About UsWho We Are

Who We Are

BID SAM Ambassadors pose for a group photo at Bike to Work Day 2017. Photo: Rich Kessler, 2017

Staff
Ambassadors
Board of Directors
Employment Opportunities

The DowntownDC Business Improvement District (BID) was founded in 1997 and is a private non-profit organization that provides capital improvements, resources and research that keep the BID area clean, safe, economically and environmentally strong and accessible. The DowntownDC BID is a catalyst, facilitator and thought leader in diversifying the economy, promoting public/private partnerships and enhancing the DowntownDC experience for all. This special district, where property owners have agreed to tax themselves to fund services, encompasses a 138-block area of approximately 520 properties from Massachusetts Avenue on the north to Constitution Avenue on the south, and from Louisiana Avenue on the east to 16th Street on the west.

The DowntownDC BID employs Safety/Hospitality and Maintenance ambassadors, also known as SAMs, who keep DowntownDC streets clean, safe and friendly and assist residents, workers and visitors with a variety of needs. Administrative and management staff are experienced and knowledgeable individuals who share a passion and vision for improving the physical, economic and social environment in DowntownDC.

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Read the BID's FY 2017 Annual Report

Our

Staff

Executive

Neil Albert
President & CEO

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Neil Albert has been President and CEO of the DowntownDC Business Improvement District (BID) since September 2015. Prior to joining the BID, Neil was a senior policy advisor at Holland & Knight LLP in their public policy and regulation practice for over 4 years. Neil’s career in DC includes senior executive service with the Govermnent of the District of Columbia including serving as City Administrator and Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development for Mayor Adrian Fenty and Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services and Director of Parks and Recreation for Mayor Anthony Williams. From 2005-2007, Neil co-founded and led EdBuild, an educational services firm focused on improving public and charter schools in DC. Neil is a member of the 2013 class of Leadership Greater Washington. Neil was named a 2016 Washington Business Journal Minority Business Leader and was selected by the Washington Business Journal in 2015 as a Power 100 of 2015 “Connector." Neil serves on the board of several civic and public organizations. He currently chairs the board of commissioners of the District of Columbia Housing Authority, is a member of the executive committee of the DC Policy Center, and is a member of the board of the International Downtown Association (IDA). Neil Albert earned an MBA in finance from the New York Institute of Technology and is an avid marathoner.

Delores Dickens, Executive Assistant

DeLores M. Dickens joined the DowntownDC Business Improvement District (BID) in October 1997 as receptionist/assistant to the president. She was previously employed with the International Downtown Association as a receptionist and office assistant, the U.S. Information Agency as an office manager/clerk in the books program department and the Pax River Naval Air Station as an office clerk.

Administration

Nabavi Oliver
Director of Administration

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Nabavi Oliver, Esq. is the BID’s Director of Administration, responsible for human resources and internal operations, corporate matters and board responsibilities. Nabavi joined the BID from EagleForce Associates, Incorporated, where he served as the Director of Business and Legal Operations. He brings an array of proven expertise in increasing revenue and generating processes and procedures that create lasting success and sustainability. Nabavi’s passion for helping emerging and established organizations to thrive has driven his career in both the public and private sectors. Among his significant previous positions, Nabavi worked for the District of Columbia in the Office of Contracting and Procurement, Department of Human Resources and the Executive Office of the Mayor. Previously, Nabavi practiced law at Dewey & LeBoeuf in New York, where he is still barred. Nabavi earned his J.D. from Barry University School of Law and a Bachelor’s of Science from Florida State University. He is a D.C. resident.

Jalal Chaoui, Payroll Manager

Jalal Chaoui (Jay) is the Payroll Manager for the DowntownDC BID, where he is responsible for processing payroll and employee benefits. He previously served as the operations office manager for the SAM ambassadors where he oversaw office payroll and monitored equipment, uniforms, and supplies. Jay joined the BID in December 2001 with a background in hospitality. He served at the Marriott Hotels for 10 years as a staff accountant. He earned a degree in Physics from Rabat Science University in Morocco.

