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Downtown Development Authority Director

The DDA has a full-time Director with an established office located in Northville's City Hall. Lori Ward joined the DDA as its first Director in July of 1999. Lori has over 30 years of experience in economic development and community planning, specializing in the area of downtown development and the redevelopment of urban areas. Prior to working with the Northville DDA, Lori provided DDA consulting services to communities throughout the midwest while an Associate with Beckett and Raeder Inc., a landscape architecture, planning and engineering firm based in Ann Arbor. Prior to relocating to Michigan in 1990, Lori worked in the field of planning and preservation in London, England and Washington, D.C. Lori holds a Bachelor of Arts in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Illinois, and a Masters of Arts in Historic Preservation Planning from Cornell University. Lori has been a member of the Michigan Downtown Association (MDA) since its infancy in 1991 and served as the Chairperson of the organization's Board of Directors from September 2006 to September 2009.

Lori can be reached at:

Northville Downtown Development Authority
215 West Main
Northville, MI 48167
Ph: (248) 349-0345
Fax: (248) 305-2834
lward@ci.northville.mi.us

Marketing and Communications Director

Jeri Johnson started as the Marketing and Communications Director for the Northville Downtown Development Authority in April 2019.

She previously worked at the Northville Chamber of Commerce for 17 years doing membership/sponsorship solicitation and event planning.

Jeri graduated from University of Michigan earning a Bachelor of Science in Administration with concentrations in Economics and Human Resource Management.

Jeri can be reached at:

Northville Downtown Development Authority
215 West Main
Northville, MI 48167
(248) 349-0345
jjohnson@ci.northville.mi.us

Marketing and Administrative Assistant

Jessica Howlin joined the Northville Downtown Development Authority as the Marketing and Administrative Assistant in August 2021. 

Jessica graduated from Grand Valley State University earning a Bachelor of Arts in Advertising and Public Relations, with a minor in Spanish.

Jessica can be reached at:

Northville Downtown Development Authority
215 West Main
Northville, MI 48167
(248) 349-0345
jhowlin@ci.northville.mi.us