Janice Morris, Senior Vice President and Senior Client Manager for Commercial Real Estate Banking with Bank of America Merrill Lynch, has been installed as the 2013 chair of the Bellevue Downtown Association (BDA) Board of Directors.

“It’s an exciting time for Downtown Bellevue,” said Morris, noting its growth and success as a vibrant urban center. “We are on the cusp of another boom in development activity. It’s important that we support this planned growth while ensuring downtown remains safe, beautiful and accessible. The BDA will continue to deliver the vision, leadership and tools to keep it thriving as a great place to live, work and play.”

Morris, a Bellevue resident, has been an active leader in the Puget Sound financial service and real estate industry for more than 30 years. She has also served the community through her work on several other boards, including Childhaven and the Northwest Chapter of the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP).

Bellevue’s 410-acre downtown has added more than 7,000 residents and 12,000 jobs in the past 10 years. It’s one of the West Coast’s premier shopping, cultural and entertainment destination with more than five million square feet of stores and attractions, 170 restaurants, 2,000 hotel rooms and a major regional convention center.

Established in 1974 the Bellevue Downtown Association is a nonprofit membership organization charged with leading the continuing evolution of downtown as the economic and cultural heart of the Eastside. Bank of America Merrill Lynch has been a longtime member and supporter of the association.