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Office of the Mayor
NEWS RELEASE
March 27, 2007
2 p.m.
Contact: Mikki Dobski, Dir of Communications &Special Projects, 235-5855 or 876-1564
Jeff Gibney, Director of Community and Economic Development, 235-9375
Paul Meyer, Chair, DI SB Board, 237-9201
City to provide new executive leadership for DTSB
The City of South Bend today announced it would provide two staff, leaders of the City
Plan process, as interim executive leadership for Downtown South Bend Inc., a public-
private partnership created in 2002 to promote the downtown area.
Marco Mariam, the city's assistant director of community development, will serve as
interim DTSB executive director, while city planner Jitin Kain will assist him in the day-
to-day management of DTSB.
"The City of South Bend is dedicated to moving forward in this partnership with the
business community to strengthen our downtown," said Jeff Gibney, director of the city's
Community and Economic Development department, whose staff include Mariam and
Kain. "We are committed to creating a vibrant, exciting and diverse downtown that
serves as a destination throughout the region for people to work, play, live and shop."
Mariani and Kain will join existing DTSB staffers Sharman Schmidt, project
development manager; Robin Slutsky, marketing and development coordinator; and Chris
Culver, ambassador supervisor. Mariani and Kain will be accountable to both the DTSB
board and Gibney.
"We're deeply grateful for this very tangible show of support for DTSB and its mission
by the city," said Paul Meyer, chair of the DTSB board. "Having `known people,' such as
Marco and Jitin, with their background, knowledge and expertise join DTSB in these
interim positions will go far in helping DTSB continue its programs and initiatives
without hesitation or interruption."
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Mariani, 38,joined the city in March 1993 as a neighborhood planner. In his time with
the city, Mariani has served as program manager for the commercial corridors program as
well as managing the city's neighborhood partnership centers and annexation program.
He has worked to develop new housing in the Southeast neighborhood, including the new
Southeast Park, managed several neighborhood planning processes, and served on the
management team of City Plan. He was named the assistant director of community
development in 2002.
"We're at such a crucial and an exciting point for the downtown. It's important to deepen
the relationship between DTSB and our department, as well as the city council," Mariani
said. "Working very closely with small-business owners in the downtown is going to be
important for DTSB as we move forward. ... Completing a physical development plan
that is built by the downtown community is also essential. I look forward to working with
the downtown community, learning more and helping to contribute to the good work
DTSB has already done."
A native of Bloomington, Ill., Mariani received a master's degree in urban and regional
planning from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, where he also received a
bachelor's degree in sociology. He has been involved in community organizations,
serving as program manager for Rebuilding Together (formerly Christmas in April) and
as program manager for the Neighborhood Resources Corp. He and his wife, Eileen, live
in South Bend with their two children, Leena and Vian.
Among his responsibilities will be finding a permanent successor for his role.
Kain, 31,joined the City of South Bend in August 2002 as a city planner hired primarily
to work full-time on the management team of City Plan, a 20-year plan for the future
growth and development of the city.
A native of New Delhi, India, Kain received a bachelor's degree in architecture from the
Indian Institute of Technology in Roorkee, India. He worked for two years as an architect
in India, before attending Ball State University in Muncie, Ind., where he received a
master's degree in urban and regional planning. He is a member of the Indiana Planning
Association, has worked with Rebuilding Together and serves on the executive
committee of'BAS SS, the 'Bend Area Service / Sports/ Social Club.
He and his wife, Jean DeWinter, live in South Bend.
"I've always been interested in downtown," said Kain, whose master's thesis focused on
downtown revitalization. "A big part of my work in City Plan was in engaging the public.
This really reinforces what we've heard about the downtown, so I'm excited to work
[with DTSB]."
DTSB's work is overseen by a 28-member board while its offices are shared with the
Notre Dame School of Architecture and Community Relations office. The majority of
DTSB's budget comes from the city, supplemented by voluntary contributions from
businesses.
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Since its founding, DTSB has started a beautification project that added flowers, benches
and trash receptacles to the downtown area. Its fagade grant program has assisted with
business renovations, while it has organized special events in the downtown area.
DTSB's Ambassador program has placed a group of workers, in red shirts and jackets, in
the downtown to clean streets and sidewalks, water flowers, help visitors find businesses
and attractions, and serve as a positive presence in the community.
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