Stamford Downtown Special Services District Appoints New President

Information via Stamford Downtown

STAMFORD, CT — The Stamford Downtown Special Services District recently announced the appointment of Michael Moore as its new president.

Moore, having served as the vice president of operations at Stamford Downtown since 2017, will succeed David Kooris, who is transitioning back to a statewide role.

Kooris was appointed as the executive director for the Municipal Redevelopment Authority, a quasi-public agency intended to help Connecticut municipalities meet the demand for housing.

Moore will now oversee the strategic direction and daily operations of Stamford Downtown.

Stamford Downtown said he "brings a wealth of experience to his new position, having served in a leadership role within Stamford Downtown for almost seven years and for the six years prior to that as president/CEO of the Downtown Special Services District in Bridgeport.

The appointment comes at "a pivotal time" as it continues to navigate the evolving economic landscape, Stamford Downtown noted.

"Michael will continue to advance the policies and programs that have built resilience in the downtown and positioned the city’s central neighborhood for prosperity long into the future," Stamford Downtown said in an announcement.

Before his time in Bridgeport, Moore held a variety of program and project management responsibilities with the Norwalk Redevelopment Agency and State of Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development.

Moore expressed enthusiasm for the opportunity to lead Stamford Downtown into its next phase of development.

"I am honored to be selected to follow in the footsteps of Sandy Goldstein and David Kooris. I look forward to working with Downtown residents, businesses and the development community to ensure Stamford Downtowncontinues its ascendance as the dynamic center of urban life in the State of Connecticut and region," Moore said in a news release.

Outgoing President David Kooris, who has served as president since January 2020, expressed confidence in Moore's ability to lead the organization effectively.

"Michael's leadership skills, strategic vision, and deep understanding of what it takes to make a downtown vibrant and prosperous make him the ideal candidate to lead Stamford Downtown into the future," Kooris said in a news release. "Having worked close with Michael these last four years and previously in our time together in Bridgeport, I have every confidence in his ability to build upon the successes achieved here over the last 32 years and guide the downtown district to even greater heights."

Mayor Caroline Simmons also expressed excitement about Moore's appointment.

"I’ve gotten to know Michael since taking office and have been consistently impressed by his commitment to making downtown a neighborhood that works for all, now and long into the future. My administration looks forward to working with him to continue to advance the downtown’s role within the city and region," Simmons said in a news release.

Senior VP – Asset Management at Reckson – owners of Landmark Square – and Stamford Downtown Board of Commissioners Chair since 2019, Greg Caggainello, spoke about the organization's abilty to promote promote from within.

"It’s really encouraging when an organization like ours builds the longevity and internal staff development to enable succession from inside the organization. Michael has built relationships and confidence with the staff, board, and key downtown stakeholders that will allow him to hit the ground running in this new role," Caggainello said. "The board thanks David for his leadership, navigating the organization and Downtown through the challenges of COVID and continually pushing our neighborhood towards global best practices."