Jeremiah DeSousa, Administrative Assistant/Receptionist

Jeremiah DeSousa joined the DowntownDC Business Improvement District (BID) as an Administrative Assistant in 2016. He formerly worked as a BID Safety/Hospitality Ambassador. In previous roles, Jeremiah dedicated his time to the education and promotion of social justice and homeless outreach programs.

Parker Roach, Human Resources Manager

Parker Roach joined the DowntownDC Business Improvement District (BID) in May of 2012 with over 15 years of human resources and personnel management experience. Parker is a former Business and Human Resource Administrator for the Harwood Foundation, a non-profit organization serving people with disabilities. Parker also served as the National Recruiter and HR Generalist for SourceAmerica, formerly known as NISH. Parker is a graduate of Morgan State University. Parker is active in his community, serving as Advisor and Director of Tournaments for Braddock Road Youth Club and is the Assistant Varsity Basketball Coach for Paul VI Catholic High School’s girl’s basketball program. Parker is also the bassist for his church choirs.

Tyrell Thomas, Acting IT Associate

Economic Development

Gerry Widdicombe
Director of Economic Development

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Gerry Widdicombe served as the BID’s Director of Economic Development from 2000-2017 and returned to the BID in 2018 to assume that role once again. From Dec. 2012-May 2014, Gerry served as Executive Director of the D.C. Tax Revision Commission. Previously, Gerry worked for the DC government in both the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (1999-2000) and the Office of the Chief Financial Officer (1998-1999). Prior to that, Gerry worked as a financial consultant including at the FDIC and RTC during the savings and loan crisis of the early 1990’s. He spent 10 years working at Goldman Sachs in the 1980’s. Gerry is a graduate of Dartmouth College and Harvard Business School. Gerry currently serves on the following boards of directors: Capital Fringe (Chair), Greater Greater Washington (Secretary) and theatreWashington. Gerry lives in Kalorama Triangle in DC.

Essence Smith, Economic Development Assistant

Providing analysis that promotes environmentally sustainable and socially conscious urban development, Essence Smith contributes her economic prowess to the BID with hopes of maintaining a vibrant District. Prior to serving the BID, Essence was a Research Associate for the CoStar Group. Essence holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology, as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Geography, both from Emory & Henry College. She has served agencies and causes such as United Way, the Peer Education Network, River’s Way Foundation, and The Corps Network, among others. Her personal passion for social change and sustainability translate into academic implementations, as she is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Sustainability Management at American University. Essence is a DC resident.

Finance

Bertha A. Gaymon
Chief Financial Officer

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Bertha A. Gaymon is the Chief Financial Officer of the DowntownDC BID. She also serves as the fiscal agent for 12 BID subsidiary and affiliate corporations and oversees finance and budgeting, accounting and internal controls, project management and contract administration. Bertha joined the BID as the Finance and Administration director responsible for a full range of financial, human resources and administrative activities in 1997. Over the years, she has been instrumental in keeping the organization’s budget in balance and increasing its assessment collection rate. Bertha has extensive experience in bank negotiations and relations, inventory control systems and directing and managing the business and fiscal affairs of government and non-profit organizations. Before joining the BID, she served as the director of finance and administration for the Finance Project, a specialized non-profit firm that caters to public and private sector leaders, and was the corporate director of the National Commission on Children, a bipartisan entity chaired by Senator John D. Rockefeller IV. She also has served in various positions in the Prince George's County government and the state of Maryland. Bertha received a bachelor's degree in business management from the University of Maryland and a master's degree in business administration from the University of Phoenix. She is the board treasurer of her homeowners’ association and a Finance Committee member at her church. Bertha resides in Maryland and is married with three children.

