Brett Bivans is Vice President of the International Center for Alcohol Policies (ICAP). He joined ICAP as Director of Partnership Development in February 2004. Brett handles industry related issues, such as corporate social responsibility, self-regulation, road safety, retail, and responsible hospitality. He is also responsible for outreach in the Asia-Pacific and Africa regions.

Prior to joining ICAP, Mr. Bivans was the first Manager of the Global Road Safety Partnership (GRSP) initiated by the World Bank and hosted by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) in Geneva, Switzerland. GRSP benchmarks road safety good practice and the positive impact of partnerships for both business and social development. Between 1996 and 1999, he was part of the World Bank’s Finance and Private Sector Development team which developed corporate social responsibility and partnership initiatives.

Gainesville Police Captain Ed Book currently serves as an Operations District Commander and Community Resource Division Commander, and has had responsibility for Gainesville's two hospitality districts. Captain Book has been involved in many efforts related to entertainment district management, including enforcement details, innovative crime prevention strategies, formation and expansion of a nationally recognized safety kiosk and support of local legislation.

He has served in almost every capacity and on all patrol shifts including investigations, internal affairs, training, and administrative assignments during his nearly 25 year career. Captain Book has been in charge of University of Florida football game day operations for GPD and has been involved in all of the recent national championship football and basketball celebrations serving in Incident Command. Captain Book is certified by the Florida Attorney General as both a crime prevention & CPTED practitioner, the highest level of certifications awarded in those fields.

Constable Dale Brenneis joined the Edmonton Police Service in 1981. He is currently assigned to the Crime Prevention Unit, where he is the coordinator for both the Crime Free Multi-Housing and the Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) programs. Mr. Brenneis enjoys being a fan and/or coach at his children’s baseball, softball basketball and soccer games.

Jim Butler works for the city government of Austin, Texas. He is in charge of finding ways to make Austin a better place by working with individuals, companies, nonprofits and other governmental organizations involved in the music, film and technology industries. His efforts include direct job creation programs as well as programs that enhance the overall quality of life in Austin.

Raphael Clemente joined the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) in January of 2006 as Urban Planning and Services Director, bringing with him a multi-disciplinary background and local knowledge. With experience in land use and transportation planning, human scale design, CPTED, and project management, Mr. Clemente has used his skills to find solutions to community problems in ways that have carried downtown West Palm Beach toward its desired long-term goals.

Prior to his arrival at the DDA, Mr. Clemente’s experience included work in both the public and private sector. He has been involved in many different levels of community planning ranging from project management for real estate development, to overseeing the Palm Beach County Greenways and Trails Master Plan in his role as Senior Planner with the Palm Beach Metropolitan Planning Organization.

Ernest Collins, Director, Arts and Entertainment since 2002, oversees the Arts & Entertainment Division, which includes the offices of film, music, and tourism and arts for the city of New Orleans. The strategic goal of the Mayor's Arts & Entertainment division is to position and promote New Orleans as a center for entertainment and tourism, and to fully leverage these economic development opportunities in film and television, music, tourism and arts, to provide a better quality of life for the citizens of New Orleans.

In this role, Ernest is the point person for the City on large festivals like Essence and Jazzfest, leads the strategic effort to promote New Orleans as a center for entertainment and creative media development, and works to create more opportunities for musicians and artists to enhance their careers.

Raissa de la Rosa has worked for the City of Santa Rosa as an economic development specialist for four years, focusing her efforts on the city’s downtown core for the past two. Prior to this position, her entire professional life was spent in non-profit and arts administration. Most recently she was the Cultural Funding Coordinator for the City of Oakland for five years, and before that ran a mid-sized performing arts theater in San Francisco. 

