SWNA 2026 Leadership
We’re thrilled to introduce this year’s SWNA leadership and are deeply grateful to everyone who put themselves forward. The leaders guiding us through 2026 are passionate champions of SOMA, thoughtful collaborators, and committed community builders who bring both energy and care to their work. Without further ado, please meet our 2026 Board of Directors and Committee Members 🥁
Shaun Aukland - Board of Directors, Government Relations
Alex Cain - Board of Directors, Business Relations, Events
Liz Cahill - Events, Finance
Derek Chau - Board of Directors, Business Relations, Government Relations
Stuart Collins - Communications, Finance, Government Relations
Robert Costic - Government Relations
Mick del Rosario - Board of Directors, Business Relations, Communications, Events, Government Relations
Daniel Dokovna - Business Relations, Government Relations
Leah Edwards - Treasurer (Board Officer), Finance, Government Relations
Chine Emeahara - Board of Directors, Events, Government Relations
Kelly Flynn - Board of Directors, Business Relations, Government Relations
Sally French - Business Relations
Jasmine Gardiner - Secretary (Board Officer), Communications, Events, Government Relations
Douglas Geerdes -Board of Directors, Business Relations, Events, Government Relations
Matt Hall - Events
Lara Hashimoto - Events, Government Relations
Adam Hong - Vice President (Board Officer), Business Relations, Events, Finance, Government Relations
Reese Aaron Isbell - President (Board Officer), Finance, Government Relations
Abigail Kroch - Communications, Events
Alex Ludlum - Board of Directors, Government Relations
Hassan Manea - Board of Directors, Business Relations
Sean Millis - Board of Directors, Business Relations, Government Relations
Kristin Ngo - Board of Directors, Events, Finance
Helene Sautou - Government Relations
Srinjoy Sen - Business Relations, Communications, Events
David Singer - Government Relations
Jane Weil - Government Relations
Ryan Zin - Business Relations, Events, Government Relations
Shaun Aukland
9 year SOMA resident & chief instigator @ fairtrees.org
What’s your hidden-gem spot in the neighborhood?
My plot at Howard-Langton Garden. I'm working on adding a gravity-fed watering system.
If neighbors stop you on the street, what topic are you always happy to chat about?
Trees! 🌳 (check out fairtrees.org)
What's your favorite book, movie, podcast, or song about, or set in San Francisco?
Bay Curious Podcast from SF Chronicle
Serving on: Board of Directors, Government Relations
Alex Cain
keeping SOMA on beat
What’s your hidden-gem spot in the neighborhood?
Driftwood - Friendly bartenders, great music, very relaxed and open atmosphere. Stop in for a drink but plan on something more.
If neighbors stop you on the street, what topic are you always happy to chat about?
The next SoMa neighborhood Happy Hour.
What's your favorite book, movie, podcast, or song about, or set in San Francisco?
MTV's The Real World: San Francisco
Serving on: Board of Directors, Business Relations, Events
Derek Chau
7 year SOMA resident & accessibility fan
What’s your hidden-gem spot in the neighborhood?
Montesacro
If neighbors stop you on the street, what topic are you always happy to chat about?
Street crime/conditions, lack of police enforcement
What's your favorite book, movie, podcast, or song about, or set in San Francisco?
The Rock
Serving on: Board of Directors, Business Relations, Events
Robert Costic
Missouri -> DC ->SF for the win
What’s your hidden-gem spot in the neighborhood?
The Willows (for hamburgers)
If neighbors stop you on the street, what topic are you always happy to chat about?
culture and the arts
What's your favorite book, movie, podcast, or song about, or set in San Francisco?
Vertigo (but Basic Instinct is the guilty pleasure)
Serving on: Government Relations
Daniel Dokovna
20+ years in SOMA
What’s your hidden-gem spot in the neighborhood?
The kinetic sculpture of the man on the world at the Moscone center
If neighbors stop you on the street, what topic are you always happy to chat about?
City Politics, news, dogs
What's your favorite book, movie, podcast, or song about, or set in San Francisco?
The Rock
Serving on: Business Relations, Government Relations
Leah Edwards
10+ years in SOMA & the brains of the operation
What’s your hidden-gem spot in the neighborhood?
The performance venue 200 Channels
If neighbors stop you on the street, what topic are you always happy to chat about?
New things happening/opening in Soma West
What's your favorite book, movie, podcast, or song about, or set in San Francisco?
