MOSES LAKE — In a year filled with numerous firsts (and hopefully a few lasts), Lexi Smith added one more to her own slate: She stepped into a new role Monday as executive director of the Downtown Moses Lake Association.

Businesses across the state faced unprecedented struggles and challenges this year with COVID-19, and they still do.

As Smith steps into her new position, she is not blind to the challenges but, she said, she’s excited to meet them and help her hometown continue to grow and flourish.

“I’m really excited, I’m not really nervous,” Smith said. “I think it will take a little bit of extra hard work and a little bit more creativity to keep on pushing on and keep trying to do the things we want to do. And one day the world will be normal again.”

Smith takes over from Brandon Nicholas as DMLA’s executive director. Nicholas helped Smith get settled into the role during her first few days.

She returns to Moses Lake after spending a few years working in Boise, Idaho, where she graduated from Boise State University with a bachelor’s degree in communication and a certificate in leadership and human relations.

She said she pursued her degree with a desire to find a role working very closely with people and communities. Her belief in and desire to help her community goes back to her time working with the KDRM radio station in Moses Lake when she was in high school.

The positions she held while in Boise, for instance, as a communications and event assistant with the Snake River Valley Building Contractors Association, gave her good experience, she said, and she hopes her experience will translate to her role with the DMLA.

She also worked as an operations assistant with a National Public Radio station in Boise.

“That (station) grew and thrived off the people that believed in the station they were listening to,” Smith said. “I think that’s what a lot of this work is going to be too, is finding people that believe in their community, that believe in downtown and want to be a part of the DMLA.”

Andy Smith, Lexi’s father, owns A&R Mechanical Heating and Cooling in Moses Lake. Her mother, Roni Smith, works with Brookdale Hearthstone assisted-living facility in Moses Lake. Lexi said her parents have always been very involved in the community.

“My mom, I’m sure everyone knows who she is,” Smith said. “She’s always at all the Business After Hours, and she helps out pretty much in any way she can. I don’t think she really does it even to gain anything. She just really believes in her community and wants to give back as much as she can. My dad is the same way.”

Seeing how her family has grown and succeeded in Moses Lake played a big part in her return, Smith said. Getting to spend more time with her loved ones is nice, too, she added.

Even in the short time she has been back in Moses Lake, Smith said, she has noticed a lot of new businesses springing up. She said she’s excited to be part of the continued growth and change, even though she admits the shift from Boise will be an adjustment.

“It’s a bit of a different atmosphere, but I’m ready to jump right in,” Smith said. “I still love Moses Lake and always planned on coming back. I’m really excited to get started and see where it brings me.”

COVID-19 will be a top priority as she steps into her new role and gets acquainted with businesses. Smith said she knows the pandemic has brought a lot of struggles, and she’s eager to introduce herself and chat with business owners about ways she can help them continue to thrive.

Smith said her goal is to see more growth and community support in Moses Lake. There is already a lot of it, but, she added, you can’t really have too much. Smith said she’d love to be able to coordinate events that will bring people downtown and bring people into businesses.

She said Moses Lake has a great atmosphere and community spirit, with people wanting to help businesses succeed and grow. Smith called Moses Lake a “unique town” that has some events and things not found anywhere else.

Smith said she wants to preserve the traditions that made her excited to come back while adding to what makes her hometown such a special place.

“That’s what makes this town, this community, so special,” Smith said. “I want to keep all of those traditions and keep all the things and do all the things that people have come to know and love.”

Casey McCarthy can be reached via email at cmccarthy@columbiabasinherald.com.