Greg DeShields currently serves as the Senior Director of Corporate Relations for Temple University School of Tourism and Hospitality Management. Greg has been a manager in the hospitality industry for such companies as Hyatt Hotel, Omni Hotels, Sheraton Hotels, and the Korman Company, and General Manager of Philadelphia OIC’s Opportunities Inn: Hospitality Training Institute. Greg serves as an adjunct instructor and Faculty Advisor for Temple University School of Tourism and Hospitality. He also conducts Customer Service training workshops.

Greg’s Board membership and committee chairs include The Philadelphia Convention & Visitor’s Bureau – Multicultural Affairs Congress, Philadelphia Gay Tourism Caucus, The Greater Philadelphia Restaurant & Purveyors Association, National Board of the Responsible Hospitality Institute, Fund for Philadelphia, Co-Chair. Greg is an active member of the Council on Hotel & Restaurant Institute Educators, The American Hotel & Lodging Association, Meeting Professionals International, Hispanic Meeting Professionals, National Association of Black Hotel Owners Operators and Developers, and Hispanic Hotel Owners Association.

Kathie Durbin is the Division Chief of Licensure, Regulation and Education for the Montgomery County Department of Liquor Control. She began her career as a Responsible Beverage Instructor for the State of Maryland. In addition to her training responsibilities, Kathie spent 8 years as a contractor for Montgomery County Health and Human Services actively working on substance abuse prevention techniques with key stakeholders and community organizations. She managed several sizable state grants, a county program of mini-grants and the substance abuse prevention network. As the Executive Director of the Montgomery County Restaurant Association in the early 1990’s, Kathie assisted the business community with legislative issues and local policies.

Kathie is certified by the State of Maryland as an Alcohol Server Instructor and as a Prevention Professional. She plays leadership roles on local, statewide and national alcohol related boards such as the National Alcohol Beverage Association, Maryland Alcohol Licensing Association, Responsible Hospitality Institute and the Responsible Retailing Forum.

Darb Erickson is the ‘Street as a Venue’ coordinator for the City of Edmonton’s most vibrant entertainment area. His role is to manage the public space as if it were a facility, in recognition of the high demand for city services to address the nighttime economy. Darb maintains many initiatives that lead to the growing public perception of safety, cleanliness and cultural vibrancy.

Prior to joining the City of Edmonton staff, Darb spent a decade as an Area Director for Young Life of Canada. His role was to build leaders and increase the capacity of communities to care for and mentor their youth. These efforts led to many creative recreational programs revolving around skateboarding, mountain climbing, snowboarding, sports, music and art.

Mr. Fierstein is the founder and president of Acoustilog, Inc., a firm which has provided acoustical consulting services and manufactured acoustical test gear and recording studio equipment since 1976. Mr. Fierstein has had 42 years of experience designing custom electronic systems, and has acted as acoustical consultant for such diverse establishments as recording studios, discotheques, printing plants and residences.

Mr. Fierstein has authored many articles in the sound engineering trade journals since 1976, has given numerous lectures on acoustics before various professional organizations and has been featured in many magazine, newspaper, and TV specials. He is regularly called upon to testify as an expert witness in court. He was the consultant invited by the N.Y. City Council to advise them on the DEP's proposed new Noise Code.  

Kathryn Graham (Ph.D, Psychology) is a Senior Scientist and Head of Social and Community Prevention Research at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) in London, Ontario, Canada. She is also Adjunct Research Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Western Ontario and Professor (Adjunct), National Drug Research Institute, Curtin University of Technology, Perth, Western Australia.

Her current research focuses on the role of alcohol in aggressive behaviour both in licensed premises and between intimate partners, the social context of aggression and gender differences in the relationship between alcohol and aggression. Her work in the community has included the development and evaluation of the Safer Bars program to reduce aggression in licensed premises. In 2002, Dr. Graham received the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal for her contributions to applying research knowledge to community interventions. Her book (with Ross Homel) on preventing bar violence, “Raising the bar” was published in 2008 by Willan Publishing, United Kingdom. She is also senior editor of “Unhappy hours. Alcohol and Partner Violence in the Americas” published by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), also published in 2008.

