NORTHAMPTON — Experienced business owner and economic development professional Andrea Monson has been named the new executive director of the Downtown Northampton Association.

Though she has only held the position for about two weeks, Monson has already hit the ground running, forging connections and stepping readily into the role vacated by former DNA leader Jillian Duclos.

Monson brings expertise in market research and branding strategy, having worked with major companies such as CVS and Aetna. But she also knows personally what goes into creating a healthy small business community, and has found inspiration in the close-knit tapestry of businesses and individuals that make downtown Northampton so vibrant and welcoming.

“I really want to build a strong community,” said Monson. “If I could do one thing, it would be that.”

Monson worked at MassDevelopment doing just that, both as a creative officer and as a Transformative Development Initiative (TDI) fellow, responsible for leading economic revitalization efforts in Chicopee for three years. When she saw an opportunity to do similar work in Northampton, a city that lives close to her heart, she said applying for the position was a “no-brainer.”

As co-owner of the craft coffee roasting business Monsoon Roastery in Springfield, as well as founder of the collaborative food manufacturing and culinary incubator The Urban Food Brood, Monson emphasized that relationships have been the backbone of her successful entrepreneurial endeavors. Not only between herself and other local business owners, but between her businesses and the city — something she hopes to foster in her new Northampton role.

One potential project Monson is looking to spearhead from her post at the DNA is a “pipeline” for new Northampton businesses. Through this framework, she said, open lines of communication could be ensured so that businesses, property owners, and the city would be “informed of what’s feasible” before a lease is signed. She views this as an opportunity to prevent miscommunication and spark those vital relationships.

“The business owners are my people,” she said. “I see myself as someone who is really looking out for them.”

Similarly, when uncertainty arises surrounding major projects like the city’s Main Street redesign, Monson said her goal is to ensure that businesses “not only survive but they thrive.”

Monson also looks forward to building up Northampton traditions like Arts Night Out to better benefit businesses and become even more beloved community staples that bring people together in the city’s historic downtown.

For example, she expressed her excitement about the city’s upcoming Back Porch Festival, set to take place from March 7-9 with 60 bands across 10 downtown venues. Monson reminisced on the “cozy” yet lively feel the event has brought to the downtown area in past years, bringing community members into downtown businesses to gather over refreshments and music. It’s exactly the kind of intersection of arts, business and community engagement she hopes to encourage more of.

So far, Monson has had a relatively easy time getting comfortable with her new work, which she said has been quite similar to her work as a TDI fellow. This, she said, has been a welcome discovery, because this kind of work is something she “would do for free.”

While she already has some goals in mind, Monson is still in the early days of her new role, and said that her main priority at the moment is building partnerships within the DNA and the community.

Alexa Lewis can be reached at alewis@gazettenet.com.