The Columbia Pike Revitalization Organization (CPRO) announces the retirement of its Executive Director, Cecilia Cassidy. Cassidy has served as the organization’s executive director since February 2016.

“CPRO is grateful for Cecilia’s leadership and her contributions to the organization,” said CPRO board president John Snyder, “but even more grateful for the spirit, enthusiasm, and friendship Cecilia has shared with us.”

Under Ms. Cassidy’s leadership, the organization has seen its largest period of financial growth in its 30-year history and adopted a strategic plan that included new initiatives such as the installation of nearly 70 place-making banners that were installed this month along the four-mile stretch of Columbia Pike that CPRO serves, unifying the corridor and celebrating “Arlington’s Oldest and Newest Main Street.”

Before joining CPRO, Cassidy led Rosslyn Renaissance, one of Arlington’s four public/private partnerships, and in 2003 was instrumental in the creation of Arlington’s first BID, the Rosslyn Business Improvement District. She headed both organizations until 2013.

Previously, her career combined housing advocacy with writing and editorial work. She served as Community Relations Director for Arlington Housing Corporation (now AHC, Inc.) and then Publications Editor for James Rouse’s Enterprise Foundation (now Enterprise Community Partners). Her community work began when she served as president of the Arlington Village Tenants Association during a condo conversion in the 1980’s, and worked in cooperation with Arlington County to establish the first limited-equity housing co-op in the state of Virginia.
Soon after her first retirement from the Rosslyn BID, Cassidy was named to the board of directors of Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing (APAH). She was also named a 2014 Fellow of the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts (VCCA). A member of the Leadership Arlington Class of 2000, she holds a degree in English and Journalism from Pace University.
CPRO’s Board of Directors is in the early stages of the search process for Cassidy’s replacement.