Downtown Partnership Board Chairman George Draper announced today that Jim Norton, currently the President of Downtown Tulsa Unlimited, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, has accepted the position of Executive Director of the Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership beginning June 1, 2009.  
 
"Chapel Hill is extremely fortunate to have someone of Jim's experience and expertise to lead the Downtown Partnership.   As President of Downtown Tulsa Unlimited for the past 20 years,   Jim has been instrumental in the development of Downtown Tulsa as a state, regional, and national destination.    We are confident that Jim will play a key strategic role in nurturing and supporting the vibrancy of Downtown Chapel Hill", said Draper.
 
During his time at DTU, Norton was instrumental in the progress of downtown Tulsa, including chairing the statewide effort to approve tax increment financing in Oklahoma and in advocating for residential development in downtown Tulsa.  Norton was involved in the inception and design of the National Main Street Program in the early 1980's.  He has served as an officer of the International Development Association and is actively engaged in many national and international professional organizations.  He brings to Chapel Hill over 25 years of downtown development expertise.  Norton is a graduate of East Carolina University with a degree in City and Regional Planning.  His wife, Annie, is a graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill's School of Public Health.
 
"I am very excited to return to North Carolina, and specifically to Chapel Hill.   Downtown Chapel Hill is the heart of an internationally recognized community.  Downtown has many wonderful assets that serve to create a vibrant and successful experience for residents and visitors alike.  I look forward to being part of strengthening and nurturing downtown Chapel Hill," said Norton.
 

The Downtown Partnership was assisted in its search process by Anita Badrock and Doris Friend, search consultants with Smither and Associates, a local recruitment firm.