The Los Altos Village Association (LAVA) announced Dec. 7 that Nancy Dunaway has been hired as its new executive director, effective Jan. 3.

Dunaway brings a background in association management, event planning, marketing and sales, and is also active in the community. She volunteers at the Los Altos Arts & Wine Festival.

Dunaway said her goal with LAVA is to help “promote the vibrancy of our charming downtown village.”

A Sunnyvale resident, Dunaway worked with the downtown merchants group previously as an assistant to then-executive director Jane Reed in 1990-93.

“We’re very excited to have her,” said outgoing LAVA president Harry Price.

Dunaway has been working with the non-profit Peninsula Executives Association since 1994. She said “a few merchants” encouraged her to apply for the LAVA position. “It’s a unique place to shop,” she said. “I’m excited to be serving the merchants.”

The LAVA board selected Dunaway, who is replacing Ted Garrett, for her “great insight into our needs,” Price said. “Not only for her knowledge of the community, but her aspirational goals for improving and promoting (the association).”

In other news, the LAVA board elected Debra Schlueter, owner of Los Altos Card & Party, the new board president.