George M. Arnold, a 19-year resident of the State College area, is the new executive director of the Downtown State College Improvement District.

The organization, tasked with promoting and strengthening the downtown business district, announced the appointment Wednesday. Arnold is already at work in the new role, according to a news release.

He "brings with him a familiarity and understanding of our community, a community in which he and his wife are raising their two children," the release reads. "His unique blend of professional experience and commitment to State College is well suited to his position with the Downtown State College Improvement District."

Arnold, who succeeds Jody Alessandrine as executive director, has been project superintendent at Berks Homes for the past five years, according to the DID. Earlier, the release notes, Arnold worked as a program director for a leadership-training organization and was involved in operations supervision and production management.

"Downtown State College plans to begin some new initiatives to meet the changing local environment," the release reads. "We are looking forward to the impact that Mr. Arnold will have on the ability of our organization to encourage participation and input from our membership, a membership that contributes to making downtown State College a unique, vibrant and prosperous community ... ."

The public is welcome at the DID office, 127 S. Fraser St., to meet Arnold, the group added.

Funded largely through a downtown tax, the DID is led by an independent board of directors. Alessandrine left the organization in July 2011. He joined Downtown Toms River, N.J., as its executive director.

Mary Kay Williams, who is a human-resources consultant, and the DID board have guided the local group's operations for the past seven months, the DID reported.

StateCollege.com will have additional coverage of the leadership change in the coming days.

Earlier coverage

• Leaving State College, Alessandrine Argues for Downtown Density, Redevelopment (July 31, 2011)