Cedar Rapids native Jennifar Bassett to serve as next downtown advocate

CEDAR RAPIDS — Jennifar Bassett, a Cedar Rapids native, has been hired as the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance’s new Downtown District program manager.

Bassett starts Jan. 2, succeeding Jesse Thoeming after he resigned in September. She assumes the role while conversations are underway between downtown stakeholders, alliance and city officials about how to potentially restructure downtown management after the Cedar Rapids City Council’s adoption of a new Downtown Vision Plan, which offers a five-year guide to revitalize the city center.

In her role, Bassett will carry out projects and programs approved by the Downtown Self-Sustainable Municipal Improvement District Commission, regularly meet with downtown business and property owners and lead the downtown maintenance team through all seasonal changes. The SSMID levies a tax on property owners within the district for beautification projects, programming and maintenance.

"Jennifar is a great match for the exciting and dynamic times we are encountering in our downtown,” Downtown SSMID Chair James Klein, president of Cedar Rapids Bank & Trust, said in a statement. “Jennifar has extensive experience working with people of various backgrounds and industries which will allow her to quickly assimilate to the role. She will be able to develop and maintain strong relationships with our downtown businesses and execute on programs, projects and initiatives set out by the Downtown SSMID. I am confident that Jennifar will lead us to great heights downtown.”

An alumna of Washington High School, Bassett pursued her education at the University of Iowa and later the University of Arizona Global Campus. Her professional background includes leadership positions in construction, maintenance and information technology industries. She has also acquired multiple certifications and licenses, including personal leadership certification, Iowa life and health insurance license, Web3/Blockchain certifications and a Pilates certification.

Bassett brings with her over two decades of management experience and offers “a nuanced understanding of what is optimal for the business, stakeholders and customers,” according to the alliance.

“I believe that Jennifar’s history and perspective growing up in Cedar Rapids combined with her time spent in a variety of cities throughout the United States will serve the Downtown SSMID well,” Downtown SSMID Vice Chair Ted Kepros, founder and chief executive officer of Kepros Physical Therapy & Performance, said in a statement. “In addition, her leadership and experience working with contractors, civic leaders and project management provide a unique subset of skills that will be necessary as we implement our strategic plan towards making Cedar Rapids a destination of choice.”

Before Thoeming left, his title recently had changed from downtown executive director. Some responsibilities were split in part with Nikki Wilcox, the alliance’s strategic development director.

Further downtown management changes could be on the horizon, as the work of a yet-to-be-formed task force will make a recommendation to the SSMID next year on whether to change the structure of the managing entity.

The SSMID could be housed separately from the alliance, maintain its current structure or form a more distinct business center within the alliance. The new vision plan highlighted those three options for a management structure, but more options could be explored. Ultimately, this structure influences which personnel and organizations manage the downtown experience and could affect how private dollars are raised to fulfill initiatives laid out in the vision plan.

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