As Vice President of RHI, Allison Harnden is responsible for securing consulting contracts, and scheduling and delivering Hospitality Zone Assessments to municipalities and dining and entertainment districts. She has co-facilitated over twenty five Assessment processes in tourism and resort communities, as well as college towns and urban neighborhoods, each resulting in action plans that have been successful in addressing a range of issues, including late-night transportation, social diversions, pedestrian flow and safety and crime prevention through environmental design.

Ms. Harnden began her 14 year career with RHI as a site coordinator for San Diego’s Hospitality Resource Panel, a contract partnership with RHI and San Diego’s Economic Development Office. As liaison to 10 entertainment-oriented Business Improvement Districts in San Diego, including the Gaslamp and La Jolla, Ms. Harnden developed and piloted innovative programs relating to land-use, regulatory compliance, business and workforce development and public policy.  She worked closely with City Council, their Aides and the Redevelopment Agency on hospitality zone-related issues, including noise and trash, most notably leading the Mixed-Use task force, which advised Council’s Land-Use and Housing Committee.

Jean Homza has been involved in restaurant and bar management in Washington, DC since 1985. For the past 11 years she has been the Bar Manager and Community Liaison for the 9:30 Club, an internationally award-winning live music venue. She has also spent the last 20 years involved in producing and promoting fundraising events for a variety of worthy local causes. As a local promoter, producer and educator, Jean is a strong and vocal advocate for industry responsibility to create safe, professional and vibrant entertainment environments in partnership with residents and local government.

Jean is a founding member of the MidCity Business Association and has also been active in the DC Nightlife Association working to change laws and government policies that impose hardships on the hospitality industry while at the same time working to increase industry professionalism and safety; she teaches alcohol awareness classes for the DCNA. Jean has helped to spearhead a pilot Hospitality Resource Partnership (HRP) in DC while encouraging the process to go citywide. Currently, she is working with Washington's Metropolitan Police Department and the DC Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration to write a manual on Best Practices for Nightclubs.

Betsy Jackson is President of The Urban Agenda, an urban development consulting firm located in Ann Arbor, Michigan that specializes in strategic planning and community problem solving. Betsy was President of the International Downtown Association in Washington, DC for four years. Prior to joining IDA in 1997, Ms. Jackson was the Executive Director of the Society for Environmental Graphic Design.

Betsy has worked in the field of downtown revitalization and management for 25 years, first as the Executive Director of Jackson Main Street, in Jackson, Michigan, and then for nine years as Program Associate and Program Manager for the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Main Street Center. Ms. Jackson has a Bachelors Degree as well as a Masters Degree in Urban Planning, both from the University of Michigan.

Jocelyn Kane is Deputy Director of San Francisco's Entertainment Commission, which is charged with ensuring the health and vitality of all indoor and outdoor entertainment venues in the City. Current projects protecting hospitality include the re-zoning efforts of the city's Planning Department, permitting (protecting) street performers for the first time in the city's history, and revising San Francisco's outdated sound ordinance to stay current with technologies of the 21st century.

Jocelyn is also the founder of Motogirl Productions, an SF-based artist development company. Motogirl Productions works with large and small artists in various genres, to help them understand the "business" of music and how to reach individual goals effectively in one of the toughest industries around. Motogirl Productions co-produced Nadines Wild Weekend 2002, which included production of 20 shows with over 135 bands in 15 clubs over 4 days, garnering major national and international media attention.

James Keblas is the Director for the City of Seattle's Mayor's Office of Film and Music. James is responsible for developing strategies and policies that support Seattle as a place to create, produce and enjoy film and music. James took his passion for civic engagement to a new level when he and other community members turned Seattle's once oppressive stance towards music into one of support and growth. James was Co-founder and the original Executive Director of the Vera Project, a nationally recognized nonprofit, music-arts center run by and for youth in Seattle. As a graduate from the University of Washington's School of Urban Design and Community Planning, James has worked with a handful of cultural organizations and served for two years both as a Seattle Arts Commissioner and a Music Advisory Member.

