Some new and old faces are being added to key positions in the City of Dayton. Amanda Wilson, who previously managed the Dayton Community Center and most recently served as the city’s purchasing director, is returning to community center as the community services administrator.
Wilson’s new title comes with extra responsibilities as she will continue overseeing the city’s FEMA grant work while managing the day-to-day operations of the community center. She also will be assisting with community activities in the downtown district, including Food Truck Fridays, which continues to grow in popularity.
“It’s like déjà vu coming back to the community center,” said Wilson, adding that she plans to meet with City Manager Theo Melancon and others to devise a plan for future community events that will draw more visitors to Dayton.
The Dayton Community Development Corporation will have two new leaders by Aug. 1 when Ann Marie Wilson comes on board as the DCDC director. Serving as assistant director is Cynthia Northrup, who joined the city on June 3.
Northrup is most recently from the City of Alvin, where she was assistant to the city manager for one year. A native of the Dallas-Fort Worth area, Northrup’s background includes elected terms to the Lewisville City Council and the Denton County Commissioners Court. She also worked five years as head of the communications department for the Texas Department of Transportation’s Dallas District office.
She first learned about Dayton and all the promise of growth and prosperity coming its way after meeting Melancon at a Texas City Managers Association conference last year.
“I was impressed with him and everything he is doing in Dayton. There are a lot of great opportunities coming to Dayton and I am really excited to be here,” she said.
One of her first goals at the DCDC is to help create a coordinated and comprehensive business, retention and expansion program.
Helping Northrup promote the good news about Dayton’s economic plans will be Patti Jett, the city’s new communications director. Jett most recently was the communications director for the City of West University in the Houston area. Prior to that, she worked for 10 years as the communications director for the City of Baytown and eight years with the City of College Station.
Jett is a certified public communicator, a two-year program she completed through Texas Christian University.
As communications director, she will help promote and market the city through media releases and social media.
Jett, who lives in Atascocita, said she was looking for a small fast-growth city like Dayton, where she can develop interpersonal relationships with the residents and be more involved.
“Vibrant cities grow. Dayton is a vibrant city and it is everything I was looking for,” she said.