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Matt Thompson, of Etna, enjoys a meatball hoagie from the Emporio Meatball Truck at Riverlife's Riverfront Refresh Pop-up Party held June 22 at the Riverfront Dog Park in the Strip District.
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Nonprofit organization Riverlife taps next chief executive

Michael M. Santiago/Post-Gazette

Nonprofit organization Riverlife taps next chief executive

Following a national search for its next chief executive, Riverlife, a nonprofit that has spearheaded reuse of Pittsburgh’s riverfronts, plucked a community development expert from Lawrenceville.

Matthew Galluzzo, 42, will become Riverlife’s president and chief executive effective Sept. 16.

He is currently executive director of Lawrenceville Corp., a neighborhood development organization he has led for almost nine years.

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He succeeds Vivien Li, who left Riverlife in April 2018 after a 2½-year stint. Since her departure, nonprofit turnaround specialist Pete Mendes has been overseeing the agency as interim president.

Vivien  Li  , former RiverLife President and CEO, on the North Shore of Pittsburgh Friday May 19,2017.
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Though Riverlife’s board fielded applications from across the country, “The process kept taking us back to Matt Galluzzo right here in Pittsburgh,” said Peg McCormick Barron, board chair.

“Matt’s remarkable accomplishments in one of the fastest growing riverfront neighborhoods in the city, combined with his knowledge, leadership and heart for community-driven development, made him easily stand out as the perfect fit for the next chapter of Riverlife.”

Riverlife, founded in 1999, has a mission to develop a 15-mile system of riverfront parks and trails in the city known as Three Rivers Park, and to spur investment in adjacent property.

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The organization estimates that 85% of its vision is complete and it has overseen $132 million in investment in Downtown riverfronts, including the Mon Wharf Landing park and switchback ramp that connects it to the Smithfield Street Bridge, and the $40 million restoration of Point State Park and its fountain.

Funding for its projects and operations come from government, private business, foundations and donations.

The nonprofit has five employees and is based in the Gulf Tower, Downtown.

According to its most recent federal tax filing for 2017, Riverlife’s net assets totaled about $2 million. 

Catherine Nichols, of Sewickley, left, high-fives Stetson Fenster, of Oakland, after successfully playing a game of corn hole at the Riverlife's Riverfront Refresh
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Uninterrupted trail access is a must, Strip District residents say. A nightclub might be nice, too.

“Regional expectations of the rivers as our shared amenity are changing and status quo won't be acceptable moving forward,” Mr. Galluzzo said in a statement.

“The riverfront needs to be dazzling, accessible to everyone, and replete with programming that cannot be found anywhere else in the region.”

Mr. Galluzzo, a native of Springfield, Ohio, earned a master’s in community organization and social administration from the University of Pittsburgh. He was arts district manager for the Penn Avenue Arts Initiative prior to joining Lawrenceville Corp. in 2010.

Ms. Li earned $228,720 as chief executive of Riverlife, according to its 2017 tax document plus “other compensation” of $14,827 from Riverlife and other organizations. 

Joyce Gannon: jgannon@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1580.

First Published: July 2, 2019, 3:59 p.m.
Updated: July 2, 2019, 4:21 p.m.

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Matt Thompson, of Etna, enjoys a meatball hoagie from the Emporio Meatball Truck at Riverlife's Riverfront Refresh Pop-up Party held June 22 at the Riverfront Dog Park in the Strip District.  (Michael M. Santiago/Post-Gazette)
Matthew Galluzzo was named the president and chief executive of Riverlife effective Sept. 16, 2019.  (Renee Rosensteel/Riverlife)
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