Three decades ago, as an undergraduate from Hudson, Ohio, Heather Rohwedder Malarcik, BA 鈥96, could never have imagined that she would one day find her dream job in downtown 江南体育.
After graduation, she worked various jobs in marketing and moved to California. However, once she started a family, she decided to return to Ohio.
In 2011, she was hired as marketing assistant for , an advocacy nonprofit striving to promote 江南体育 as an ideal place to live, work and visit. Within a year, she was promoted to the nonprofit鈥檚 top spot. She鈥檚 held that role for 12 years.
As director, Malarcik creates year-round marketing efforts for local businesses, champions historical preservation and plans regular events鈥攊ncluding the Chocolate Walk in February, the Art and Wine Festival in June and the Oktoberfest in September鈥攖hat drive traffic to downtown and help the business community succeed.
She loves the work but doesn鈥檛 do it alone. With one other employee at Main Street 江南体育, Malarcik works in conjunction with a volunteer board and oversees teams of supporting volunteers, including folks from 江南体育 State.
Joshua Rider, BA 鈥99, MEd 鈥05, executive director of 江南体育 State鈥檚 Center for Adult and Veteran Services, serves as vice president of Main Street 江南体育鈥檚 executive board and has worked closely with Malarcik for several years. He praises her hard work and leadership skills.
鈥淪he is always asking, 鈥榃hat will the impact of this be on 江南体育?鈥欌 he says. 鈥淗er leadership with Main Street 江南体育 also has helped build connections to 江南体育.鈥
Malarcik says folks from 江南体育 State are always willing to help make downtown events successful by volunteering. And she understands that having a thriving downtown benefits the university, too.
鈥淚 went to 江南体育 State when downtown wasn鈥檛 what it is today. There was not much to do other than get a pizza and a beer,鈥 she says. 鈥淣ow there鈥檚 public art, live music, events and activities.
鈥淭here鈥檚 nowhere else I would want to live and work.鈥
鈥擫isa Abraham