URBANA — Cynthia Johnson has been hired as executive director of the Urbana Business Association.

Johnson, who has lived in Urbana for 20 years, was most recently membership and advertising services manager for the Champaign County Chamber of Commerce.

She succeeds Adam Yeazel, who was executive director of the Urbana Business Association from October 2010 until July of this year. He pleaded guilty in September to driving under the influence.

Since then, the association has operated without a director. Katie Hansen has been the full-time director of events and marketing, with Cody Stunkard assisting her.

Johnson, whose first day on the job was Monday, said her goals are to enhance association events and festivals, explore opportunities for new events, increase community involvement and expand membership and its benefits.

The association has about 150 members, predominantly businesses in Urbana, but also some from Champaign and the surrounding area.

"In the immediate future, I'd like to hear from as many businesses as possible to get an idea of what they want," she said.

Johnson said she hopes to schedule a general membership meeting in early December to introduce herself and hear members' comments. She also plans to contact some businesses directly.

The association is probably best known for its coordination of the Urbana Sweetcorn Festival and the Cherry Jam concert series in downtown Urbana. Right now, Johnson said she's focusing on the Holiday Market, held Saturdays through Dec. 17, inside Lincoln Square.

Johnson said she worked at the Champaign County Chamber of Commerce for "just over a year." Before that, she worked 15 years in health insurance — the first nine years at PersonalCare Insurance and the other six years for Cannon Cochran Management Services Inc. and Sage Technologies.

At PersonalCare, she was national account executive in the marketing department, working with state and federal government accounts among others.

At Cannon Cochran and Sage, she was senior account representative, working with business and local government accounts in Illinois and several surrounding states.

Johnson and her husband, Mike, have two children, Kendall, a student at the University of Illinois, and Lexi, a senior at Urbana High School.

Johnson said Becky Weber, the business association's board chairwoman, encouraged her to apply for the opening.

Other association officers include: Wade Franklin of Lincoln Square, vice chairman; Jennifer Sutton of Busey Bank, treasurer; and Tom Carrino, Urbana's economic development manager, secretary.

The association's office is at 111 W. Main St., U. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Its website is http://www.urbanabusiness.com.