Community-conscious Artists, Entrepreneurs,
Change Makers, Kultivators.
Team
Desi Danganan
Founder & Executive DirectorDesi is a serial entrepreneur. As the managing director of Plinth Agency, he has successfully grown businesses through strategic branding, design, and crowdfunding. He brings 15+ years of experience creating, funding, and branding unique business concepts which span the food, music, technology spaces....
His past achievements include the Summit SF, one of the nation’s first café and co-working spaces and the Poleng Lounge, a Filipino restaurant and nightclub which was named one of SF’s Top 10 New Restaurants in 2006.
As a dedicated community advocate, Desi is currently leading the strategy for the economic development of SOMA Pilipinas, a newly designated cultural district in San Francisco. He believes community consciousness and culture are the keys to developing today’s thriving commercial ecosystems.
Desi pours his entrepreneurial heart, creative spirit, and business mind into every endeavor. His ability to develop ground breaking concepts and unique brand experiences in the online and offline world is much sought after and well documented.
He finds joy in using his wide breadth of experience to help people grow their businesses and live their dreams.
In his free time he can be found co-parenting his dog Sumi and leading the charge to explore what the night has to offer...
Andre Sibayan
Art DirectorAndre has a passion for curiosity, discovery, and fun. He excels in solving problems through thoughtful design and creative strategy. Andre brings 15+ years of professional design experience creating work for clients like Target, Old Navy and the McCANN Worldgroup. He’s the visual mastermind behind UNDSCVRD, Republika, and a whole host of Kultivate Labs projects.
Kaithleen Apostol
Marketing Manager & Brownthought Program ManagerKaithleen loves creating safe spaces for people to connect both IRL and online. Born and raised in San Francisco, Kaithleen has always felt a strong connection to the local Filipino community in SOMA Pilipinas - having attended festivals and volunteered for organizations in her earlier community organizer days. With 7+ years of experience, working with a plethora of brands to connect with their audience through social media, content creation, and paid advertising, Kaithleen uses her digital storytelling talent to uplift her community and the good that they offer the world ...
Whether she is connecting with vendors for big vibrant festivals or creating content with local artists, she is very passionate about the beautiful, vibrant stories she gets to share through Kultivate Labs.
With her time working at boutique marketing agencies on brands that span across diverse industries like food & beverage, non-profit, wellness and education, Kaithleen thrives in a fast-paced environment where she is able to flex her project and account management skills all while building brands people are excited about.
Marissa Macayan
Kapwa Gardens General ManagerMarissa manages private event bookings, community programs, and daily operations at Kapwa Gardens. Her career in event production and 20 years as a Filipino folk dance performer comes full circle in bringing cultural programs to this urban garden oasis.
Lionel Queen
Kapwa Gardens Production ManagerFind Lionel holding our A/V tech efforts down at all our events.
Nicole Salaver
Balay Kreative Program ManagerNicole Salaver is a San Francisco native with a long family heritage of activism and community work in the Filipino American arts and culture scene. Her grandfather, Canuto Salaver, was a Manong of the International Hotel in the 1940's. He was also an original co-founder of the famed Bataan Restaurant and Pool Parlor in SF's Manilatown. Her grandmother, Estrella Salaver, also led the San Francisco-based Philippine American Cultural Foundation whose specific purpose was to promote social and cultural awareness in the community and produce programs and performances in the 1960's.
JP Reyes
SEED Network Co-LeadJP Reyes is a multi-passionate entrepreneur and self-taught chef, most known as the co-founder of The Sarap Shop. He launched Sarap Shop originally as a side project with his partner, Kristen Brillantes, to explore and share his Fil-Am culture through plant-forward kamayan pop-ups.
Kristen Brillantes
SEED Network Co-LeadKristen is a seasoned entrepreneur, business & service designer, and executive coach with 15+ years of experience across tech, design, food, business, and people development.
James Brillantes
SEED Network Co-LeadJames Brillantes is a first-gen Filipino American, Bay Area native. And while he is most known as a die-hard Warriors fan (ask about his infamous tattoo), he is also well-known as a co-owner + COO of The Sarap Shop where he has spent the last 5 years building a thriving team culture and food community.
Iggy Mora
Balay Kreative Program CoordinatorIggy is a first generation Ilocana, tattoo artist, multimedia specialist, and social science researcher based in the East Bay.
Jy Jimmie Gabiola
Marketing CoordinatorJimmie is a Bay Area-based interdisciplinary artist. With a Bachelor’s degree in Photography and minor in Literature from California College of Arts, Jimmie’s art practice reclaims personal & collective narratives surrounding the echoes of immigration. His work creates dialogue centered around the multiplicity of what being an American means today – oftentimes exploring the photo collage, portraiture and visual poetics via digital, analog & alternative processes. Jimmie’s 8+ years in the digital marketing space — helping entrepreneurs develop their brand strategies & creative campaigns bridging the duality of fine arts & media communications.
