{"id":2925,"date":"2023-06-09T15:49:44","date_gmt":"2023-06-09T15:49:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.blockbyblock.com\/?p=2925"},"modified":"2023-06-26T15:24:35","modified_gmt":"2023-06-26T15:24:35","slug":"bbbaaronperri","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.blockbyblock.com\/news\/bbbaaronperri\/","title":{"rendered":"South Bend Leader Joins Block by Block"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Aaron

BBB welcomes Aaron Perri as Vice President of Strategic Growth.<\/p><\/div>\n

As Block by Block (BBB) looks towards the future of operations, Aaron Perri has been hired as Vice President of Strategic Growth to further BBB\u2019s vision for services throughout the country.<\/p>\n

In his new position, Aaron will not only be pursuing new markets to identify potential BBB accounts, but he will also be working to find ways to apply the BBB operating model to more public spaces like municipal governments, transit systems, campuses and parks agencies.<\/p>\n

Aaron is the first of two new hires joining BBB from the field of downtown services who were customers before coming to work with us. (Chip is the second, and you can read about him here)<\/a>. Aaron previously held the positions of Executive Director of the City of South Bend and Executive Director of Downtown South Bend, Inc. (DTSB) in Indiana.<\/p>\n

As Executive Director of DTSB, Aaron picked up oversight of a previously established BBB Ambassador Program. During his time working in South Bend, he grew this Ambassador Program into three other areas of the city. Working with BBB during these years, Aaron said he \u201ccame to understand the extreme values that BBB could add to communities.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Aaron

Former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg with Aaron Perri in 2017.<\/p><\/div>\n

When Aaron announced on his LinkedIn in May that he would be stepping away from serving South Bend directly, his post was flooded with well-wishes and praise for the work he has done there. \u201cYou enthusiastically pointed out the gems and saw the possibilities [for South Bend],\u201d one commentor wrote. Another said, \u201cSouth Bend is a better place because of you. Thank you.\u201d \u201cThank you so much for the vision and leadership you provided for our City,\u201d said yet another. This single post had over one hundred comments and over four hundred reactions.<\/p>\n

The kind words from Aaron\u2019s friends and colleagues are truly a testament to the impact he has had on the city. It is clear Aaron is a beloved leader to the people of South Bend for the efforts he has contributed to change it from what Newsweek<\/u> called a \u201cDying City\u201d in 2011 to the place of economic and cultural relevance that it is today. Aaron said this is what he is most proud of in his career so far.<\/p>\n

Aaron has played a major role in many projects to better the City of South Bend. Some of his favorites include the South Bend River Lights, a public art project that shines colorful lights across the St. Joseph River, and Howard Park, an award-winning park with playgrounds, fountains, event space and more that helped win the city the National Gold Medal Award, the highest recognition in the industry.<\/p>\n\n\t\t