Mary Jo Bohart bio — File 24-1670

CPC Member Application Name: Mary Jo Bohart Ward Email address Phone # Street Address Briefly explain why you would like to join the CPC and how you feel you can support its work. (This statement will be posted on the City website for public review.) I've been a Somerville resident since 2000, and became a residential property owner in 2004. During this time, my focus & attention has primarily been on the city's rebirth & revitalization, due in part to my professional background as an urban planner. I recognize that each municipality is constantly evolving and is a dynamic environment rather than a static one. This can be exciting, but new external pressures (i.e. the extraordinary spike in cost of housing, or intense private- sector infill development pressures) could jeopardize the quality of life for existing residents if not carefully balanced by local nvestment in open space, aƯordable housing and historic preservation. Somerville's current status as a highly-desired inner core city means we must take care in using our land wisely & preserve key assets that make our community unique. With this in mind, CPA funding represents an important resource for the city to deploy so that Somerville can maintain its excellent quality of life. Being part of the CPA committee which reviews CPA projects & funding requests would be a personally rewarding opportunity for me to give back to my hometown. I would welcome the chance to volunteer my time civically toward this valuable ongoing work. Please share any other information that will help us to learn more about you. (optional) I can bring a longterm perspective to Somerville's CPA eƯorts, having worked for the city for eleven years during the early stages of the Boynton Yards revitalization project. My professional background as an urban planner enables me to see the potential for key properties and project to serve the community's needs. I also appreciate the city's arts and culture identity and its ethnic diversity, each of which could be jeopardized if proactive steps toward aƯordable housing did not occur. Maintaining the city's ethnic diversity in small businesses and residents is vital for Somerville to maintain its unique identity within the region. Use of CPA funds toward the city's goals can have a transformative eƯect and is of great importance. Please provide your resume (optional) 3

Mary Jo Bohart PROFILE: Resourceful, detail-oriented community economic development professional with background in public, private & nonprofit sectors. Effective track record in urban planning, program development, event management, public speaking, and governmental relations. A proven manager of staff, budgets, projects & consultant contracts. CORE COMPETENCIES: Liaison with Local & State Officials Small Business Technical Assistance Community Involvement Grantwriting & Resource Development Spokesperson & Event Host Public Presentations Service to Diverse Constituencies Stakeholder Outreach Social Media / Communications PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: Economic Development Director, City of Fitchburg, Fitchburg, MA (2015 – present) Responsible for all aspects of community economic development efforts, including: ▪ Guide business applicants through local permitting process ▪ Promote community as desirable place to do business, both for companies and consumers ▪ Devise economic development strategy for city and guide its implementation ▪ Monitor commercial tax base growth and track community demographic changes ▪ Serve as liaison between business community and local governmental officials on key issues ▪ Advocate on behalf of commercial sector in land use, zoning and development projects ▪ Provide businesses and commercial developers with site search assistance ▪ Serve on advisory board for Fitchburg State University school of business & technology ▪ Serve on regional workforce development board (MassHire of North Central MA) ▪ Serve on loan review committee for North Central MA Development Corp. ▪ Provide businesses and commercial developers with site search assistance ▪ Served on leadership team for Working Cities Challenge initiative (through Federal Reserve Bank of Boston) Executive Director, Lexington Chamber of Commerce, Lexington, MA (2003 – 2014) Supervised (4) part-time staff; managed member-based business organization including the following: ▪ Organized and hosted 60-70 events annually to benefit business constituents and community overall ▪ Monitor commercial tax base, employers, and track community’s demographic changes ▪ Served as spokesperson for overall commercial sector and for community’s cultural offerings ▪ Guided commercial sector applicants through local permitting processes ▪ Promoted tourism as a catalyst for local economic development ▪ Composed press releases and articles for submission to local and regional media ▪ Operated town’s year-round Lexington Visitors Center (serving over 100,000 visitors annually) ▪ Organized and hosted dozens of events annually to serve needs of local businesses and broader community ▪ Achieved membership retention/growth goals annually & secured corporate sponsorships for events Economic Development Officer, Town of Lexington, Lexington, MA (2002 – 2003) Led community’s economic development activities, including: ▪ Implement business retention program through regular contact, periodic field visits, and targeted recruitment ▪ Devised Inventory of commercial properties within key business districts ▪ Compiled and disseminated demographic and employment data ▪ Analyzed commercial tax base and study potential for growth ▪ Provided advocacy for commercial development projects during local approvals and interactions Provided staff support for various municipal committees, including Lexington Tourism Committee (promoting heritage tourism) & Lexington Center Committee (focused on downtown vitality) Economic Development Director, City of Somerville, Somerville, MA (1998 – 2002) Supervised (3) staff, secured grant funding, administered economic development programs, including: ▪ EPA Brownfields Site Testing Pilot ($200,000 initial grant)