Board
Kristian Kabuay
Board Member / ArtsKristian is an artist/entrepreneur/futurist specializing in endangered writing systems from the Philippines. As a leading authority for the propagation and instruction of prePhilippine scripts, he launched his own edutainment business specializing in custom art, books, events, technology, and apparel. Kristian has spoken around the world at museums, schools, and companies. His work is wide-reaching that spans across multimedia, traditional practices, and technology. He is currently working on his 7th book, 2nd documentary, education startup, and learning traditional tattooing.
Lisa Zahner
Board Member / Real EstateLisa Zahner works at the intersection of real estate and local business.
Lisa focuses on the sale of multi-unit, mixed-use and commercial properties, with select retail leasing in San Francisco. Lisa also advises Owners and Developers on potential ground floor uses and designs to secure the ideal tenants. She is known for her extensive knowledge of San Francisco communities, and her ability to deliver impressive results....
With over 20 years combined experience in Commercial Real Estate, Local Businesses and Government, and a background in Community Development, Lisa focuses on what could be, and how to get there. She has worked for the City of San Francisco transforming under-performing commercial corridors into thriving retail, restaurant and nightlife destinations. In addition, Lisa has served as the Executive Director of a small business incubator and real estate brokerage.
She also serves on the board the San Francisco Bay Housing Advocacy Coalition, which advocates for more housing and development through the Bay Area, and the Alamo Square Neighborhood Association. She is also a member of Commercial Real Estate Women. On occasion, she can be found singing with her neighborhood cover band.
Gani Laguisma
Board Member / FinanceGani Laguisma has over three decades of experience providing accounting, auditing, and advisory services to public and private companies, both startup stage and established companies, in an array of industries within the United States and abroad....
He worked for more than 15 years with E&Y in the United States and abroad. He is a former assurance and audit partner with OUM & Co. LLP, a public accounting firm based in San Francisco and Carlsbad.
Gani has extensive experience assisting companies related to the outsourcing of accounting services, initial public offerings, private placements, and merger and acquisitions.
Currently, Gani is focused on growing Scrubbed, an outsourced accounting, and financial reporting service company.
Billy Chan
Board Member / LegalBilly is an accomplished business transactions lawyer with a rich history of work in the Filipino and Asian American community. He is a founding member of the National Filipino American Lawyers Association and is a past president of the Asian American Bar Association....
Billy handles business and corporate work for new companies, established businesses, individual entrepreneurs, family shops, large enterprises, multi-entity groups, private firms, small corporations, and big partnerships. His clients operate in the areas of retail, clothing, accessories, technology, restaurant, real estate, travel, furniture, entertainment, hospitality, design, professional, consulting, and other services.
Billy completed his undergraduate education at UCLA, where he graduated with honors. He attended law school at the UC Berkeley School of Law (Boalt Hall). Billy is an active member of the legal community. He is a Past President of both the Asian American Bar Association and the Filipino Bar Association of Northern California. He has served on the board of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association, and previously held the Secretary position of that organization. He is a founding and active member of the National Filipino American Lawyers Association.
His pro bono efforts include service as Secretary and General Counsel of the Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce of Northern California and General Counsel of the Young Filipino Professionals Association.
Billy has received awards from the Minority Bar Coalition, the Filipino Bar Association of Northern California, and the Young Filipino Professionals Association for his service to the San Francisco community. He has been recognized each year from 2009 through 2016 by Northern California Super Lawyers.
Marlene Mira
Board Member / FinancialWith over 15 years of experience in the Venture Capital industry, Marlene Mira is a seasoned professional currently serving as a Senior Accounting Manager at a premier global asset servicing firm. In this capacity, Marlene oversees critical functions for a high profile client that includes financial reporting, strategic planning, tax preparation, audit, and fin tech projects on open and close-ended funds...
Prior to her current role, Marlene was involved in investor relations, fundraising, financing, compliance, accounting and financial functions for several venture capital and private equity firms. Earlier in her career, Marlene served as a financial consultant to numerous start-up companies and small businesses. She also gained valuable experience at an emerging boutique investment bank, where she managed various responsibilities including accounting operations, trading and human resources. A native of San Francisco, Marlene holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from California State University, East Bay. She has actively participated in professional associations such as the Venture Capital Bean Counter (VCBC) and served as President and Board Member of the Young Filipino Professional Association (YFPA), focusing on fundraising, professional development, and community outreach initiatives. In her leisure time, Marlene enjoys indulging in her passions for traveling, running, music, and supporting her beloved sports teams.
Rob Chua
Board Member / Public AffairsRob Chua started his career in public affairs engaging with local Pilipino communities throughout the Bay Area doing targeted voter registration and outreach. He worked as a Field Director and Organizer on candidate campaigns in municipal and state races. He also previously worked as a Finance Consultant and Campaign Advisor. Currently Rob runs his own public affairs consulting firm, Avenues Consulting. In this capacity, Rob manages government relations activities for clients in the public and private sector.
Anthony Cuaresma
Board Member / BusinessAnthony is a multi-disciplinary advisor and Managing Partner at PeopleFirst M&A Partners, specializing in guiding organizations through strategic changes during M&A transactions. With expertise in optimizing organizational structures, aligning people, culture, processes, and systems, Anthony aims to achieve deal objectives while minimizing business disruption, ensuring the success of acquired teams while prioritizing a positive employee experience amidst change.