The San Jose Downtown Association (SJDA)
The SJDA is a non-profit, membership-based organization founded in 1986 to represent business and property owners. We make downtown a better place for business, residents and visitors through events, advocacy, marketing and more.
Annual Membership Meeting,
Business Improvement District (BID) Members
and Property Business Improvement District (PBID) Members
Friday, December 13, 2019
8:00 a.m.
The annual event includes the Year-in-Review slide show, Golden Nail Awards presentation and farewell to term-limited board members, plus lots of coffee and muffins. Co-sponsored by Hammer Theatre Center and SJSU Alumni Association. Catering provided by SJSU Spartan Catering.
Please RSVP to sjdarsvp@sjdowntown.com.
Find previous meeting minutes here.
San Jose Downtown Association Board of Directors
Executive Committee Members
VP of Operations:
Katia McClain
Steinberg Hart
VP of Marketing:
Sam Ramirez
Continental Bar, Lounge & Patio
Treasurer:
Doug Bartl
Oracle
David Buchholz
Colliers International
Brian Corbett
Gensler
Chris Neale
The Core Companies
Jeanne Serpa
Republic Services
Elizabeth Truong
Lee’s Sandwiches Corp.
Geri Wong
Cornish & Carey Commercial Newmark Knight Frank
Board Members
Joshua Burroughs
Urban Catalyst
Ernst Calais
Adobe
Elizabeth Cirone
Hopkins & Carley
Gino De Bernardo
Downtown resident
Jarrod Jenkins
Facebook
Ed Lambert
Bridge Bank
Garrett Perez
Pinnacle Peak Advisors, LLC
Dan Pulcrano
Silcon Valley Metro Newspapers
Ryan Summers
Good Karma Artisan Ales & Cafe
Neda Tabatabaie
San Jose Sharks
Interested in joining the board? Email Bree von Faith at bvonfaith@sjdowntown.com
Committees
Want to get involved? Let us know which committee you're interested in joining. Email Corinna Dixon at cdixon@sjdowntown.com
Executive Committee
The President of the Board of Directors chairs this 11-member committee. The immediate past president is ex-officio member. This committee manages the activities and affairs of the association and exercises all powers granted to the Board by the Articles of Incorporation and the Bylaws. Makes policy, advocacy and program recommendations to
Chair: Michael Rewkiewicz
Next meeting: TBD
Advocacy Committee
Represents downtown business and property owner to government and elected officials. Develops recommendations on policies impacting downtown. Supports other committees including parking and BART. Sets SJDA’s positions on specific issues including housing, retail, crime, cleanlinss and shuttles. Meets as needed.
Chair: David Buchholz
Past meeting: The Advocacy Committee met Dec. 3. The committee discussed the mayor-council initiative, homeless advocacy, and transportation policy updates.
Next meeting: January 28, 9 a.m., Hoge Fenton, 60 S. Market St., 14th Floor
Downtown Community Development Corporation
The mission of this committee is to attract investment to downtown San Jose, facilitate real estate development and investment, support downtown San Jose businesses, contribute to the overall economic health of downtown, and respond to unforeseen development opportunities throughout the downtown core.
Contact: Henry Cord
Past meeting: The DCDC met on May 17 to discuss fundraising strategies for the Almaden Boulevard Median project. The board reviewed the updated design work and presentation for the median project and decided that staff should start meeting with potential donors.
Next meeting: TBD
Downtown Design Committee
Consists of architects, designers, and urbanists advocating for design excellence in the downtown core using. The committee honors outstanding projects with Golden Nail awards.
Chair: Brian Corbett
Past meeting: The committee met Oct. 24 and reviewed a proposal for a six-floor commercial building at Fountain Alley and South First Street by Urban Catalyst. The committee also discussed Golden Nail nominees.
Next meeting: TBD, 3 p.m., location TBD
Downtown Commercial Properties
Informational meetings for owners and managers of large downtown commercial properties. Meets on an ad hoc basis.
Contact: Chloe Shipp
Past Meeting: The committee met Oct. 16 to receive learn more about SJPD Captain Santos on public safety in downtown San Jose.
Next meeting: January 15, 2 p.m., 488 S. Almaden Blvd.
Downtown Parking Board
This public-private entity discusses downtown parking issues and budgets.
Chair: Henry Cord
Past meeting: The Downtown Parking Board met Nov. 6. While a quorum was not present, those in attendance discussed the Woz/87 Caltrans lease and conceptual updates to the master parking rate schedule. There are two At-Large representative vacancies on the Downtown Parking Board.
Next meeting: March 4, 10 a.m., City Hall, 13th Floor, Room 1352
Finance Committee
Reviews and approves the SJDA budget.
Chair: Doug Bartl
Past meeting: The Finance Committee met Sept. 26 to accept final financial statements for FY 18-19 SJDA and PBID annual review by outside CPA firm and discussed BID revenue collection issues.
