The City of Monroe is excited to welcome Ashley Nowell as our new Downtown Director.
Ashley is a champion for historic communities, bringing a full decade of dedicated experience in Main Street and Downtown Economic Development. Her expertise spans multiple successful programs, including her most recent role as the Business and Downtown Development Director in Waxhaw, NC.
While there, Ashley collaborated with elected officials, volunteers, and downtown stakeholders to create the Downtown Waxhaw Association, which plays a key role in solidifying the growth and long-term sustainability of the town’s Main Street program. Additionally, she most recently oversaw the adoption of Waxhaw's Downtown Master Plan, gathering input from the community to set a vision and goals for downtown preservation and growth over the next 5-10 years.
Her background also includes work with Downtown Lee’s Summit in Missouri, giving her a broad perspective on building strong, welcoming, and sustainable downtown districts.
Ashley joins the City as former Downtown Director Donna O’Keefe transitions into a new position as the City’s Existing Business and Industry Manager within the Office of Economic Development. Donna remains an important part of the organization and will continue supporting Monroe’s business community in this expanded role.
Ashley is passionate about supporting small businesses and helping create places where people feel connected. She’s looking forward to getting to know Monroe, listening to the community, and partnering with downtown stakeholders on the work already underway.
Outside the office, Ashley lives in Union County with her husband, Rob, and their dog, Andy. She enjoys cooking and baking, watching movies, cheering on the Kansas City Chiefs, and hosting game nights with friends.
Join us in welcoming Ashley to Monroe and to our Downtown team. We are glad to have her here.