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(619) 294-2501 [email protected]

North Park Main Street Board of Directors

 

Membership annually elects the Board of Directors of this organization. BID members and SED members shall participate in the election process.

A term of office shall run from election to two (2) years thereafter. Any General and Associate Member in good standing as of the preceding June 30th is an eligible candidate for election.

Meeting Time: The Board of Directors meets on the second Thursday of every month at 9:00 AM 

 

 

Board Roster

William Lopez, Board President

Business Owner: Alternative Strategies

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BIO
After starting a PR + Marketing career in his hometown of Chicago, William moved to San Diego, and in 2000, founded Alternative Strategies. For over 20 years, he has acted as Principal of Alternative Strategies, and his marketing and communications firm has expanded to become one of San Diego’s leading agencies of its kind. Alternative Strategies now represents over 50 top restaurants, bars and hospitality groups throughout Southern California, along with a host of successful businesses in other industries which include retail, commercial real estate and business complexes. William’s professional dreams have been realized with the many awards he and his team have received, the increased growth of his client list, and the legacy of success his clients have enjoyed throughout the years.

William holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Marketing and a master’s and a doctorate in Education from Northwestern University-Chicago. He gained significant marketing and PR expertise during his tenure at such noted companies as Nordstrom’s, Enterprise Car Rental, Thrifty Car Rental, Nine West, and Planet Hollywood. Working with these companies gave William an inside look at everything from franchise-based organizations to national corporations, equipping him to know how to help businesses of every size succeed.

 

Patrick Garbani, Vice President

Business Owner: Home + Hound

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BIO

I am a strong advocate for the neighborhood which I love. My wife and I own Home + Hound in North Park. I earned my Bachelor’s in Business Administration, majoring in Finance, and my Master’s of Accounting. I hold an active CPA license with over 15 years in finance, accounting, and banking. In addition, I am a Senior Manager of Accounting at Qualcomm. Previous experience includes positions at Tyler Technologies, a software company developing software for state and local governments, and a big four accounting firm, KPMG, which included audit work for the city of Detroit, Michigan.

Han Tran, Secretary

Business Owner: Shank & Bone

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BIO

Han Tran has been a board member of North Park Main Street since 2020, currently serving as Secretary. She has lived in San Diego for over 40 years since immigrating here with her family from Vietnam in 1980. Han graduated from UCSD with a degree in Communication, but her roots are cemented in small business, which she believes is the core of every thriving community. Han and her husband have been small business owners since 2003, previously operating the now-shuttered Ebisu Sushi in Hillcrest for 17 years. They now continue to own and operate Shank & Bone, a modern Vietnamese restaurant, here in North Park. Han and her family have enjoyed witnessing the growth and evolution of North Park over the years, and especially the sense of community here.

Stefan Katsampes, Treasurer

Business Representative: US Bank

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BIO

Stefan is a Business Relationship Manager at US Bank. He supports the banking needs of many of the local businesses here in North Park and is actively involved in the community. Stefan and his wife Kelsey moved to San Diego from Denver, CO in 2022, to be closer to family. Shortly after moving to San Diego, Stefan’s family doubled in size with the birth of twin boys. He is loving the Southern California winters and enjoys golfing, hiking, and relaxing at home with the family.

Joseph Balestrieri

Property Owner Representative: The Office Bar

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BIO

Joseph Balestrieri has been the operating partner at The Office Bar since 2008 & served the Boards of directors in North Park for over 10 years. At North Park Main Street, he was Board President, Treasurer, & now VP. During that tenure, he’s helped plan various large-scale fundraising events such as the North Park Toyland Parade, Taste of North Park, North Park Festival of the Arts, and World Cup 2014 & 2018 outdoor viewing parties. For the North Park Community Association, he’s fundraised for & planned the BirdPark SummerConcerts, Community Forums & neighborhood cleanups. For the new North Park Business & Neighborhood Foundation, he’s programming activation for the new North Park Mini-Park for 2022.

Guthrie Cook

Community Member: Cetera Investors

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BIO

Jenna Hanson

Business Owner: Revival Vintage Eyewear

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BIO

Jenna was raised in Tehachapi, California, a small mountain town in the southernmost tip of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. After graduating high school, she went on to get her undergraduate degree in Spanish and business management from SDSU. While at SDSU, she studied in Spain and sharpened her language skills. She then taught English in Quito, Ecuador, and decided to go back to get her master’s from Colorado State. She graduated with two master’s: One in Spanish language and culture and the other in teaching English as a second language. She worked for SDSU teaching English to international students for three years and then left to get her bilingual teaching credential to teach high-school Spanish. She worked in the Sweetwater Union High School District for three years. In March 2020, the district made an announcement that they would be letting go of over 200 teachers. Jenna was one of them. She had been teaching for over 13 years at that point and did not know what she was going to do. She got another job at SDSU teaching Spanish, but she just wanted something new. She had always wanted to be an entrepreneur. She had come up with countless business ideas, but they never came to fruition. Serendipitously, one day, she was looking at Instagram and saw a friend of hers with whom she worked at SDSU. He had put a pair of glasses on his new Instagram page. He was starting to sell unworn, vintage eyewear (manufactured between 1960 and 2000, but never sold). She was intrigued. She messaged him and asked if he needed any help with his new endeavor. He did, and Jenna fell in love with the glasses–their quality, colors, shapes, and styles were unlike anything she had ever seen. She and Jon decided to go into business together and open Revival Vintage Eyewear located on north park’s historic arts and culture street, RayStreet. She put all of the skills she acquired as a teacher, banker, server, and customer service rep and opened San Diego’s only vintage eyewear store. She is now an optician and can fill any frame! She currently lives in North Park with her adorable dog, Goldie. She travels any chance she gets, hikes, and loves to explore all the new restaurants and bars in the amazing North Park community.