Next meeting: February 6, 9:30 a.m., SJDA, 28 N. First St., Suite 1000
Food and Entertainment Committee
Food, nightlife and entertainment-related businesses meet to discuss industry- and downtown-specific topics, such as safety, permitting, business attraction and marketing and promotions.
Chair: Sam Ramirez
Past Meeting: The committee met Aug. 21 for a presentation from the Santa Clara County Office of LGBTQ Affairs geared specifically to nightlife workers.
Next meeting: TBD
Historic District
Deals with concerns regarding events, construction, safety and marketing of this downtown neighborhood.
Contact: Tierney Yates
Past meeting: Committee priorities include activating public and vacant spaces, branding/marketing, BART construction, general safety and touring San Jose staples/landmarks.
Next meeting: TBD
Marketing
Provides oversight and makes recommendations on SJDA’s long-term and short-term goals involving branding, marketing efforts, and promotions. Ensures that a consistent, positive message is being delivered to the public about Downtown San Jose and SJDA. Meets as needed.
Contact: Bree von Faith
Past Meeting: This team met on Aug. 20 and discussed the branding efforts for downtown and key districts including the downtown week promotion planned for September and discussing the downtown perception survey.
Next Meeting: January 14, 8:30 a.m., SJDA, 28 N. First St., Suite 1000
PBID Board of Directors
The directors oversee management and finances of the property-based improvement district. It’s meeting notices, minutes and agendas are on the PBID pages of this website.
President: Doug Bartl
Past Meeting: Met to discuss Santa Clara Street Corridor and budget updates. PBID staff provided updates on the Groundwerx program, street life and business development updates.
Next Meeting: January 21, 2020, 8:30 a.m., San Jose Downtown Association, 28 N. First St., Suite 1000
San Jose Downtown Foundation
The foundation hosts, organizes and fundraises for Downtown Doors and other art projects downtown. Visit the Foundation page on this website to learn more.
Contact: Bree von Faith
Past Meeting: Foundation trustees met Nov. 21 and discussed plans for program expansion and ways to continue to evolve the Downtown Doors program.
Next Meeting: January 16, Noon, SJDA, 28 N. First St., Suite 1000
San Pedro Square Committee
This committee works on marketing, events, safety and other issues in the San Pedro Square neighborhood.
Past meeting: The committee met Nov. 13. The committee discussed issues they are all having with street vendors, food trucks and late-night patrons. Members were given updates about opportunities at Downtown Ice and brainstormed ideas for marketing the neighborhood.
Next meeting: TBD
SoFA Leadership Team
This committee deals with neighborhood issues, markets events and more.
Chair: Anjee Helstrup-Alvarez
Past meeting: The SoFA Leadership Team met Aug. 28 and discussed key topics for the district including a discussion with PATH on homelessness and results from the downtown perception survey related to branding.
Next meeting: TBD
SoFAC (South First Area Committee)
This committee deals with neighborhood issues, markets events and more.
Chair: Alan ‘Gumby’ Marques
Past meeting: SoFAC met Dec. 4. The meeting included updates on development, events and cross marketing efforts in the SoFA district. The general SoFA Committee Meetings now occur every other month.
Next meeting: February 26, 1 p.m., Forager Tasting Room & Eatery, 420 S. First St.
St. James Park Advisory Committee
This committee deals with issues related to the park and activities in it. It also working with others on redesigning the park.
Contact: Chloe Shipp
Past meeting: The Advisory Committee met Nov. 22 to discuss progress on capital/design, safety, feeding, maintenance and activation. The governance subcommittee is reconvening.
Next meeting: December 20, 9 a.m., City Hall, Room T955
Staff
Executive Director
Scott Knies
Email: sknies@sjdowntown.com
Office Manager
Corinna M. Dixon
Email: cdixon@sjdowntown.com
Accounting Manager
Dori Gao
Email: dgao@sjdowntown.com
Director of Policy and Operations
Michelle Azevedo
Email: mazevedo@sjdowntown.com
PBID Operations Manager
Chloe Shipp
Email: cshipp@sjdowntown.com
Street Life Manager
Marie Millares
Email: mmillares@sjdowntown.com
Business Development Manager
Nate LeBlanc
Email: nleblanc@sjdowntown.com
PBID Project Coordinator
Dennis Yu
Email: dyu@sjdowntown.com
Director of Marcom and Events
Bree von Faith
Email: bvonfaith@sjdowntown.com
Communications Director
Rick Jensen
Email: rjensen@sjdowntown.com
Marketing Director
Julie Carlson
Email: jcarlson@sjdowntown.com
Partnership Manager
Tierney Yates
Email: tyates@sjdowntown.com
Events & Promotions Manager
Caitlin Hartley
Email: chartley@sjdowntown.com
Web Lead
Archana Dalgleish
Email: adalgleish@sjdowntown.com
FAQ
San Jose Downtown Association Financials
SJDA receives financial support from private sponsors and contributing members, the Business Improvement District, Knight Foundation and the City of San Jose.