Cornerstone Alliance has announced the appointment of Marla Schneider as its new president and chief executive officer.

Schneider takes over for Rob Cleveland, who left this year. Schneider is currently the president of Greater Muskegon Economic Development. She tells us she’s originally from Fort Wayne, Indiana and she’s spent a fair amount of time in Southwest Michigan vacationing, so she knows the area.

Heading to Cornerstone, Schneider says she’ll focus on a few major priorities.

“I think there’s a huge opportunity with population growth,” Schneider said. “There’s been a population decline in Berrien County since the 70s, which is different than what we’re seeing in the surrounding counties and regions, and especially if you look up along the lakeshore.”

Schneider says growing the population and expanding access to housing will go hand in hand with business attraction and expansion.

“Some of those things are fight readiness, community development projects, all of those things that play a part in the business expansion attraction and quality of place.”

Schneider says she’s found success in Muskegon engaging the Muskegon Heights community and bringing it new development. She sees parallels in Benton Harbor.

Schneider was attracted to the Cornerstone Alliance position because she says it’s a high-profile organization in an area she already admired. She’ll start at Cornerstone Alliance on January 6 and plans to get out and about right away to introduce herself to the community.