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Work Background
VeggielutionFarm Director
Jun. 2021San Jose, California, United StatesLead strategic and day-to-day operations of a six-acre community farm located at Emma Prusch Farm Park, managing infrastructure, vehicles, and shared-use coordination with the City of San Jose to ensure aligned stewardship of land and public facilities. Oversee a multidisciplinary farm and food-sourcing team in the organic, regenerative, and USDA Good Agricultural practices (GAP)-compliant production of specialty crops, yielding over 325,000 pounds of culturally relevant produce annually for community programs and food assistance efforts. Cultivate cross-sector partnerships with public agencies, nonprofits, and grassroots organizers to leverage shared resources, deepen community impact, and ensure alignment with climate, health, and economic development goals. Developed and implemented a capital improvement roadmap resulting in the successful completion of a solar-powered refrigeration unit, increasing cold storage capacity from 30 cubic feet to 150 cubic feet. Secured and managed multi-year food distribution contracts, supporting the assembly and delivery of over 30,000 community food boxes annually, while expanding market access for small, BIPOC-led farms and food entrepreneurs. Built resilient programmatic and operational systems that integrate environmental sustainability, workforce development, and food justice, positioning the farm as a regional model for equitable food system change.
San Jose Downtown AssociationStreet Life Manager
Jun. 2019 - Jun. 2021San Jose, CALed the design and implementation of public realm improvement projects rooted by a public life strategic plan that prioritized vitality, safety, equity, and environmental sustainability in Downtown San Jose. Managed multi-stakeholder coordination, permitting, and logistics for over 30 street-scale murals painted on vandalized walls, boarded storefronts and parklet barriers during the COVID-19 pandemic—activating vacant spaces, deterring vandalism, and providing paid opportunities to local artists. Spearheaded a comprehensive capital improvement initiative in partnership with District 2 Council Office, Department of Transportation, and Office of Economic Development to celebrate the Qmunity LGBTQIA+ District, featuring enhanced overhead lighting, a large-scale mural, and three custom-designed crosswalks—encouraging increased foot traffic in the first 6 months. Oversaw planning and site activation for an interim-use dog park and demonstration garden on a vacant lot, developed in collaboration with private property owner Urban Community and food justice nonprofit Veggielution—demonstrating a replicable model for temporary land use that supports food system justice education and equitable access to garden spaces. Coordinated a wide range of service providers, from artists and fabricators to architects and maintenance crews, ensuring quality control, community input, and compliance with city guidelines.
Moveable Inc.Creative Director
Jun. 2017 - Jun. 2019San Jose, CaliforniaDirected the spatial planning and program design of high-visibility public spaces, coordinating with municipalities and property owners to reimagine underutilized sites for community benefit. Oversaw end-to-end project execution, including client and contractor management, vendor coordination, budget oversight, and operational workflows across multidisciplinary teams. Led stakeholder engagement processes grounded in cultural sensitivity and inclusion, integrating community voices into design and activation strategies. Collaborated with city staff, private developers, and civic institutions—such as the City of Fremont and the San Jose Flea Market at Berryessa—to align site use and capital planning with long-term public and cultural goals. Delivered placemaking strategies that enhanced civic identity while laying the groundwork for infrastructure investment and sustained community programming.
Public Space Authority (now Moveable)Creative & Program Director
Jun. 2017 - Jun. 2019San Jose, CaliforniaFormulated value sets, strategies and goals that re-imagined places through tactical urbanism, spatial improvements and cultural programming. Managed clients, service providers, partnerships and operational teams through project planning and implementation. Employed insight from local communities, stakeholders and governance to inform more inclusive engagement and codesign. Clients included the City of Fremont and the Berryessa Flea Market.
San Jose Made (SJMADE)Founder and Director
Dec. 2010 - Dec. 2017San Jose, CAEnvisioned and developed a retail platform for entrepreneurial makers, artists and emerging brands. Scaled the company to secure short term retailing opportunities, in the form of events or retail leases, for over 500 local small businesses. Over seven years, strengthened brand equity through strategic partnerships with Westfield, Whole Foods, San Jose Downtown Association and the City of San Jose, until acquisition by Public Space Authority (PSA) in 2017.
The UsualsManaging Owner
Apr. 2010 - May. 2015San Jose, CAManaged two storefronts in downtown San Jose—a standalone shop and a public market location—as well as seasonal retail activations at Westfield Malls, consistently delivering high-quality customer experiences in dynamic, high-traffic environments. Oversaw all aspects of business operations, including budget development, P&L management, inventory sourcing and procurement, fixed asset tracking, and vendor contract negotiation. Led recruitment, onboarding, and professional development for retail staff, with a strong focus on customer service, safety protocols, and operational efficiency. Developed and executed integrated sales strategies and marketing campaigns across digital and in-shop channels, significantly increasing brand visibility and customer engagement. Cultivated and sustained strategic partnerships with local artisans, civic organizations, and business associations to ensure sourcing and programming aligned with community values and customer demand.
The Usuals & Showroom San JoseCo-Owner & Managing Partner
Apr. 2010 - May. 2015San Jose, CACo-owned and operated two downtown boutiques and three seasonal pop-up retail experiences. Managed all aspects of small business, including monitoring P&L, fixed assets, inventory and purchasing, staff development, sales strategies and goals, storefront safety and operations, contract management and social media marketing.
Bank of AmericaUser Interface Production Designer
Jun. 2006 - Feb. 2008
Pearson EducationInteractive Developer
Jan. 2002 - Jan. 2006
VeggielutionFarm and Facility Director
San Jose, California, United States
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