The Fort Lee Business District Alliance (BDA) has selected Natalie Chapé as its new Executive Director. This comes after Stuart Z. Koperweis announced he would be stepping down as Executive Director on December 31, 2021. Koperweis held his position since 2014 and will continue to work with the Fort Lee BDA during the transitional timeframe.
“We are thrilled to announce this appointment,” said Romina Starace, Fort Lee BDA President. “Over the past several months, Natalie Chapé has put together some of the best events in our district and we are all excited to see what she has in store for us in 2022. Natalie’s enthusiasm for Fort Lee is infectious and she is looking forward to working with all of the business owners in our district to help them in any way that she can to be successful.”
“I am excited to take on this new role as Executive Director,” Natalie Chapé said. “I am going to work extremely hard to first establish relationships with the businesses in the district by getting to know them and what kind of change they would like to see. My goal is to continue to build this charming, historical, multi-cultural district into a place that everyone from everywhere wants to BE a part of, one way or another.”
Chapé is no stranger to the mission of the Fort Lee BDA and improvement districts. She has been working alongside former Executive Director Stuart Z. Koperweis since 2018; and serves as the District Operations Manager for the Hoboken Business Alliance.
“I would like to express my sincerest gratitude to Stuart Koperweis for all his guidance throughout the years,” shared Chapé. “The Fort Lee BDA is where it is today because of his hard work and dedication.”
The Fort Lee BDA was created by ordinance in 2014 with the mission to revitalize and promote The Fort Lee Town Center. Its objective remains to create an environment where people will shop and live, and retailers to grow and thrive, by creating a vital community experience for all, visitors and residents alike. Chapé is enthusiastic about her new role. “The possibilities are endless here in Fort Lee. I want to keep pushing this narrative because it truly is a beautiful place to visit, live, and own a business.”Chapé is a native to Bergen County and currently lives in River Edge, New Jersey with her husband Mario, and their three children, Mario, Nathaniel, and Ariella.