He began his new duty as manager at the Preferred Outlets at Warrenton on Dec. 1. He has spent his first week on the job learning the area and finding ways to bring more exposure to the mall, mostly exploring a number of options for new and existing clients and shoppers. "The plans are to do significant changes at this project," Quartuccio said. "I will be close to home. It fits right in with my goals." He has worked for 28 years in various marketing and leasing positions at a number of shopping centers in the nation. He previously worked in California for a year, serving as general manager at the County Fair Fashion Mall in Woodland. Quartuccio said the outlet mall, owned by Ariel Preferred Retail Group, a subsidiary of Prescott Capital Management, LLC, since 2006, will transition to a "mixed-use" center in the future in an effort to add more tenants and make the mall more viable for retailers. Business at the outlet mall has been steadily declining over the past year, some of which can be attributed to the unstable economy, but also a revolving door with tenants closing their doors. Quartuccio said the mall currently has 27 tenants and the car count is down 10 percent compared to this time last year. He pointed out his main priorities will be attracting new tenants, generate more foot traffic and host more events at the mall that include the community. "Obviously we are really hurting and we need to do something different," Quartuccio said. "We can draw people in on a more consistent basis throughout the week and give these retailers more exposure." He also hopes a highway exit ramp from Interstate 70 can be constructed near the outlet mall to allow more easier access and revamped billboards on the highway corridor could pull in more cars traveling through the area. Crider Health Center already has made plans to construct a building west of where the Dress Barn and IMO's Pizza is located. Other possibilities are using open space for college classrooms and attracting community-minded businesses looking to expand. "You just have to get out there and knock on doors," Quartuccio explained. "You try to find people that are leaders in the community and have energy. You will see something different occur here. I will try to contact anybody that would be a good candidate for this region." A St. Louis native, Quartuccio, 51, is returning to be near his family after 28 years away. He graduated in 1980 from Columbia College. Before his one-year stint in California, he worked in Michigan from 2005 to 2007. Quartuccio also has lived in Salt Lake City for six years and spent four years in Seattle and seven in Sacramento. His wife and daughter, a senior in high school, currently live in Michigan. His wife will relocate to the area once their daughter graduates and enters college.