He is also nurturing the Music Office Network, a group of diverse, critical thinkers from government music commissions and agencies to share creative ideas to successfully balance community concerns with enhanced opportunities for music and entertainment.

Russell Kolins is currently a private detective, security expert and consultant specializing in the hospitality industry, including nightclubs, restaurants, bars, casinos, sport's arenas and hotels/motels. He was the director of the Camden County, New Jersey Tavern Owners Association for six years while he owned and operated one of the three largest nightclubs in the county.

Mr. Kolins lectures to numerous organizations and is a certified Tam and TIPS instructor. As an investigator, he has attended numerous professional classes for investigating all aspects of the hospitality business including risk management and risk assessment. He has investigated over 3,000 liquor liability and inadequate security cases for both plaintiff and defense and has been court qualified to testify as an expert in liquor liability and inadequate security cases. Mr. Kolins is also a consultant to the only 5 star restaurant and bar in Pennsylvania, as well as other restaurants and bars owned by world renowned chef Georges Perrier.

Councilman Bruce Kraus was sworn into office in 2008 as Pittsburgh's District 3 Councilman. The Councilman has focused mainly on quality of life legislation, seeking to improve the tranquility and wellbeing of his constituents’ lives. In addition, he seeks to reduce crime, increase property values, encourage small business development, and thereby improve the quality of life for the city as a whole.

To further these goals, while in office, Kraus has successfully introduced numerous legislative initiatives, including updating the city's noise ordinance; regulating and streamlining the process of installing, designing, and maintaining sidewalk cafés to improve city business; reducing fire and health hazards by regulating the use of indoor furniture outside, and increasing fines for open alcohol containers, among many others. He has worked passionately to beautify the city through the removal of illegal graffiti and unsightly tags.

Frank LaTorre became the first Director of Public Space for Providence's Downtown Improvement District in 2005. He is currently the co-facilitator of the Providence Hospitality Resource Partnership (HRP), established in January, 2007 to address nightlife issues collaboratively with key stakeholder groups. On September 16, 2009 Frank accepted a Citizens Citation Award from Mayor David Cicilline on behalf of the Providence HRP for partnering with the Mayor's Substance Abuse Prevention Council in curbing underage drinking in local nightclubs and bars.

Frank co-chairs the Downtown Providence Security Network Greater Kennedy Plaza Security Committee and is a member of the Greater Kennedy Plaza Working group, working on ways to revitalize the use of public park space in the heart of Providence’s downtown. Frank was the recipient, on behalf of the Downtown Improvement District, of a Community Policing Partner Award given by the Mayor of Providence and the Providence Police Department in 2008.

Shirley Lowe has been the Executive Director of the Old Strathcona Business Association for nine years. She has watched and been a part of many changes around one of the busiest areas of her city. Shirley chairs the Edmonton Council of Business Revitalization Zones (BRZs) and is a past president of her Rotary club and the Edmonton and District Historical Society. She has researched and co-authored two local history books and has edited a third. Shirley has been heavily involved with nighttime economy issues and opportunities since connecting with the Responsible Hospitality Institute in 2004.

Re-elected to the Gainesville City Commission for a second three year term beginning May 2009, Commissioner Jeanna Mastrodicasa currently serves as chair on the Commission’s Public Safety Committee and a member of the Equal Opportunity Committee and the Recreation, Cultural Affairs and Public Works Committee. Jeanna served as the Vice-Chair for two of Gainesville’s City Advisory Boards: the Historic Preservation Board and the Human Rights Board.

Jeanna is also involved in NASPA, the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators, by serving in several leadership roles. She is a frequent presenter at its conferences and consults on topics related to millennial college students and diversity issues in higher education. The Summer 2009 issue of NASPA's Leadership Exchange featured an article by Commissioner Mastrodicasa titled Campuses and Communities Strengthen Relationships: Make Your Campus a Good Neighbor.