Lulu Liu, Senior Accountant

Lulu Liu serves as Senior Accountant for the DowntownDC BID, maintaining the organization's general ledger and preparing month-end close procedures, reconciling account balances and bank statements, documenting, monitoring internal controls to ensure compliance and preparing the budget. Lulu also assists with performing variance analyses and with financial and tax audits. Lulu joined the BID in Jan. 2005 with a background in accounting. She previously served as staff and senior account in various positions in the commercial and non-profit sectors and with government contractors. She has also served as an instructor in the Beijing Teacher Institute. Lulu holds a Master of Accounting degree from the University of Baltimore and a Bachelor's degree in Education from Beijing Normal University.

Homeless Services

Darlyene “Tokyo” Direkston, Homeless Services Site and Program Manager

Darlyene “Tokyo” Direkston joined the DowntownDC Business Improvement District (BID) in 2018 to oversee day-to-day operations of the Downtown Day Services Center (The Center). Prior to joining the BID, Tokyo worked for Athelas Institute, a non-profit organization which provides programs and services for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She began her 10-year tenure at Athelas Institute as a vocation instructor, then worked as house manager and administrator until her final appointment to operations manager for personal support. Tokyo previously worked for So Others Might Eat (S.O.M.E) and the Dinner Program for Homeless Women. She earned a B.A. in human services and an M.S. in human services administration from the University of Baltimore. Once addicted to drugs and alcohol, Tokyo lived on the street for 10 years and used to sleep on the sidewalk next to the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library in DowntownDC. She has been sober for 19 years and is also a breast cancer survivor. Growing up, Tokyo wanted to be an architect. “Now I’m an architect in a different form. I’m building lives,” she said.

Infrastructure

Ellen Jones
Deputy Executive Director

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Ellen is the Deputy Executive Director of the DowntownDC BID. She is the BID's former director of Public Realm Infrastructure, which included transportation, parks, and open spaces. Ellen began her tenure at the BID in transportation, managing the planning, implementation and marketing of the DC Circulator in collaboration with the city and other business improvement districts in 2003-2005. Making the DowntownDC BID bicycle-friendly has been an ongoing commitment for the BID, which started with bicycle parking installation in public space and includes piloting bike-sharing and creating the Pennsylvania Avenue protected bike lane in 2009. Ellen is directing the creation of a Public Realm Master Plan for over 50 locations in the BID. Partnerships with public and private entities will be essential to the implementation of the plan as exemplified by the current transformation effort for Franklin Park. In 2018, the BID will become the manager and operator of the park as part of a Federal/District/BID partnership. Ellen has a Masters of Public Affairs from the LBJ School, University of Texas, and is a D.C. resident.

Alex Block, Infrastructure & Planning Manager

Alex Block is an urban planner with 10 years experience in transportation planning, urban development and public policy. Alex loves to figure out the details of how cities work. Prior to joining the DowntownDC BID, Alex worked for the DC Office of Planning and as a transportation planning consultant. Alex holds a masters degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Michigan and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners.

Dan Bramley, Infrastructure Program Assistant

Dan joined the BID in 2018 in the infrastructure department where he is now responsible for managing 311 repairs in public space and acts as liaison between property managers and the city government. Dan previously interned for Casey Trees and the Heart of Gold Foundation. Dan graduated from American University in 2018 with an interdisciplinary degree in government, communications and economics. Dan has been a DC resident since 2014, when he moved to the area for school. He was born and raised in New Jersey.

Marketing & Communications

Rachel Rose Hartman
Director of Interactive Marketing & Communications

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Rachel Rose Hartman is the Director of Interactive Marketing and Communications for the DowntownDC Business Improvement District (BID), directing marketing, events, branding and communications for the organization. Rachel previously held the position of communications manager at the BID where she fulfilled the roles of press liaison, spokesperson, editor, writer and email marketer. Rachel first joined the BID in Jan. 2014 with 12 years of political journalism experience. She previously held the positions of White House Reporter and Political Reporter for Yahoo News after covering several election cycles as a daily reporter for Congressional Quarterly. Her work has appeared in The Guardian, The Daily Beast and many additional publications and she has served as a guest on national and local television and radio. Rachel holds a degree in print journalism from American University. Rachel serves on the board of directors for the National Cherry Blossom Festival and was named a 2017 Emerging Leadership Fellow for the International Downtown Association. For press inquiries, please contact Rachel at rachel@downtowndc.org.

