Beverly Main Streets Names New Executive Director

BEVERLY, MA — A longtime North Shore resident with a background in international nonprofits and communications is the new executive director of Beverly Main Streets.

Danielle Payant succeeds Erin Truex, who announced this fall that she would be leaving her position at the end of 2025.

• Beverly Main Streets Executive Director To Depart At End Of 2025

Payant told Patch she is focused on strengthening the downtown and building relationships to best support the city. She said her approach is "grounded in the belief that everyday connections are key to building strong and vibrant communities."

She recently spent more than a decade working in international nonprofit and humanitarian development.

Payant said she credits that experience with shaping her perspective on collaboration, cultural
understanding, and most importantly, listening to the communities being served.

Her experience includes working on-site with local agencies on a 24-ton airlift of emergency supplies into the Navajo Nation during the COVID-19 health crisis.

She describes herself as a lover of history and a strong advocate for women-led activities.

She has contributed to projects ranging from serving on the founding team of the Lucy Burns Museum in northern Virginia, to establishing a professional development program for young aviation professionals in eastern Africa, to initiating a mentorship program designed to advance women in male-dominated fields.

In 2024, she facilitated the launch of Uganda's first-ever Girls in Aviation Day, an event dedicated to inclusivity and empowerment, which is now successfully entering its third year.

She said she intends to bring that same commitment to inclusion, partnership, and local impact
to her role in Beverly, and is "looking forward to working hand in hand with residents, business owners, and partners to help the city reach new heights."

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)