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Your CCAC Representatives
Andrew Smith, Core/Columbia Residential Tenant
Andy moved Downtown because he felt it was the perfect balance between a vibrant city lifestyle and San Diego’s convenient livability. Within 20 short blocks all his needs are met.
After graduating from the University of Delaware in Criminal Justice and Political Science, he worked in juvenile corrections and special education before becoming the manager of an auto insurance claims unit.
Andy feels serving as a CCAC representative is a great opportunity to learn how our city planning process operates which will give him the chance to effect positive change.
Andy can be reached by email at amsmith8345@hotmail.com.
Connie Marie Ellis, East Village Residential Tenant
Connie is new to our community, but not new to politics. She moved to San Diego eight months ago from a small community outside Napa where she devoted the last six years to serving her community.
Along with her passion to serve the Sierra Club, Obama’s election, and the homeless ministry, she sells real estate; and is excited to find that of the many “Downtowns” she’s lived in San Diego seems to have a closeness that allows people to get to know each other easily.
While serving CCAC, Connie hopes to bring the issues of the homeless, parking shortages, a greener city, and sustainable economy to the forefront.
Connie can be reached by email at connieellisc21@yahoo.com.
Bill Keller, Gaslamp Business Owner
After studying Chinese history at UCSD, Bill (and his wife) opened a one-stop store for travelers. In a leap of faith, they moved Le Travel Store Downtown in 1985.
Bill served on the board of the Gaslamp Quarter Association for eight years, including one year as chairman, on the City Manager’s Citywide Parking, and currently serves on the Downtown Parking Management Group and the Clean and Safe Advisory Board.
Bill hopes San Diego will grow to become a truly world-class city like Barcelona. He can be reached by email at bill@letravelstore.com.
Laura Garrett, Little Italy Residential Owner Occupant
Laura moved to the Little
Italy neighborhood 5 years ago and now wants
to contribute to the growth of Downtown and the
pursuit of a high quality of life for its residents
through her participation in CCAC.
With a degree in economics and public policy, she previously served on a non-profit
board and worked with both an urban development organization and the public
housing authority in her former hometown of Cleveland.
Laura can be reached by email at laura_garrett@yahoo.com.
Bill Sauls, East Village Residential Owner Occupant
Bill lives in East Village at M2i with his wife
Stacy and two children. As the owner of his own
law firm in Downtown, Bill practices in the areas
of business law and estate planning.
He serves on the Downtown San
Diego Partnership Board of Directors,
Clean & Safe
Property Based Improvement District (PBID) Advisory Committee, and the board
of the East Village Association.
Bill can be reached by email at saulslaw@sbcglobal.net.
Mark Hoekstra, Core/Columbia Business Owner
Following in the footsteps
of his late grandfather, Ernest W. Hahn, Mark
Hoekstra had dedicated his
professional life to quality real estate services
including corporate and commercial property
management, leasing, acquisition, disposition,
and development.
Mark is a native of San Diego, graduating from
Mira Mesa High School and University of San
Diego.
He formed Heritage Real Estate Advisors Inc.
in 2005. Serving on CCAC is a great way for Mark
to be involved
in the community.
Mark
can be reached by email at mhoekstra@heritagerea.com.
Judith Meeks, Core/Columbia Business Owner
In addition to Judith representing the business owners
of the Core/Columbia District, she also brings
to CCAC the perspective of a resident. She lives
in East Village.
Judith’s decision to serve the community comes
out of her desire, experience, and knowledge from
working
for
two different governmental systems. She worked as
a field Representative for the 77th District California
State Assembly office, and is currently employed as an Administrative Assistant for a local business.
She desires to have a positive input and make a difference
through leadership by creating a bridge for all cultures.
Judith can be reached by email at jmeeks@sycuan.com.
Lou Segreti, Marina Residential Owner Occupant
Lou Segreti wanted to serve
the community in order to improve the quality of
life for residents in the Marina District and Downtown.
With an undergraduate degree in Psychology and his experience of working on
several political campaigns, Lou enrolled in the University of Michigan Law
School.
Graduating with cum laude honors and as Associate Editor of the Michigan Law
Review, he moved to San Diego and joined Ross, Dixon & Bell, LLP, practicing
in commercial litigation and antitrust law.
Lou can be reached by
email at lsegreti@rdblaw.com.
Jennifer Shira, Cortez Residential Tenant
Spending most of her life in
San Diego, with the exception of a brief stint
in Boulder, Colorado for college, Jen has come
to appreciate everything San Diego has to offer
its residents.
Although Jen has only recently moved to Cortez Hill, she has watched the transformation
and revitalization of Downtown occur over the years.
Jen is excited at the opportunity to take part in the continued evolution of
Downtown, as a resident, and more importantly as a member of the CCAC.
Jen can be reached by email
at jbshira@yahoo.com.
David Priver, Marina Residential Owner Occupant
Over 9 years ago, David Priver
and his wife became residents of Downtown when
they moved
into CityFront Terrace.
David recently retired from his private practice as an obstetrician-gynecologist,
and is turning his attention to addressing a number of concerns that threaten
an almost perfect living environment.
Although his focus turns to the community, David still maintains his per diem
positions at Kaiser, Planned Parenthood, and La Maestra Clinic.
By establishing an email communication system with Homeowner Associations in
the Marina District, he will provide his constituents with timely information
and carry their issues back to CCAC.
David can be reached by
email at dpriver@aol.com.
Matthew S. Nelson, East Village Residential Tenant
Meeting people, building and
maintaining relationships, and connecting people
with others who share a common goal brings enjoyment
to Matthew Nelson.
A student at San Diego State University, majoring in the Business Administration
Finance Program, Matthew made the choice to become a public representative
for the people in his East Village neighborhood.
Matthew offers his neighbors the opportunity to be involved in adding value
to the community through his service on CCAC.
Matthew can be reached
by email at msnrealestate@gmail.com.
Don Petros, Core Neighborhood Business Owner
Don Petros has worked in San
Diego’s Downtown business district for over
20 years as a commercial property manager, specializing
in office high-rise property management.
Don has managed seven high-rise buildings, and various other office, retail,
and residential properties in San Diego during this period and has established
working relationships with over one hundred commercial tenants.
With his strong commitment to community and to the health of the local business’ in
San Diego, Don looks forward to serving on the CCAC.
Don can be reached by
email at don_petros@hines.com.
Steve Wells, Gaslamp Neighborhood Residential Owner Occupant
Steve Wells is one of the rarities–a San Diego native.
Living in Gaslamp City Square, Steve’s commute is just a few blocks. He works at CB Richard Ellis Commercial Real Estate at Diamond View Tower.
Steve thinks that the last five years of development has created a platform that will allow the city to further expand it’s dynamic growth of the next 20 years. And, he is excited to be part of the energy Downtown.
Steve can be reached by email at swells@cbre.com.
Meet Ferol Henkels, Business Owner Marina
Ferol Henkels loves being part of Downtown’s growing urban community.
A graduate of Point Loma High and UCSD, she has lived in the Ocean Beach area her entire life. After nine years teaching elementary school and 22 years working in the banking system, she now is the proud owner of a business Downtown.
When she isn’t happily at work, she enjoys quilting and art. Ferol and her husband of twenty-nine years have two children attending college and one in high school.
Ferol can be reached by email at postalannex2009@pacbell.net.