Kerri Lambert has taken on the role of executive director of the Seaside Downtown Development Association, the association’s Laurie Mespelt announced last Thursday.

“We talked for over a year about the succession plan,” Mespelt said. “That’s the biggest thing you can do for a company or business.”

Mespelt, who has served as director of the association since late 2019, praised Lambert for her leadership, planning and social media skills. “Kerri has the ability to fast forward in the present time,” Mespelt said. “She can multitask. Her intuitiveness for what’s ahead is just amazing.”

Lambert has worked in the downtown area since 2004, when she was a manager at Norma’s. She will continue to work as manager of the Times Theatre & Public House. “I’m going to try to back off a bit, but the two kind of go hand-in-hand,” Lambert said at the association’s morning meeting at the Pig ‘N Pancake.

SDDA was formed 1993 by a group of downtown businessmen and women who joined together to improve and promote downtown Seaside.

After more than two years Lambert hopes to bring back events canceled or postponed as a result of the pandemic.

“We want to bring back events we have prior to COVID and get those going and strong,” Lambert said. “We’re working on membership and then trying to advocate as much as we can for the businesses for the community as far as housing, being able to have people raise their families. We really want to work on building a healthy business community.”

Coming up on May 14 from 3 to 6:30 p.m. the association’s spring wine walk returns. The event features tastings from 17 Oregon wineries, presented at downtown businesses. Tickets are available at the Carousel Mall or Holiday Inn Express from 1 to 6 p.m. the day of the event. The flower basket campaign continues to beautify downtown with colorful arrangements lining downtown streets.

The Seaside Golf Classic is scheduled for Aug. 24, to benefit the association and Seaside Kids Inc., which provides athletic opportunities for local children.

“Kerri has a feeling for downtown, which really helps,” business owner Jeff TerHar said. “She has an interest in downtown because she’s worked downtown for so long.”