Alfonso Morales (PhD Northwestern) is Assistant Professor of Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He writes about public health, and the socio-legal organization of the economy. He has been invited to speak nationally and internationally. His scholarship includes three edited books and more than 20 articles appearing in the American Journal of Sociology, Journal of Planning Education and Research, Ethnicity and Health, Economic Development Quarterly, the Law and Society Review, etc. Besides HACU, a variety of organizations have supported his research. He is on the board of EDCO-Ventures creating profit-oriented firms in marginalized areas.

Mac Nichols is a principal with ERA AECOM (formerly Economics Research Associates), an international consulting firm focused on economic analysis for the entertainment and leisure industry, real estate development, public-policy analysis, tourism and economic development.

Since its founding in 1958, ERA has completed over 15,000 assignments yielding unmatched experience in land use economics. In the process, the firm has made important contributions to some of the world's most innovative and successful development projects.

Seattle Police Detective Bob Peth is assigned as the department’s primary nightlife monitor. He reviews every nightlife police report citywide, coordinates internal efforts to minimize nightlife crimes, acts as a liaison to partner agencies and the Joint Enforcement Team (JET), and administers the department’s Security Training program for nightlife employees.

 As a Patrol Officer he started working in the Pioneer Square hospitality zone in 2003. In 2004 he transitioned into the West Precinct Community Police Team where he was responsible for long-term problem solving related largely to nightlife. Under then Captain Linda Pierce he worked on the pilot program that became JET and has been the sole person assigned to that program ever since. The program has been housed in the West Precinct, Vice Unit, Violent Crimes Section and currently resides in the Metropolitan/Special Response Unit.

Jim Peters is the founder and president of RHI. He has overseen RHI as it emerged through peaks and valleys of growth and revitalization. He brings a unique background to his role and for more than twenty years he has administered effective management of RHI’s evolution and projects. Born in Long Island, New York, Peters first pursued an education in engineering, only to be drawn to work in hotels, restaurants and nightclubs, formalizing the practical experience with a degree in hospitality management from the University of Massachusetts. Peters continued his graduate education in psychology and counseling.

Peters is considered a leading authority on legal and social trends impacting the hospitality industry. In his role with RHI, Peters has organized and administered numerous conferences, symposia and forums involving national and international experts. He has organized and facilitated coalitions at the local, state and national levels, and has served as both speaker and facilitator for numerous conferences worldwide. He has advised legislators and regulatory agencies on policy and program development, served as a consultant on research projects evaluating responsible beverage service programs, testified as an expert witness in alcohol service liability cases, and assisted in the development of programs in Canada, New Zealand, and Australia.

Robert Pomplun is the President and Founder of Loss Control Services, Inc. established in 1985. Since then, he has conducted over 6,000 seminars throughout the state of Minnesota for such organizations as the American Legion Posts and Veterans of Foreign Wars. He has performed over 1,000 assessments for bars, restaurants, and other establishments that serve alcohol. He has testified several times before the Minnesota State Legislative Judiciary and Transportation Committees to help enact new legislation regarding valid identification for alcohol consumption and legal liabilities in the sale and use of alcohol.

Mr. Pomplun is a charter member of the Responsible Beverage Service Council, which is an international organization dedicated to responsible beverage service and practices. He founded Serving Alcohol, Inc. in 2007 which offers various general and custom online training courses at servingalcohol.com.

Rose Reyes has been the Director of Music Marketing for the Austin Convention and Visitors Bureau for the past four years. Reyes has worked in the cultural arts arena in Texas for 20 years including working as an artist manager for Tish Hinojosa, and an administrator, fundraiser and producer for state-wide cultural arts organization Texas Folklife Resources. At TFR she oversaw development of statewide music and visual arts touring initiatives, artist development, fundraising, and produced the Texas Folk Masters series.

