HUNTSVILLE, AL – Downtown Huntsville, Inc., has identified the replacement for former President and CEO Chad Emerson.

Rob Buddo succeeds Chad Emerson, who resigned after nine successful years at DHI to take over as Managing Director of Business Operations for Huntsville’s NEXT professional soccer team.

After what the DHI board and an executive committee called an extensive search they approved Buddo, a North Carolina native who graduated from the University of Alabama.

“I am honored to usher Downtown Huntsville, Inc., into its next era of growth and collaboration,’’ Buddo said in a press release. “The city’s collective commitment to purposeful and sustained growth is just one of the many qualities that make Huntsville unique and this opportunity so exciting. I’m grateful for the strong foundation laid before me and look forward to leading this organization through many transformative years as Huntsville continues its rapid momentum.’’

Buddo has a bachelor’s degree in Geography with an emphasis in Urban and Regional Planning. He started his career as Catalytic Development Manager for Main Street Birmingham, the predecessor organization to REV Birmingham.

While working for Main Street, he focused on the redevelopment and management of properties in the city’s historic Woodlawn neighborhood. These projects included the redevelopment of seven vacant retail spaces, a 12,000 square foot mixed-use development, and assemblage of parcels for an awarded low-income housing tax credit project.

In the past decade, Buddo has also worked in commercial real estate-related roles for CoStar Group, Inc. in the Washington, D.C. and Houston, Texas, markets.

After returning to REV Birmingham in 2019, Buddo focused on the management of downtown Birmingham, specifically managing the Central City Business Improvement District. He oversaw the city’s CAP program (Clean and Safe service provider), the refresh of Birmingham’s 20th Street North, the Upswing placemaking project focused on recruiting retailers to downtown, and multiple programs designed to help businesses through the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are excited to have Rob join our organization,’’ said Tyce Hudson, DHI Chairman of the Board. “We have built a strong foundation for Rob to build on top of as he takes Downtown Huntsville, Inc., to the next level. Everyone has witnessed the positive synergy that DHI has helped create over the last nine years and our members and the community can expect even more excitement to come downtown. With several significant projects in the pipeline and on the horizon, the future of downtown Huntsville is brighter than ever.”