Karen says there ’ s now a demand for more than shops on the high street - including culture , shows , food and drink .
safety and security , the list goes on ...” she says cheerfully .
But Teesside-born Karen , who commutes from south of Middlesbrough to Sunderland , has plenty of experience in handling the demanding role .
She had previously overseen the running of Castlegate Shopping Centre and Wellington Square Shopping Centre , in Stockton-on-Tees and Captain Cook Square in Middlesbrough , along with two multi-storey car parks and a business centre , before taking up the Bridges job .
During her time in Stockton , she was a director with Stockton BID and acted as an ambassador to drive business in the Tees Valley . She has swiftly replicated that role on Wearside .
“ I ’ m now a director of Sunderland BID ( Business Improvement District ) and Sunderland Business Partnership , where we look to bring various projects to the city and actively work to make them happen ,” she reveals . “ We ’ re working to create vibrancy in Sunderland , promoting it as a great place to live , work , study , do business and socialise – and it ’ s certainly great for all of those things ”
Though Teesside might be her birthplace , Karen has developed a real affinity with Sunderland and although she was not born and bred in the area , she sometimes sees that as benefiting her work on Wearside .
“ I bring an energy and a passion for the work ,” she says . “ And because I ’ m relatively new to the area , I see things through fresh eyes that aren ’ t jaded by previous false starts or problems .
“ I ’ m seeing all these great developments going on and I ’ m seeing it as amazing .
“ So we are trying to turn the disillusionment around because Sunderland needs to cast its shackles off - it ’ s a great place to work and socialise ; a
Key role - Karen sits on the boards of Sunderland BID and Sunderland Business Partnership .
city on the up . “ There are so many exciting things happening wherever you look - the train station work is going to be genuinely transformative for the city and don ’ t even get me started on the ‘ smart bridge ’, which is just going to be brilliant !”
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