Kristopher Larson today announced his resignation as President and CEO of Downtown Grand Rapids Inc.

DGRI Board of Advisors Chair Kayem Dunn, Mayor Rosalynn Bliss and City Manager Greg Sundstrom shared the following statements:

Kayem Dunn, Chair of the Downtown Grand Rapids Inc. Board of Advisors

Kristopher Larson has done tremendously positive work for Downtown and greater Grand Rapids. We deeply appreciate his passion for city building and dedicated service to our community.

For the past five years he worked tirelessly to, among other successes, lead a spirited new approach to genuinely engage citizens in our organization’s work, shape an inspirational vision for the future of Downtown through GR Forward and strengthen collaborative partnerships to accelerate our collective effort toward building a top-tier American Downtown.

Kris not only made Downtown Grand Rapids a better place. He put us on a solid path for continued future success. We thank him for his extraordinary leadership and we wish him and his wife Elizabeth all the best in Raleigh, NC.

Mayor Rosalynn Bliss, City of Grand Rapids

Kris has played a critical role in transforming the Downtown Development Authority, spearheading the GR Forward planning process and elevating the importance of having a vibrant city center for a strong region. I am grateful for all of his incredible work, and I will miss having him as a partner in community building.

City Manager Greg Sundstrom, City of Grand Rapids

In his five years in Grand Rapids, the impact from Kris’ leadership will benefit our community for many years. Kris launched Downtown Grand Rapids Inc. and grew it into a vital advocate and planner of living and working downtown.