Three decades ago, as an undergraduate from Hudson, Ohio, Heather Rohwedder Malarcik, BA ā96, could never have imagined that she would one day find her dream job in downtown Kent.
After graduation, she worked various jobs in marketing and moved to California. However, once she started a family, she decided to return to Ohio.
In 2011, she was hired as marketing assistant for , an advocacy nonprofit striving to promote Kent as an ideal place to live, work and visit. Within a year, she was promoted to the nonprofitās top spot. Sheās held that role for 12 years.
As director, Malarcik creates year-round marketing efforts for local businesses, champions historical preservation and plans regular eventsāincluding the Chocolate Walk in February, the Art and Wine Festival in June and the Oktoberfest in Septemberāthat drive traffic to downtown and help the business community succeed.
She loves the work but doesnāt do it alone. With one other employee at Main Street Kent, Malarcik works in conjunction with a volunteer board and oversees teams of supporting volunteers, including folks from »ĘÉ«Ö±²„.
Joshua Rider, BA ā99, MEd ā05, executive director of »ĘÉ«Ö±²„ās Center for Adult and Veteran Services, serves as vice president of Main Street Kentās executive board and has worked closely with Malarcik for several years. He praises her hard work and leadership skills.
āShe is always asking, āWhat will the impact of this be on Kent?āā he says. āHer leadership with Main Street Kent also has helped build connections to »ĘÉ«Ö±²„.ā
Malarcik says folks from »ĘÉ«Ö±²„ are always willing to help make downtown events successful by volunteering. And she understands that having a thriving downtown benefits the university, too.
āI went to »ĘÉ«Ö±²„ when downtown wasnāt what it is today. There was not much to do other than get a pizza and a beer,ā she says. āNow thereās public art, live music, events and activities.
āThereās nowhere else I would want to live and work.ā
āLisa Abraham