Rose has worked extensively on business and cultural outreach programs for the Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and Texas Department of Commerce and has served on the boards of La Pena, Austin Music Commission, the National Academy of Recorded Arts and Sciences Texas Chapter, Cine Las Americas and COA Live Music Task Force. She has consulted with a wide rage of non-profit groups such as Americans for the Arts, the Library of Congress, Latino USA, The Alejandro Fund, Ballet Austin, ALLGO, International Accordion Festival and served on funding deliberation panels for the Fund for Folk Culture, National Endowment for the Arts and the Texas Commission on the Arts.

Barbara Ryan has over 30 years of experience in the alcohol, tobacco, and other drug prevention field. She has developed numerous publications and guides in the area of prevention, including The College Alcohol Risk Assessment Guide and CSAP’s Prevention Primer. She edited Prevention File: Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs, a periodical magazine on prevention issues from a public health perspective. As a senior advisor for the Center for College Health and Safety and the U.S. Department of Education's Higher Education Center for Alcohol and Other Drug and Violence Prevention, she edits the newsletter Catalyst and wrote Prevention Challenges at Community Colleges and Making the Link: Academics and Prevention.

She has published numerous articles on prevention topics ranging from preventing alcohol sales to minors to using local powers to control alcohol availability. She is the co-author of A Matter of Degree Advocacy Initiative: A Project of The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and A Matter of Degree Initiative to Reduce Binge Drinking at Colleges and Universities: Lessons Learned

Chris Ryan is the President of the Lodge Management Group, which provides auditing, inventory, human resources, and training services to liquor licensees in the City of Chicago. Mr. Ryan is also the President of twelve (12) corporations holding City of Chicago liquor licensees. He has played an active and positive role in community affairs for many years, drawing from his expertise in the operation of nightclub venues.

Mr. Ryan is the Chairman of the 18th District CAPS Hospitality Subcommittee, which provides owners, managers, and employees of the hospitality industry the opportunity to network and become informed about industry issues. As chairman of the Subcommittee, Mr. Ryan is a member of the District Advisory Council and meets with the 18th District Police Commander on all issues regarding liquor licensees in the near north community. He has also testified before the City Council and the licensing committee on many issues, including deleterious impact, cameras, and promoter ordinances.

Rachael Snedecor is the Executive Director of Livermore Downtown Inc. She has been working in the downtown for the last seven years focused on the revitalization of downtown Livermore. Her varied business experience has given her the ability to empathize with the small business needs in downtown Livermore as well as experience in marketing a destination that has grown to be the jewel of the San Francisco East Bay Area.

Accomplishments in Downtown Management include assisting in the completion and implementation of a Downtown Specific Plan which included a 13 million dollar Streetscape Project. Under her management, Livermore Downtown Inc. has successfully produced and facilitated downtown events that attract over a million consumers to the downtown district each year. Rachael and her team constantly look for new and innovative ways to reach out to consumers. Their unique outreach methods include “Livermore Life; Your Downtown Magazine” a television show produced for their community Television station and the Downtown Club program with hundreds of residents joining and establishing strong loyalty towards keeping their dollars in their hometown downtown.

Steve Sheldon is the Marketing & Special Events Manager for the Downtown Long Beach Associates (DLBA), a private nonprofit organization that operates on behalf of the tenants and commercial property owners in Downtown Long Beach. Steve is responsible for the marketing, promotions, advertising and special events initiatives of the DLBA, which manages one of the largest business improvement districts in the U.S. and represents more than 1,800 stakeholders.

The DLBA produces and sponsors more than 75 events annually, including the Summer And Music (S.A.M.) concert series, the Latin American Parade & Festival and the Long Beach Bike Festival, which was recognized this year with a coveted Pinnacle Award by the International Downtown Association. He is involved in a number of community activities and is the recipient of the President’s Volunteer Service Award by the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation.