Roquois Clarke, Digital Content and Design Associate

Roquois Clarke joined the DowntownDC BID in 2016 and today manages the BID's social media, website and web content, design projects and more. Roquois has experience working for various companies and non-profits including Scholastic Book Fairs, GWT Philanthropy, SEE Eyewear, the Adams Morgan BID and more. Roquois graduated with her Bachelors of Science degree in computer animation from Fullsail University and received the Advanced Achievers Award. Roquois is a professional singer/songwriter.

Alexis Neely, Marketing & Communications Assistant

As the Marketing and Communications Assistant for the BID, Alexis writes and publishes digital news concerning DowntownDC, updates the website with features and events and assists with email marketing, digital file maintenance and multimedia content production. Alexis is a recent graduate of the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss), where she majored in journalism with a minor in African-American studies, was involved in student media and served in various leadership roles through the Office of Admissions, Center for Inclusion and Cross Cultural Engagement and Greek life. She is originally from Jackson, Mississippi, where she once held the title of Miss Jackson Hospitality in 2015.

Remi Wallace, Events and Strategic Partnerships Manager

In the effort to make DowntownDC the city’s premier destination, Remi develops exciting and creative opportunities to promote the DowntownDC brand and its visibility through public programming. Previously, Remi was Program Manager- External Relations at the National Cherry Blossom Festival. Remi holds a bachelor's degree in African American Studies from Howard University and has spent the majority of her professional career in arts management and hospitality in Washington, DC.

Ebony Walton, Marketing & Communications Manager

Ebony Patrice Walton is the DowntownDC BID's marketing and communications manager where she develops and produces website, marketing and multimedia content, creates promotional campaigns and strategies and conducts outreach to various BID stakeholders. Ebony began her tenure at the BID as a marketing assistant. She has worked in various capacities and on many projects and events that include the Momentum Awards, State of Downtown, banner permitting, uniform brand standards and holiday decor. She earned a bachelor’s degree in broadcast news from Howard University. Ebony has held several pageant titles such as Miss Black Florida USA, Miss Black USA and Miss Black World DC. Ebony grew up in Miami, Florida and now resides in Maryland with her husband and three children.

Public Space Operations

Gerren G. Price
Director of Public Space Operations

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Gerren brings to the BID more than 10 years of experience directing and supporting large-scale youth, workforce, and education programs and initiatives in the government and non-profit sectors. He joined the BID from the Annie E. Casey Foundation, where he served as Senior Associate for National Community Strategies. Gerren began his career managing a national youth mentoring program before serving in several capacities in the District of Columbia Government beginning in the Office of the Chancellor for DC Public Schools (DCPS) where he served as Coordinator for Out-of-School Time Programs for secondary schools. He later served as Director of Programs at the DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) and as a Senior Policy Analyst in the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Education. He also served as Program Manager for the Mayor Marion Barry Summer Youth Employment Program (MBSYEP) under the DC Department of Employment Services (DOES) before he rose to hold the positions of Associate Director of the DOES Office of Youth Programs and Deputy Director of Youth Workforce Development. He also served as Deputy Director of Business Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs and as the Interim Director for DOES. Throughout his professional career and personal life, Gerren has maintained an active leadership role in mentoring and tutoring, including through consultant support for DC workforce development company P.R.E.P., LLC, and work for the National Organization of Concerned Black Men and America Reads/America Counts. Gerren holds a BA in Urban Studies from the University of Pennsylvania and an MS/MBA from the University of Maryland, University College. He lives in DC with his wife and two daughters.

David Pollard, Deputy Director of Operations

David M. Pollard II joined the DowntownDC BID as Deputy Director of Operations in November 2010, overseeing the BID's ambassadors. Prior to the BID, he served as the Security Director for Whelan/SFI at the American Red Cross. David has an extensive, +20 year career in the security industry managing large contracts within the Washington Metropolitan Area ranging from Reagan National Airport and Union Station to Gannett/USA Today. David currently serves on the Board of Directors for “In Gods Loving Hands,” a non-profit organization working with children and families with intellectual or physical disabilities.

