Kristopher Larson, the chief executive officer of Downtown Grand Rapids Inc., in Michigan, will return to Raleigh to become president and CEO of the nonprofit Downtown Raleigh Association.

The DRA announced Thursday afternoon that Larson would take the position in January. Former News & Observer publisher Orage Quarles III has held the post on an interim basis since March 1.

<br/> Larson previously worked as DRA’s deputy director in 2004–07, then took a position as senior planner for the Raleigh Urban Design Center, from 2007–09. Before affiliating with the Grand Rapids association, where he helped advance public and private development, he served <span style=”font-size: 1.04em; line-height: 1.4em;”>as vice president of Downtown Long </span><span style=”font-size: 1.04em; line-height: 1.4em;”>Beach Associates for three years in Long Beach, California.</span><span style=”font-size: 1.04em; line-height: 1.4em;”><br/></span> <p> <span style=”font-size: 1.04em; line-height: 1.4em;”>“Kristopher’s leadership experience in other growing cities,</span> <span style=”font-size: 1.04em; line-height: 1.4em;”>coupled with his history in the Triangle, made him uniquely qualified for this role,” says </span>DRA board chairman Jon Wilson.<br/> <span style=”font-size: 1.04em; line-height: 1.4em;”><br/></span><span style=”font-size: 1.04em; line-height: 1.4em;”>Larson earned a master’s in public administration from N.C. State. He is a </span><span style=”font-size: 1.04em; line-height: 1.4em;”>Daniel Rose Fellow through the Rose Center for Public Leadership, a </span><span style=”font-size: 1.04em; line-height: 1.4em;”>collaboration between the Urban Land Institute and the National League of Cities. </span><br/> </p> <p> “Downtown Raleigh has long played a foundational role in my heart and in my career,”<br/> Larson says. “Its urban fabric is where I discovered, nearly three decades ago, that cities<br/> evoke a sense of aspiration, excitement, and freedom.”<br/> </p> Organized in 1996, the DRA has helped drive downtown’s revitalization through the use of branding<span style=”font-size: 1.04em; line-height: 1.4em;”>, special events, luring </span><span style=”font-size: 1.04em; line-height: 1.4em;”>merchants, and building partnerships. </span><span style=”font-size: 1.04em; line-height: 1.4em;”>First Friday, downtown restaurant </span><span style=”font-size: 1.04em; line-height: 1.4em;”>week, the city’s revived farmers market, and outside movie events are some of the attractions </span><span style=”font-size: 1.04em; line-height: 1.4em;”>the association has brought to downtown.</span><br/>