NewBo City Market names Julie Parisi as new executive director

New leader brings experience as former shopkeeper, director of business development

May. 26, 2021 10:48 am, Updated: May. 26, 2021 11:52 am

Julie Parisi has been the director of operations at NewBo City Market in Cedar Rapids since 2018. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

NewBo City Market named Julie Parisi as its next executive director, effective in late June, the market announced Wednesday.

Parisi started as a shopkeeper in 2015 with her business Zaza’s Pastas before joining the market’s staff in 2018 as the market’s director of business development.

“Knowing that now as executive director, I can continue to work on our mission of supporting small businesses is incredibly humbling and exciting,” Parisi said in a news release.

“I plan to build upon the amazing foundation that has been laid before by so many thoughtful community leaders.”

Julie Parisi meets with entrepreneur Ashlee Mooney at NewBo City Market in January. Mooney was starting her own hand-dyed clothing business. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Parisi will replace Scott Kruger, who will step down June 26 after more than five years leading the market. NewBo City Market more than doubled its annual revenue under his leadership, according to a news release.

Kruger described Parisi as the “perfect person to lead the market into its second decade.”

“Not only is she the embodiment of entrepreneurship, her small business journey has brought her to this place where she can support and guide a new and diverse generation of market shopkeepers,” Kruger said in the news release.

Kruger said in an email to community members last week that he cannot discuss his new position yet, but he plans to remain in the Cedar Rapids area.

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