The Silver Spring Penguin

The county’s chief of neighborhood revitalization is the new boss at Silver Spring’s regional center, at least for now, a press statement announced Friday.

Roylene Roberts, who works with the department of housing and community affairs, takes over the wheel from Gary Stith, who ran the show on Georgia and Wayne Avenues for eight years. Stith announced earlier this month that he was taking a gig as the new deputy director of planning and special projects with the department of general services.

As for Roberts, her last five years were spent coordinating revitalization work in a couple of hoods for the housing department. Before that, she was the director of regional assistance with the state housing department.

“I have been very fortunate to meet and work with many community members on a variety of Silver Spring initiatives, and I look forward to strengthening and furthering these working relationships,” Roberts said.

The Silver Spring regional center — one of five around the county — acts as a liaison between MoCo’s executive branch and people in the hood. It’ll be up to MoCo exec Ike Leggett to chose its permanent director, whom the county council must confirm.