The West Seattle Junction Association's board of directors said Friday it had hired Angela Rae as its new executive director, replacing Kay Knapton who left earlier in the summer.

Michael Hoffman, president of the association, said Rae has "an extensive background of experience and an enthusiastic attitude that will help us shape the West Seattle Junction into the thriving business district we desire to be."

"Her knowledge and talents in nonprofit administration, marketing, planning, copy writing, transportation, and grant writing/administration will be a great asset to our community, said Hoffman, owner of Liberty Bell Printing.

Rae will start her new job on Monday, Aug. 29.

Rae served as executive director for the Washington State Recycling Association since 2002, after coming back to her hometown of Seattle from San Francisco with her husband, David.

At Washington State Recycling Association, Rae worked in a variety of sectors to improve recycling and waste reduction including organizing annual statewide conventions and trade shows.

Before returning to Seattle, she worked for six years as the executive director of the Peninsula Community Services Alliance, an association of cities, where she developed economic development and transportation programs serving 350,000 residents and 500 employers to address clean air regulations, exploding growth and traffic congestion. Rae received a bachelor's degree in sociology from San Jose State University and a master's degree in nonprofit business administration from the University of San Francisco.