The Civic Center Community Benefit District (CBD) held its Annual Meeting on Thursday, June 23, 2016, at 9:00 am, at the newly remodeled San Francisco Arts Commission Gallery in War Memorial Veterans' Building.

The first order of business was outgoing chair Bill Whitfield presented a brochure that was printed that highlights key CBD accomplishments in the past year. He then presented the slate of officers for the 2016-2017 year to being July 1, 2016. The slate was elected by the board and are as follows:

  • Chair - Tim Vrabel, Emerald Fund
  • Ist Vice Chair - Ruth Nott, San Francisco Opera
  • 2nd Vice Chair - Bill Whitfield, Shorenstein Realty Services
  • Secretary - Jennifer Norris, San Francisco War Memorial and Performing Arts Center
  • Treasurer - John Updike, City and County of San Francisco Dept. of Real Estate

For a list of the entire CBD board of directors, please click here.

Afterward, CBD Executive Director Don Savoie asked Ruth Nott to make her presentation: a gavel and block to outgoing chair Bill Whitfield thanking him for his years of service.

Then Savoie asked for the CBD board members to give out the Civic Star Awards. Civic Star Award recipients are distinguished members of our community identified by the CCCBD Community Ambassadors for their contributions to improving the image, safety, beautification, and cleanliness of our neighborhood.

The first presentation was made by board member Jim Haas to Rob Malone from the SFMTA. Since Malone was on vacation during the event, the CBD presented the award to Malone's boss, Ted Graff, Director of Parking for the SFMTA.

The second presentation was made by CBD board member Janan New to Maryanne Zadfar, from the Absinthe Group.

2016 Civic Stars

Rob Malone

Rob Malone is the Senior Manager for the SFMTA's Sustainable Streets Program, working on Parking. For the past two years, Thr Civic Center CBD has worked with him, and through his cooperation and support, with the MTA staff, to make several improvements and upgrades to the Civic Center Garage that has made it safer, friendlier and more efficient, which has increased parking levels. This has improved the patron experience for the arts organizations, as well as anyone who parks in the garage at night.

Maryanne Zadfar

Maryanne Zadfar is the Chief Administrative Officer and Director, Human Resources, for The Absinthe Group, the largest private employer in the Civic Center/Hayes Valley area. The group owns and operates: Absinthe Brasserie & Bar, Absinthe Private Dining, Arlequin Cafe & Food-To-Go, Arlequin Wine Merchant, Boxing Room, Comstock Saloon, and their new restaurant, Bellota. She was the driving force to get the Ivy Street Project on the map, get it approved by the Planning Department and assembling a collaborative partnership that includes the CBD, local property owners, and residents.

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