Yeager named new executive director of Newton Main Street

After more than a month of searching, the Newton Main Street Board of Directors announced today it is hiring Erin Yeager to lead the organization as its new executive director.

Excited to begin her new venture, Yeager said her goal is to encourage collaboration and unite downtown business owners and organizations.

“Working as one team instead of against each other,” Yeager said. “Because we are all looking out for the same goal. Our goal is to revitalize our downtown, fill the empty storefronts, work on the facade of the streets and the buildings. I want to see our town continue to grow.”

Yeager has lived in Newton her entire life and acknowledged the town is capable of having more of downtown presence, noting her own past experiences of seeing active and thriving businesses around the town square. She also wants more youth to become involved with downtown prospects, historical preservation and Newton Main Street in general.

Following the resignation of its former executive director, Graham Sullivan, in June, Newton Main Street was looking for someone who would continue to establish the downtown image, improve aesthetics and strengthen the economic base and its role in town. Roughly 10 or so candidates applied for the position.

Tanya Michener, a vice president of the Newton Main Street Board and associate director of the Newton Development Corporation, said in a statement that the board of directors received “a great pool of candidates,” which she thinks “speaks well of the Newton Main Street organization.”

Before Yeager was selected, city council member Lin Chapé served Newton Main Street as its interim director. Michener credited Chapé for helping push the process of finding a new executive director and said she looks forward to her continued volunteer presence for Newton Main Street events as Yeager takes over.

“Newton Main Street is able to partner with so many organizations and we think Erin will do a great job interacting with each of them,” Michener said. “Her management background will be a huge asset when juggling the different components that pulls Main Street together.”

As a hairdresser at Back Alley Beauty in Newton for the past 20 years (and a store manager at two Subway locations in Grinnell for the past 9 years), Newton Main Street Board Secretary Kristi Cummins said Yeager already has good relationships with many of the downtown retailers and knows the town well. Yeager’s natural drive, she added, will be a huge benefit to Newton Main Street.

“She’s got her hands full but I have every faith that she will get it done. I honestly think it’s a very good hire. She will do some very good things in the downtown. It’s a very good fit for Newton Main Street,” Cummins told the Newton Daily News.

Yeager added, “I’m ready to dive in.”

Yaeger officially starts Aug. 19 at the Newton Main Street office, 113 First Ave. W., south of the town square.

Newton Main Street is a subsidiary of Main Street Iowa and Main Street America, which are part of the encompassing National Main Street Center program.

Contact Christopher Braunschweig at 641-792-3121 ext. 6560 or cbraunschweig@newtondailynews.com