New leader chosen for Miracle Mile after first hire lasted one week

STOCKTON — For the second time in a month, the Miracle Mile Improvement District has a new executive director.

Jaime Watts, former head of the now-disbanded Downtown Lodi Business Partnership, began her new job on the Miracle Mile on Monday, replacing Karin Moss, who barely lasted a week in February.

Matthew Grizzle, who chairs the MMID board, issued a written statement Friday in response to a phone message.

“We are excited to have Jaime now as part of our team,” Grizzle wrote. “We feel we are truly fortunate that we were able to make the lateral move to Jaime and sign our contract earlier this week. We look forward to having her expertise in leading our organization forward.”

Grizzle wrote of Moss, “The reason that we mutually severed the relationship was because we couldn’t come to (a) complete contract agreement.”

Moss wrote in an email Friday, “We just weren’t on the same page and couldn’t reach a contractual agreement.”

Grizzle said Watts was the runner-up for the job at the time the position was offered to Moss. Watts did not respond Friday to an interview request.

Denise Jefferson, who served as interim director before Moss’ blink-of-an-eye tenure, declined to speak about Moss’ departure.

Jefferson said of Watts, “She was very positive and she knows how to run a oneperson office. She knows how to run a small operation and how to work with merchants.

“She’s worn all the hats required for the job. It’s a tough job. I’m excited about her. She has a positive attitude and the right skill set.”

The recent series of events was preceded by last July’s firing of MMID Executive Director Mimi Nguyen. Her firing came after allegations arose that she had spent thousands of the MMID’s dollars on personal merchandise and travel.

Nguyen pleaded guilty to embezzlement charges in early January. She was ordered last month to pay $25,000 in restitution (in addition to a previous $40,000 payment) and was sentenced to 180 days in jail.