Naperville City Clerk Dawn Portner has been named the new executive director of the Downtown Naperville Alliance, succeeding Katie Wood, who is transitioning into a consultative role as she moves into semi-retirement.
“We are thrilled to welcome Dawn to the Downtown Naperville Alliance,” Joseph Tota, board chairman for the alliance, said in the news release. “Her extensive experience with the city of Naperville, her knowledge of our community and her commitment to Naperville make her an outstanding fit to lead DNA into its next chapter.”
Portner will be leaving her job as city clerk to take the new role, which she starts on Sept. 14.
In Naperville, the city clerk is a staff position, not an elected post as it is in other municipalities. City spokesperson Linda LaCloche said she did not have details on how the clerk’s job will be filled.
The alliance describes itself as an organization charged with “promoting, enhancing and advocating for downtown Naperville and its businesses. Through events, marketing, advocacy, community partnerships and business support, DNA works to ensure downtown remains a vibrant destination and an important economic and cultural asset to the Naperville community.”
“(The alliance job) was something that was brought to my attention and how do you say no to an opportunity of a lifetime?” Portner said. “I have so much respect for the downtown, its history, everything that’s already been done before me, and my goal is just to help it move forward into the future.”
Originally from the western suburbs, Portner moved to Naperville in 2004 after spending time away from Illinois. She was hired to work for 360 Youth Services in 2005 before taking a position as Naperville’s special events coordinator in 2015. She spent eight years in that role before becoming city clerk.
Portner said that one of her goals for her first 30 to 60 days as the alliance’s executive director is to do a listening tour and spend time talking to downtown business and property owners about their thoughts on issues that need to be addressed and ideas for how to continue to improve the area.
“I love the vibrancy of the downtown,” she said. “I want to make sure that the experience will live on beyond just one visit. I want to make sure people have a reason to come back.”
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Wood said in the release that it’s been an honor head the alliance and to “work alongside the incredible businesses, partners and community members who make downtown Naperville so special. I am excited to welcome Dawn and look forward to supporting her and the organization in this next chapter.”
Wood has been the agency’s executive director for more than a decade. She initially announced her retirement in 2021 but later returned to the position.
“Katie has made an incredible impact on the Downtown Naperville Alliance and on downtown Naperville as a whole,” Tota said. “Her dedication, passion and leadership have helped make DNA the organization it is today. While we are excited to welcome Dawn, we are equally grateful that Katie will remain connected to the organization in a consultative capacity.”