With its current head moving into elected office in January, the Columbia Pike Partnership has tapped a new executive director.
Andrew Schneider, who previously led Arlington Thrive, on Nov. 21 was announced as the successor to Kim Klingler, who has headed the Columbia Pike organization since 2019.
Klingler on Nov. 7 was elected Arlington commissioner of revenue, succeeding Ingrid Morroy.
Schneider’s “proven ability to build teams, serve diverse constituencies, drive fund-raising efforts and create collaborative partnerships aligns seamlessly with our organization’s mission,” said Diana Nakarmi, who chairs the partnership’s board of directors.
Schneider will begin the position on Dec. 6. As head of Arlington Thrive – previously Arlingtonians Meeting Emergency Needs – he led the organization from a volunteer-driven non-profit to one with a professional staff supporting social-safety-net efforts in the community.
Klingler, who began as executive director when the partnership was known as the Columbia Pike Revitalization Organization (CPRO), said she believed Schneider would be able to take the ball and run with it.
“I am excited to see that work carry on and expand under Andrew’s leadership, as Columbia Pike Partnership continues to advocate and support the diverse residents and businesses that call Columbia Pike home,” Klingler said.
The swath of Columbia Pike that runs through Arlington is a 3.5-mile stretch moving east to west from the Pentagon area to the Fairfax County line. For information on the Columbia Pike Partnership, see the Website at www.columbia-pike.org.
