The Downtown Partnership of Baltimore yesterday named former Baltimore Development Corp. executive Michele L. Whelley as executive vice president.
She will serve as acting president of the nonprofit alliance of downtown business leaders during the absence of president and chief executive Laurie Schwartz, the partnership said.
Mayor Martin O'Malley has appointed Schwartz deputy mayor of economic and neighborhood development.
Whelley, who will assume her duties Jan. 1, was executive vice president and chief operating officer of the BDC from 1994 until April of this year.
"My goal is to strengthen Downtown Partnership's relationship with the business community and bring to the partnership a better understanding of the myriad of issues that businesses face," she said.
"The best way to market the city to new businesses and new residents is to have your existing businesses happy where they are."
Whelley, a 46-year-old Roland Park resident, also is a member of the Downtown Housing Council and the board of Baltimore Advisors. She earned her law degree from the University of Maryland School of Law in 1985.
"Michele is intimately familiar with the issues important to Downtown Partnership's members," Schwartz said in a statement.
"She brings to the table more than 13 years' worth of hands-on business development experience, including time as a real estate attorney, a project manager and a senior government official.
"She is universally respected in both the private and public sectors. We are pleased to have her on board."