Lialie Ibrahim

Business Owner: Falafel Heights

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BIO

Nate Benedetto

Business Owner: Next Wave Commercial

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BIO

Nate Benedetto began his brokerage career in 2005 and founded Next Wave Commercial in 2016. With over 500 lease and sale transactions completed, Nate has built strong relationships with retailers and restaurateurs throughout downtown, uptown, and coastal communities. His extensive experience in representing tenants, landlords, buyers, and sellers, combined with his trend analysis and deep knowledge of urban and coastal neighborhoods, allows him to stay ahead of the competition and deliver exceptional results for his clients.

Nate’s expertise has led him to broker deals recognized as “Restaurant of the Year” for San Diego County in 2014, 2016, 2017, 2020, and 2022. While he lives by the mantra “never not working,” Nate treasures spending time on the beach and in the mountains with his wife and two kids.

 

Jim Sakrison

Business Owner: Plan Prepare Home

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BIO

Jim Sakrison has lived and worked in North Park for 20 years. He received his BA at the University of Colorado in Boulder and headed west to San Diego shortly thereafter. Jim has been in real estate finance since 2002 and is a partner at Plan Prepare Home, an affiliate of C2 Financial where he is a broker associate. He is active in the community and enjoys volunteering for bicycle advocacy and promoting the arts, and is one of the organizers of the North Park Music Fest.

Jake Nunes

Business Representative: Modern Times Beer + Coffee

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BIO

Jake Nunes is a native San Diegan, and has been a North Park property owner, and North Park business operator for years.  Jake has been employed in the food and beverage industry for 30 years.

He has specifically worked in the craft beer industry in San Diego since 2003 with a list of employers including Karl Strauss, Ballast Point, Stone Brewing, Tiger! Tiger!, North Park Beer Co, Societe Brewing, and Burgeon Beer Company. Today, Jake is the Director of Hospitality for Modern Times Beer. Jake was awarded the title of Certified Cicerone in 2011. He has served on the Advisory Board for the San Diego State University’s Business of Craft Beer Certificate Program since the program’s inception in 2013 and has been an instructor for Exploring Craft Beer, Beer Styles I and II courses. Jake is also the 2024 President of the San Diego Brewers Guild which supports local beer companies’ production, distribution, and sales of craft beer.

Steven Billings

Property & Business Owner Owner: CKS Acquisition LLC, U31, and Orginal 40

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BIO

Steve Billings is a native of San Diego and has lived in North Park for 15 years. He is blessed to consider himself a business and property owner in North Park. He and his wife, and his daughter frequently visit the many restaurants, shops, and small businesses throughout North Park. It gives them great pleasure to enjoy and support the neighborhood they call home. Steve and Patricia are co-owners of Original 40 Brewing and U31 Bar. Steve is also involved with investment properties located in the heart of North Park.

Landa Willmar

Property & Business Owner: Ignite Growth Solutions

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BIO

Landa Willmar, a passionate advocate for community development, made the move to San Diego two years ago and immediately fell in love with its vibrant atmosphere. Settling in North Park, she now calls it home and operates her consulting agency, Ignite Growth Solutions (IGS). IGS provides growth strategy services, particularly in Real Estate Development and Construction or startups. With a focus on elevating businesses to new heights, Landa and her team at IGS are dedicated to empowering organizations to thrive in San Diego and beyond. Dedicated to making a positive impact, Landa volunteers with various non-profits, focusing on causes that resonate with her. She is committed to supporting social impact clients, utilizing her expertise to drive meaningful change within communities.

In her free time, you can often find Landa walking her new rescue dog, Cocoa Bean, or enjoying the sunshine while playing volleyball at Bird Park.

Matt Nault 

Community Member: Renew San Diego

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BIO

Matt Nault is a San Diego native and first joined the North Park community in the 1990s. He lives in North Park with his wife, Florence, who teaches in a local public elementary school; along with their three boys: Benjamin, Levi, and Joshua. Matt is the founding pastor of Renew Church: a vibrant, diverse faith community in the heart of our neighborhood that strives to serve all our neighbors. He earned degrees in Mass Media Communication and Theology from the University of San Diego as well as a Master’s Degree in Divinity from Fuller Theological Seminary. He is passionately committed to helping our neighborhood thrive in every dimension and has experience serving on boards relating to development for disadvantaged people and education. He’s experienced in business leadership and has been coaching Fortune 500 business executives around the country since 2008. Matt is an avid open-ocean swimmer, bicycling enthusiast, and self-proclaimed food and beverage connoisseur.