Janice Solomon is the Executive Director of the Toronto Entertainment District Business Improvement Area (BIA), formed in 2008 as one of Canada’s largest BIA’s. As Executive Director, Ms. Solomon oversees the day to day management of this mixed use area – with a mandate to promote and enhance the Entertainment District. Ms. Solomon also oversees the development of a Master Plan for the Entertainment District. This plan provides a vision for the future of the area, including beautification of streets, parks and plazas to create a desirable neighborhood to live, work, visit and be entertained.

Ms. Solomon’s initiatives have included formation of a Nightlife Committee to maintain a vibrant and safe nightlife through: Development of a Best Practices document for Nightlife operators and monthly roundtable meetings with nightlife operators, police, enforcement agencies and local residents to bring about new and better ways of managing nightlife.

John Thayer is a nationally recognized expert on community policing and special event and public safety planning. He has conducted extensive research in the areas of entertainment venue policing and co-authored “Policing Entertainment Districts,” published in The International Journal of Police Strategies and Management, London, England. This comprehensive analysis included numerous site visits and a survey of fifty cities across the country.

Mr. Thayer retired as a senior manager with the Santa Barbara California Police Department, where he held a variety of leadership positions, including Media Relations, Chief’s Adjutant and Special Event Planning. He was the agency’s liaison to the US Secret Service during the Regan presidency, when the Western White House was located in Santa Barbara.

Mr. Thayer has provided consulting services to a number of cities, including Kansas City, MO; Memphis, TN; Irvine, CA and San Jose, CA. He brings a diverse and extensive background in the entertainment business, as well as over thirty years of police experience.  

In 2008, Lee joined the City of San Jose City Manager’s Office as the Downtown Coordinator. Lee serves as the City’s liaison with Downtown stakeholders, analyzes current policies and ordinances, and recommends areas for change and improvement. He oversees implementation of the recommendations from the Hospitality Zone Assessment Report and acts as the lead staff support to the City Manager’s Downtown Advisory Committee to continue the vibrancy and nightlife experience for residents and visitors.

In 2009, he worked with local stakeholders and the police department to develop a new entertainment zone policing model which provided an earlier presence in the downtown and relied on collaboration with nightlife businesses. A portion of the costs for this new model are paid by nightlife business owners. Lee’s political and public policy background lends especially well to working with the Mayor and Council, City Officials, and downtown stakeholders on the direction of downtown San Jose.

This summer, Bryan Woll served as a Staff Intern in the Office of Pittsburgh City Councilman Bruce Kraus, where he focused on the South Side’s entertainment district. This internship was organized and funded by southwestern Pennsylvania’s Local Government Academy. Bryan is currently a sophomore at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. and devotes significant time to public and community service. He currently serves as Field Director for the Georgetown University College Democrats, working to increase membership and assist students in registering to vote and absentee balloting. Bryan is also working on a community-based learning project with LIFT-DC, where he serves as a student-advocate for homeless and low-income residents of D.C.

He has previously held internships with Alliance for Justice, a Washington, D.C.-based non-profit, social justice advocacy organization, and the Pittsburgh District Office of U.S. Congressman Mike Doyle, where he worked on constituent services and community development issues. In 2007 and 2008, Bryan served as the Chair of the City of Pittsburgh Youth Council and the Vice-Chair of the city’s Youth Commission, where he helped to shape the city’s youth policy and authored the Council’s Voice of the Youth report.

After achieving unequivocal success in all aspects of the hospitality industry, Jeffrey Yarbrough has shifted his focus to the PR & Marketing business. In April of 2004 bigInk PR & Marketing opened with an impressive roster of clients consisting of leaders in the hospitality and entertainment industry from around the country. Yarbrough incorporates the real life experience he gained from running his own companies and shares it with his clients.
Yarbrough's knowledge of public relations tactics, media relations and the hospitality industry warranted bigInk PR's recognition as one of Dallas Business Journal's Top 25 public relations companies in Dallas/Fort Worth in 2005. A unique networking ability and strong understanding of local and national publications have put not only his own company, but also his clients, in the media spotlight.