Sandra Tapscott, Operations Assistant

Sandra M. Tapscott is a Washington, D.C. native who has worked for the DowntownDC BID since 2011. She transitioned to her current role of Operations Assistant in 2017 following six years of experience at the BID as a Safety/Hospitality Ambassador. Sandra also works for the Smithsonian National Zoo. She has a background in hospitality and education with previous experience at the Newseum, DC Public Schools, Archbishop Carroll High School and Gallaudet University.

80+ Safety/Hospitality & Maintenance Ambassadors (SAMs), (See Below)

Photo: Ebony Walton, 2016.

safety/hospitality & maintenance

ambassadors

Supervisors

Lawrence Alston, Maintenance Supervisor

Ethel Frye, Maintenance Supervisor

Alfreda Mintah, Dispatch

Blanca Ramirez, Maintenance Supervisor

Crystal Saunders, Safety/Hospitality Supervisor

Dion Simmons, Safety/Hospitality Supervisor

Charlie Stevenson, Maintenance Supervisor

Michael Williams, Maintenance Supervisor

Safety/Hospitality Team

Barron Avent-Bey, Safety/Hospitality Team Member

Rayshawn Boseman, Safety/Hospitality Team Member

Juvina Brown, Safety/Hospitality Team Member

Mary Brown, Safety/Hospitality Team Member

Michael Bunn, Safety/Hospitality Team Member

Marquez Clifford, Safety/Hospitality Team Member

Alyce Easterling, Safety/Hospitality Team Member

Claudell Epps, Safety/Hospitality Team Member

David Hall, Safety/Hospitality Team Member

Linda Jeter, Safety/Hospitality Team Member

Roy Johnson, Safety/Hospitality Team Member

Ronald Lloyd, Safety/Hospitality Team Member

Okumu Oyoo, Safety/Hospitality Team Member

Donna Riley, Safety/Hospitality Team Member

Montee Saunders, Safety/Hospitality Team Member

Jamil Thompson, Safety/Hospitality Team Member

Robert Toney, Safety/Hospitality Team Member

Maintenance Team

Marquise Adams, Maintenance Team Member

Jose Tomas Avelar, Maintenance Team Member

Timothy Bolden, Maintenance Team Member

Bernard Bond, Maintenance Team Member

Wayne Cain, Maintenance Team Member

Norma Canales, Maintenance Team Member

Lurie Carlton, Maintenance Team Member

Elmer Coreas, Maintenance Team Member

Joe Cunningham, Maintenance Team Member

Raymond Dantzler, Maintenance Team Member

Anthony Davenport, Maintenance Team Member

Walter Davis, Maintenance Team Member

Rene Diaz Morales, Maintenance Team Member

Brandon Dixon, Maintenance Team Member

Keith Dorsey, Maintenance Team Member

Jhonte Eskridge, Jhonte Eskridge

Marcus Gethers, Maintenance Team Member

Nelson Giron, Maintenance Team Member

Chantyyra Graham, Maintenance Team Member

Antowan Grant, Maintenance Team Member

John Griffin, Maintenance Team Member

Tyrell Hale, Maintenance Team Member

DeMarco Head, Maintenance Team Member

Kevin Hill, Maintenance Team Member

Charles Jackson, Maintenance Team Member

James Jackson, Maintenance Team Member

Ernest Johns, Maintenance Team Member

Detz Johnston, Maintenance Team Member

Brittney Johnson-Colston, Maintenance Team Member

Derrick Jones, Maintenance Team Member

Terrence Kelley, Maintenance Team Member

Manuel Loza, Maintenance Team Member

Jessie Marlow, Maintenance Team Member

Julio Martinez, Maintenance Team Member

Frank McCoy, Maintenance Team Member

Julio Mendez, Maintenance Team Member

Andrew Moton, Maintenance Team Member

Roderick Robinson, Maintenance Team Member

Sarvelio Rodas, Maintenance Team Member

Rosa Rosales, Maintenance Team Member

Harold Royal, Maintenance Team Member

Lorenzo Sanders, Maintenance Team Member

Hector Segura, Maintenance Team Member