▪ EPA Brownfields Cleanup Revolving Loan Fund ($500,000 in seed funding) ▪ Groundwork/Somerville involving non-profits, businesses, & city ($100,000 initial funding) ▪ Economic Development Incentive Program (EDIP) for Tax Increment Financing (TIF) projects ▪ Small Business Loan program & Storefront Improvement program Responsible for 10-acre Boynton Yards industrial revitalization project including: ▪ Achieved land assemblage, through negotiated sales as well as eminent domain takings ▪ Managed environmental site testing and remediation (relative to MGL ch. 21E) ▪ Facilitated business and residential relocations ▪ Marketed prepared development parcels to new end-users ▪ Documented project-wide job creation for funding sources Represented city at Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) Inner Core Committee Economic Development Project Manager, City of Somerville, Somerville, MA (1991 – 1998) Provided staffing on Boynton Yards industrial redevelopment project, including: ▪ Prepared grant funding requests to U.S. Depts. of: Housing & Urban Development (HUD), Commerce (EDA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and National Park Service (NPS) ▪ Represented city at mediation sessions for environmental and eminent domain lawsuit Managed EPA Brownfields Site Testing Pilot, including: ▪ Devised concept and prepared environmental insurance templates ▪ Supervised student intern during citywide reconnaissance phase ▪ Prepared site clearance and building demolition specifications Staff support to the Somerville Redevelopment Authority Project Planner, The SWA Group, Boston, MA (1989 – 1990) Provided urban planning & land use roles on various projects, such as: ▪ Analyzed and prepared end-use master planning for closure of 2,500-acre Fresh Kills Landfill, Staten Island, NY ▪ Prepared urban design concept and guidelines for revitalization of an 18-block downtown area in Lincoln, NE Land Planner, The SWA Group, Laguna Beach, CA (1988 – 1989) Provided urban planning support on a variety of projects, including: ▪ Studied circulation redesign and streetscape revitalization for a commercial district in Huntington Beach, CA ▪ Prepared concept layouts for reuse of 400-acre landfill site in San Juan Capistrano, CA Planner, Phillips Brandt Reddick (PBR), Irvine, CA (1985-1988) ▪ Provided master planning staff support for Rancho Santa Margarita, a 5,000-acre community in Orange County, CA ▪ Prepared land use yield studies for Irvine Spectrum, a 400-acre commercial development in Irvine, CA EDUCATION: Bachelor of Science in City and Regional Planning, 1985 California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT (Personal): ▪ 2012, 2014 Participant – TEDx Somerville symposia showcasing ‘ideas worth spreading’ ▪ 2009 Exhibiting Artist – Nave Gallery “Waterfall” group mixed media exhibit that later traveled internationally ▪ 2002 Exhibiting Artist – Somerville Arts Council “Window Arts Project” in Davis Square commercial district ▪2001 Exhibiting Artist – “Recuerdos de Cuba” group exhibit at School of the Museum of Fine Arts (SMFA) ▪1995-1996 Island Volunteer – Friends of the Boston Harbor Islands ▪ 1991-1998 Docent Guide - Boston By Foot (provider of architectural walking tours in historic Boston neighborhoods) __