Downtown Bentonville Inc. hires new executive director

The nonprofit group Downtown Bentonville Inc. (DBI) announced Monday (April 9) the hiring of Andrew Heath as executive director. He is replacing Monica Kumar, who held the job from 2015 until this past summer, and will be the organization’s third executive director in the past four years.

Aaron Lawson, president of the DBI board of directors, announced Heath’s appointment, saying, “Andrew brings a wealth of leadership experience in both the public and private sectors to the organization. His passion, energy and expertise in the area of organizational management are the perfect fit to lead DBI into the future.”

Heath has been executive director of the Pennsylvania Growing Greener Coalition since 2010. Under his leadership, according to DBI, the coalition grew to become Pennsylvania’s largest coalition of conservation, recreation and preservation organizations. Prior to working for the coalition, Heath handled marketing strategy, media relations and event planning for the office of Jonas and Anne Beiler, philanthropists and founders of Auntie Anne’s Soft Pretzels. He also previously worked as executive director of the Republican Committee of Lancaster County in Pennsylvania.

“I am honored and excited for the opportunity to work with such an established and respected organization in an influential region of the country,” Heath said in a statement. “Bentonville is a special place, with a rich history and a future of endless potential. Over the next few weeks, I look forward to meeting with the business and community leaders dedicated to making Bentonville a world-class destination where everyone feels welcome to visit, live and raise a family.”

A Pennsylvania native, Heath earned a bachelor’s degree in politics from Messiah College in Mechanicsburg, Pa.