Takis Karantonis, Executive Director of the Columbia Pike Revitalization Organization, is leaving the group at the end of this month.
Karantonis has held the post for the past five years. His accomplishments at CPRO included the establishment of summer movie nights, a wine and craft beer festival and the continuation of other popular events along the Pike.
Karantonis was an ardent supporter of the Columbia Pike streetcar project and was dealt a blow when the project was scuttled in 2014.
CPRO was established as a public/private partnership in 1986 to help revitalize the Columbia Pike corridor. In a press release, below, the CPRO Board says it is currently searching for a new executive director.
The CPRO Board would like our Pike Community to know, effective February 1, 2016, our Executive Director of the past 5 years, Takis Karantonis will be moving on to pursue other opportunities. On behalf of the people of the Pike, we want to thank Takis for his hard work, dedication and service to making the Columbia Pike corridor a better place to live and do business.
Takis has been a strong and important advocate for the Columbia Pike community. During his tenure he initiated the very popular summer movie nights at both Penrose Square and Arlington Mill Community Center.
Takis also oversaw all of CPRO’s annual events such as the Arlington Home Show & Garden Expo and Columbia Pike Blues Festival, as well as the inaugural Columbia Pike Fall Fest: Wine & Craft Beer.
He helped to organize and participated in many community meetings and business events throughout Arlington County Virginia. Under his leadership the Columbia Pike Farmers Market has continued to thrive, with the additional feature he initiated to help our neighbors us the SNAP program.
Takis has served with enthusiasm and dedication. We wish him well. A search has begun to find his replacement.