Lorine Simon, Maintenance Team Member

Jermaine Simpson, Maintenance Team Member

Charles Stroud, Maintenance Team Member

Michael Winder, Maintenance Team Member

Famlea Wolf, Maintenance Team Member

Phillip Wright, Maintenance Team Member

Marcus Young, Maintenance Team Member

The BID Board of Directors participates in a board meeting. Photo: Adrian Saunders, 2013.

board of

Directors

Board of Directors 2017 - Executive Committee

Randall Boe, Chairman

Executive Vice President & General Counsel, Monumental Sports and Entertainment

Robert H. Braunohler, Second Vice Chair

Regional Vice President, Property Group Partners

Kingdon Gould III, Past Chair

Vice President, Gould Property Company

Peter D. Johnston, First Vice Chair

Senior Vice President & Regional Manager, Boston Properties

Matt Klein, Past Chair

President, Akridge

Ginger Laytham, Secretary

Senior Executive Officer to the President, CEO and Chairman, Clyde’s Restaurant Group

Michael McCarthy, Past Chair

Corporate Vice President, Quadrangle Development Corporation

Gregory A. O'Dell, Member

President and Chief Executive Officer, Events DC

Chase Rynd, Treasurer

President and Executive Director, National Building Museum

Yeni Wong, Member

President, Riverdale International

Board of Directors 2017

Anthony Balestrieri, Member

Director & Head of Acquisitions, Metlife

Jeffrey Bank, Member

Chief Executive Officer, The Alicart Restaurant Group (Carmine’s)

Ann Chisholm, Member

District of Columbia Government Relations Officer, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority

Donna Cooper, Member

President, PEPCO

Jackie S. Duke, Member

Regional Vice President of Operations, Brookfield Properties

Thomas E. Finan, Member

Managing Director, Trammell Crow Company

Scott Frisch, Member

Chief Operating Officer, AARP

Mary Gilbert, Member

Regional Commissioner, U.S. General Services Adminstration

Brian Grant, Member

1st Vice President, Equity Residential

Kathy Guy, Member

Vice President, JBG Smith

Thor C. Headley, Member

Vice President, Hines

Norman Jemal, Member

Principal & Senior Vice President, Douglas Development Corporation

Chris Jennings, Member

Executive Director, The Shakespeare Theatre Company

Tom Knoll, Member

Pastor, First Trinity Lutheran Church

Carol Lascaris, Member

President Emeritus, National Museum of Women in the Arts

Gregory Leinweber, Member

General Manager, Hotel Monaco

Eric Martino, Member

Chief Operations Officer, ThinkFoodGroup

Robin McClain, Member

Vice President, Marketing and Communications, Destination DC

Wallace Mlyniec, Member

Lupo-Rici Professor of Clinical Legal Justice; Director, Juvenile Justice Clinic, Georgetown Law

Christopher P. Mundy, Member

Senior Vice President, Oxford Properties Group

Todd Payne, Member

Government Affairs Manager, Microsoft

Lisa Ruggles, Member

Senior Vice President, Portfolio Research, CoStar Group, Inc.

Kim Sajet, Member

Director, National Portrait Gallery

Kenneth Schwartz, Member

Partner, Arnold & Porter LLP

John Smith, Member

General Manager, Macy's

Gail Smith-Howard, Member

General Manager, Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill

Paul R. Tetreault, Member

Director, Ford’s Theatre

Gerardo Martinez Freyssinier, Liaison

Communications Senior Specialist, Inter-American Development Bank

Jovanka Balac, GSA Liaison

Project Manager, Office of the Regional Commissioner, National Capital Region

Thomas James, GSA Liaison

Deputy Regional Commissioner for Public Buildings Service, GSA National Capital Region (nominee)