The Mansfield Downtown Partnership named their new executive director through a press release on March 6.
The Mansfield Downtown Partnership was formed by the Town of Mansfield and the University of Connecticut, according to their website. The non-profit organization oversees the development of Downtown Storrs and runs community events, such as the Celebrate Mansfield Festival.
The Mansfield Downtown Partnership Board of Directors selected Steven Ferrigno as the newest executive director, a role previously held by Cynthia van Zelm for 22 years, according to a press release from the organization. Van Zelm accepted a position with the State of Connecticut last year, the press release noted.
“Ms. van Zelm was instrumental in the planning, development, and implementation of the Downtown Storrs partnership,” said town manager Ryan J. Aylesworth last April in a report. “Cynthia’s work leaves a legacy that will benefit our community for generations to come.”
The current members of the executive committee are President Kyle Muncy, Vice President Toni Moran, secretary Sean Vasington and treasurer Mario Conjura.
“Mr. Ferrigno is a well-known business leader in Mansfield, as owner and managing broker of Ferrigno-Storrs, Realtors LLC,” said the press release. “He has been an active force within the community serving on the Board of Directors of the Mansfield Downtown Partnership for five years, as well as Chair and a member of the Mansfield Economic Development Commission for eleven years.”
We are poised to be one of the premier communities in Eastern Connecticut through this partnership, and I’m excited to lead MDP to achieve that.
Mansfield Downtown Partnership Executive Director Steven Ferrigno
Ferrigno grew up in Storrs, having attended high school at E.O Smith before getting his bachelor’s degree in economics from Boston College, according to his website. He later earned a master’s degree from the UConn School of Business.
“The Mansfield Downtown Partnership Board is thrilled to have Steve as its next leader,” said Muncy in the press release. “We have new ambitious goals, and we are confident that Steve has the commitment and know-how to help us reach them.”
Muncy also noted Ferrigno’s understanding of the operations of the Town of Mansfield. “He knows this market, and what our best assets are in promoting Downtown Storrs, the Town of Mansfield, and our region,” said Muncy.
Ferrigno is also on the school building committee for the Mansfield Elementary School, serves as the chair for the board of directors of Mansfield Discovery Depot and is a member of the Edwin O. Smith Foundation Board, according to the press release.
“Having served on Mansfield’s Economic Development Commission and the Mansfield Downtown Partnership Board since 2020, I have a sincere appreciation for our town and its relationship with UConn,” said Ferrigno in the press release. He specifically emphasized the importance of a partnership between the Town of Mansfield and UConn.
“One of the first goals I focused on in my time on the EDC was trying to find projects where Mansfield and UConn could work synergistically, where both could benefit and ‘win,’” said Ferrigno. “I sincerely believe there are many of these possibilities out there, they just need to be identified and nurtured. We are poised to be one of the premier communities in Eastern Connecticut through this partnership, and I’m excited to lead MDP to achieve that.”