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NATCHEZ – The Downtown Natchez Alliance elected new officers and directors in January.

is Norma West, who joined the DNA Board in 2021, is serving as 2025 president. West has served as board treasurer, president-elect, and chair of DNA’s MLK Triangle Team, which oversees the award-winning Revels Plaza project.  Other officers are T.J. Baggett, Vice President; Conner Burns, Treasurer; and Elizabeth Greer, Secretary. Other 2025 directors are Liz Dantone, Leon Hollins, Jo Ann Brumfield, Chesney Doyle, and Brenda Zerby.

DNA is in the midst of its first “Natchez Pet Mayor Election,” intended as a fun-raiser for downtown and a fundraiser for DNA that will also benefit local animal welfare organizations, and more information is available here.

Baggett said she is eager to see how the new energy and visions of the new board members will play into DNA’s strategic plan. “DNA currently has an extreme amount of momentum from the work done over the last few years, and every March, we conduct a Board Strategic Planning Retreat,” Baggett said “As we strategically plan to move forward, it is of upmost importance that we remain flexible enough to accommodate new opportunities and challenges, but also stay in alignment with the city’s priorities and the downtown master plan, with the overall goal of the economic sustainability of downtown Natchez for its residents and visitors.”

West praised the members of the board. “We have a great group of people on our DNA Board who are all vested in Natchez, our downtown, and the work of DNA,” she said. “We also extend our gratitude to our many partners especially Mayor Dan Gibson and the Board of Aldermen, our loyal supporters for investing in the vision for a revitalized downtown, our invaluable board advisor, Dian Lusher, our many volunteers, and of course, our friend, former board member, and former executive director Kevin Miers.”

West reiterated that going forward, DNA’s mission remains the same: “To advance Downton Natchez as a vibrant commercial and cultural district consistent with the city’s Downtown Master Plan and the National Main Street approach, a time-tested framework for community-driven comprehensive revitalization of historic downtowns,” she said.