted hundreds of potential candidates over the last six months. Austin stated, “I am honored to serve and lead during such a pivotal time for the organization and the future of Downtown Long Beach. My family and I have deep roots in the city and a passion for seeing the community prosper. I truly believe a successful Downtown is vital to the overall success of Long Beach. With the completion of the PBID Renewal, DLBA’s new Strategic Plan and DEIA Equity Framework, I look forward to continue working with our Board, dedicated staff, city officials, and the entire community to implement and execute strategies to accelerate recovery and create a vibrant Downtown that is reflective of a dynamic and diverse as the City of Long Beach ."

Most recently, Metoyer served as DLBA Economic Development & Policy Manager overseeing various initiatives and programs that shape public policy, planning, and economic development efforts to improve Downtown's quality of life and economy. He spearheaded several organizational initiatives including DLBA's Roadmap to Recovery Strategic Plan, a Downtown retail and office recruitment strategy, and completion of the PBID renewal. He also serves as a City Commissioner on the Long Beach Economic Development Commission that is currently developing the City's 10-year Economic Blueprint 2.0 and the Commision's Small Business Loan Committe. Before joining DLBA, Metoyer served under former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa 's Office of Economic and Business Policy and the National Foreign Trade Council in Washington, D.C. During his stint there he also served as Senior Project Analyst for Brailsford & Dunlavey, Inc. , a real estate development planning firm.

He completed his bachelor's degree in International Business at California State University, Long Beach and a Master's in Urban Planning from the University of Southern California . Austin remains an active alumnus as an alumni representative on university-related committees and boards. “DLBA’s future is bright, and I’m looking forward to serving as Chair to support such a promising new leader as he takes the reigns,” said Debra Fixen, CPM, CCIM DLBA Board Chair Elect. “Austin is the right person in the right role at the right time. As the first new President and CEO of the organization in the past 25 years, we are fortunate to have someone with such a great mix of community, industry and leadership experience to build on the organization’s success and take it to the next level for the business and residential community."

Credit for this article is given to Michael Bermann, DLBA Communications Manager. PLEASE CONTACT @ 562-708-6295

For PDF New-DLBA-President-and-CEO-2022.pdf (downtownlongbeach.org)

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