Board of Directors

Lisa Vilhauer brings over 15 years of commercial and residential development experience to our board. With two large projects currently underway in our district, Lisa's priority is creating a safer neighborhood for Riaz Captial's workers and residents. The Z-Hotel conversion project will soon be complete, bringing dozens of new, state-of-the-art units to our district.

Jonathan served as the Market Manager and Community Liaison at the weekly CUESA Jack London Square Farmers Market from 2016 to 2020, where he was dedicated to local economic development through the market by providing pathways for new and emerging entrepreneurs, showcasing the impactful work of local non-profits and community organizations, and cultivating relationships with East Bay food, environment, social justice and activism communities, including working closely with the Jack London Improvement District. Currently, Jonathan is a community weaver at the Berrett-Koehler Foundation, a freelance photographer and video producer, and also serves on the Board of Directors of the OCA Asian American Advocates: East Bay Chapter. He has a degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from the University of California, Berkeley.

John Eric leverages data, workflow, AI analytics, and Six Sigma principles to optimize business operations and healthcare processes.

Also, as the Founder and Principal of Drone Light Shows and The Drone Command Post, John Eric brings 20+ years of experience in drone engineering and live event coordination, focusing on innovative entertainment solutions and navigating complex regulatory landscapes.

Izamar Hernandez Hook brings over a decade of leadership in commercial property management, specializing in mixed-use developments and retail spaces. Currently serving as General Manager and VP at CIM Group, she oversees operations at Jack London Square, focusing on enhancing its status as a premier waterfront destination. With extensive experience at companies like CenterCal Properties and CBRE, Izamar has a proven track record in redevelopment, team leadership, and creating vibrant community experiences through strategic management and partnerships.

Peter has lived and raised his family in Oakland for over 30 years, and has been an owner and resident in the Jack London District for over 5 years. He has been a Board member of JLID for 3 years, and has served on the Executive Committee as Secretary and led the Train Quiet Zone Initiative during his tenure. Peter has over 30 years of experience in the development, design and program management of transportation infrastructure and rail projects. He has held various leadership positions in major US based engineering consulting firms, global technology firms and with the Bay Area Transit District (BART). Currently he is a Senior Vice President for strategic sales and advisory services at HNTB, and previously was a Director of their High Speed, and Rail and Transit Practice. Peter leads strategic program business development and practice building in the transportation infrastructure market and serves as a subject matter expert on rail programs. HNTB is a national leader in transportation and rail projects and is currently leading major sections on the California High Speed Rail Program and other projects and program in the US.

Melody has been an Oakland resident and property owner for 19 years. Melody is the owner of Nova Real Estate, which recently merged with Kim Cole Real Estate to create a bigger, stronger firm. With over 25 years of experience in residential real estate, she brings extensive expertise and a deep commitment to the local community. Melody is also the President of the Ellington Commercial Association and actively supports local initiatives. When not in the office, you can find Melody and her family enjoying the waterfront & local restaurants.

Ener Chiu has been with EBALDC since 2004. The majority of his time has been in the Real Estate Development, where he was most recently the Department Director, overseeing a team of 10 staff, a pipeline of more than 550 affordable homes, and several large- scale joint venture public-private partnerships. Since 2008, Ener has been deeply involved in community planning and development projects within Downtown Oakland and Chinatown. As a Steering Committee member of the Oakland Chinatown Coalition, he organizes nonprofits, residents, and business owners and employees to advocate for planning policies and development projects that would directly benefit the people who currently live and work in Oakland, while making space for the new residents and businesses that are moving to this city. Ener has helped to start community benefit organizations, a Mandarin immersion charter school, a public park Friends committee, and served on the boards of housing advocacy and community safety organizations. Ener holds a Master’s degree in City and Regional Planning from UC Berkeley, and lives in Oakland with his wife, two daughters, and pit-terrier.

Michael co-founded The Port Workspaces in 2012 to reinvent beautiful old spaces and bring new flexibility, resources & community to today’s pioneers. The Port currently has two locations in the District at Broadway and Washington. Michael is also the Principal at Carilli Development that combines decades of achievement in architecture, urban planning, construction, project management, investment management and commercial and residential building development which seeks to cultivate dynamic, self-reinforcing business hubs, often by investing in multiple properties and businesses in closely contiguous areas. Michael previously served on the JLID Board of Directors from 2014 to 2017.

Keith is the CEO and founder of Purple Heart Patient Center in Oakland, and is the first African American in the United States to run a medical cannabis dispensary. He started the dispensary 11 years ago and now serves 10,000 patients a month. He was appointed to the California Cannabis Commission Advisory Panel, where he advises the state on regulations protecting consumer health and safety.

Greg has a degree in Architecture from Yale University and is currently Director of Development with Carmel Partners, leading entitlement and execution of multiple large-scale multifamily projects in the East Bay. In the entitlement and development of 4th Street East, Greg and his team worked with staff to engage the community. In Jack London he has worked closely with the Improvement District to advocate for over $300K of impact fees allocated towards façade improvement funds and the Waterfront Warehouse District Signage program. Greg also is working to address the condition of the I-880 underpass gateways to the District, having advocated for the change of a council ordinance to allow the project’s 1% for Art funds to be implemented for an installation at the Madison Street Underpass. Greg also advocates for better access to the District through attendance at the Oakland Alameda Access Project and Downtown Specific Plan project meetings.

With over two decades of dedicated experience as the General Manager at Everett and Jones Barbeque in Jack London, Dorcia Darling White is not just continuing a family legacy—she is enriching it. Following in the footsteps of her mother, Dorothy King, and her grandmother, the esteemed founder Dorothy Turner, Dorcia embodies the spirit of resilience, passion, and commitment that defines her family's storied history in the restaurant business.

Dorcia's journey began at the young age of fourteen when she first stepped into the family business. It was here that she learned invaluable lessons about teamwork, perseverance, and the significance of family bonds in the workplace. After completing her high school education she ventured into the corporate world, spending over a decade at Farmers Insurance. During her tenure, she ascended from a file clerk to an accounting manager, gaining critica management skills and a strong business acumen that would later serve her well.

In 1999, Dorcia made the pivotal decision to leave Farmers Insurance and return to her roots, assisting her family in launching a new full-service restaurant and bar. Drawing from her extensive management experience, she played an instrumental role in elevating the family business, ensuring it thrived in a competitive landscape.

Hospitality is not merely a career for Dorcia; it is her lifelong passion. She believes that those who aspire to enter the restaurant industry must possess an authentic love for the work, as it transcends being just a job—it is a way of life. In her view, success in this dynamic and often chaotic environment requires unique individuals who thrive on challenge and possess a genuine heart for service.

Having worked closely under her mother's guidance, who affectionately referred to her as he "mini-me," Dorcia is now poised to carry forward the remarkable legacy of community engagement and service that her mother championed. With the baton officially passed, she fully committed to ensuring that Everett and Jones Barbeque continues to be a beloved institution, upholding the values and traditions that have made it a cornerstone of the community.