HAMMOND — The Hammond Downtown Development District Board of Directors has appointed Erin K. Moore as the organization's new executive director, effective Nov. 1.

Board members unanimously approved her appointment at its regular meeting on Oct. 23.

"We had a strong pool of candidates, and Erin stood out at every step of the process," said DDD Board Chairman John Exnicios of Exnicios Group of Berkshire Hathaway HS, Preferred Realtors. "She knows downtown Hammond, she lives here, and she has spent her career building the kind of partnerships between business owners, residents and government that a district like ours depends on.

"The board is excited to welcome her, and we are confident she will lead the DDD into its next chapter."

Moore brings more than two decades of experience in governmental affairs, communications and organizational leadership.

She currently serves as an Honors instructor in Southeastern Louisiana University's Communications and Media Studies program. She previously served as chief policy advisor and communications director for the Louisiana State Treasurer, as assistant commissioner of legislative and external affairs at the Louisiana Board of Regents, and for over a decade as Southeastern's executive director of public and governmental affairs. Earlier in her career, she was communications director for the St. Tammany West Chamber of Commerce and managing editor of The Daily News.

Moore has a long record of service in Hammond and across the state. She is a past chair of the Greater Hammond Chamber of Commerce, currently co-chairs the United Way Northshore Leadership Council and serves on the boards of the St. Tammany Children's Museum and Girl Scouts Louisiana East.

She is a graduate of the New Orleans Regional Leadership Institute and served previously on its foundation board. Her honors include the national Edwin Crawford Award for Innovation, the Greater Hammond Chamber's Chairman's Award and Frances Chauvin Volunteer of the Year Award, recognition as one of Inside Publications' Influential Women in Business, and a Woman of the Year honor from New Orleans CityBusiness.

"I have been in love with downtown Hammond since I first came to Southeastern in 2007, and it is an honor to serve the district I call home," said Moore. "I look forward to sitting down with our board members, merchants and residents, learning the landscape from every perspective, and working alongside a talented staff to drive the future of downtown Hammond."

She earned a bachelor's degree in mass communication from Louisiana State University, as well as a master's degree in organizational communication and doctorate in educational leadership from Southeastern Louisiana University.