Downtown Sandy has a new face at the forefront of Sandy Main Street.
Jennifer Marks, a Portland resident and graduate of the University of Oregon, has taken over as Sandy Main Street coordinator. Marks was placed in the year-long position through AmeriCorps’ Resource Assistants for Rural Environments program.
Just over two weeks into her time in Sandy, Marks is enjoying the small city. “I think the city has a lot of potential,” she said.
Originally from Sacramento, Calif., Marks decided to stay in Oregon after earning her degree in environmental studies in Eugene.
Marks said after working for the Many Rivers Group of the Sierra Club and the Audubon Society of Portland she wanted to look into learning more about city planning. In the future, she would like to pursue a career in sustainable planning.
“Currently we don’t have a lot of sustainable development,” Marks said in reference to Sandy Main Street’s focus. “I’d like to see more of it.”
As the Main Street coordinator, Marks will do work in revitalizing the downtown and planning events.
Despite a background in nonprofit work, which Marks said is similar to the structure of Sandy Main Street’s operations, she doesn’t have as much experience in economic development.
Marks said she is excited to take on this new job and learn as much as she can in order to grow in the future.
In her spare time, Marks enjoys hiking in the Columbia Gorge, especially exploring its many waterfalls. She also enjoys kayaking.
As a budding snowboarder, Marks said she is excited to explore the Mount Hood area and hopefully do some night boarding when winter rolls around.
“I’m really excited for my time in the community,” Marks said. “Hopefully I can create a lasting impact.”
Originally Published in Sandy Post
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