Purple Hat by Sofi Tucker - based on one of their shows at Audio!
Serving on: Treasurer (Board Officer), Finance, Government Relations
Chine Emeahara
Big SOMA Himself
What’s your hidden-gem spot in the neighborhood?
Northern China BBQ
If neighbors stop you on the street, what topic are you always happy to chat about?
Drug Addictions, City Services, Culture
What's your favorite book, movie, podcast, or song about, or set in San Francisco?
San Fransicko
Serving on: Board of Directors, Events, Government Relations
Kelly Flynn
keeping SOMA's reciepts
What’s your hidden-gem spot in the neighborhood?
Golden gate donuts!
If neighbors stop you on the street, what topic are you always happy to chat about?
What's new in the neighborhood, the latest news from city hall
What's your favorite book, movie, podcast, or song about, or set in San Francisco?
The season of the witch
Serving on: Board of Directors, Business Relations, Government Relations
Sally French
Getting SOMA the love it deserves
What’s your hidden-gem spot in the neighborhood?
Les Deux Amis: City Fog Latte (AM) or Leitz Sparkling Rose (PM)
Driftwood: They host a weekly Saturday trash pickup with drinks after!!
Phuket Fries at Basil Thai
Also don't judge me but...Costco!
If neighbors stop you on the street, what topic are you always happy to chat about?
The gym! I work at Equinox Van Mission as a group fitness coach, and I work out either there or at Fitness SF Transbay.
What's your favorite book, movie, podcast, or song about, or set in San Francisco?
Princess Diaries
Serving on: Business Relations
Jasmine Gardiner
charity champ & rumple's mom
What’s your hidden-gem spot in the neighborhood?
Heyma and Noshbox
If neighbors stop you on the street, what topic are you always happy to chat about?
Get me started on SOMA history at your own peril
What's your favorite book, movie, podcast, or song about, or set in San Francisco?
The Island of Last Things
Serving on: Secretary (Board Officer), Communications, Events, Government Relations
Douglas Geerdes
designing SOMA's potential
What’s your hidden-gem spot in the neighborhood?
A small hike through Corona Heights Park ending up at the peak with an amazing view of the city!
If neighbors stop you on the street, what topic are you always happy to chat about?
I love chatting about pros and cons of living in SF, politics, tech, and art
What's your favorite book, movie, podcast, or song about, or set in San Francisco?
Harold and Maude
Serving on: Board of Directors, Business Relations, Events, Government Relations
Lara Hashimoto
16 year resident & tehama avenger
What’s your hidden-gem spot in the neighborhood?
Ushi Taro Ramen on 8th. The new restaurant "The Roll" at Folsom and 5th is surprisingly good.
If neighbors stop you on the street, what topic are you always happy to chat about?
Where to get the best pastries, pies, ice-cream, gourmet cookies - generally, anything that's not healthy.
What's your favorite book, movie, podcast, or song about, or set in San Francisco?
Currently reading Season of the Witch and Project Hail Mary which both coincidentally are about, or feature SF. I also have a California playlist that I force my visiting friends to listen to while I drive them around the BA.
Serving on: Business Relations
Adam Hong
SOMA's smoothest operator
What’s your hidden-gem spot in the neighborhood?
Tin on Howard between 7th and 6th has amazing Pho. Golden Gate Donuts on 6th has one of the best apple fritters in the city.
If neighbors stop you on the street, what topic are you always happy to chat about?
Neighborhood gossip
What's your favorite book, movie, podcast, or song about, or set in San Francisco?
The Rock
Serving on: Vice President (Board Officer), Business Relations, Events, Finance, Government Relations
Reese Isbell
leader extraordinaire
What’s your hidden-gem spot in the neighborhood?
nosh box
If neighbors stop you on the street, what topic are you always happy to chat about?
wonder woman
What's your favorite book, movie, podcast, or song about, or set in San Francisco?
what's up doc
Serving on: President (Board Officer), Finance, Government Relations
Alex Ludlum
What’s your hidden-gem spot in the neighborhood?
The secret Container Store on 9th
If neighbors stop you on the street, what topic are you always happy to chat about?
Trash
What's your favorite book, movie, podcast, or song about, or set in San Francisco?
Idiocracy
Serving on: Board of Directors, Government Relations
Sean Millis
creator/reuser/innovator
What’s your hidden-gem spot in the neighborhood?
Too many to list.
If neighbors stop you on the street, what topic are you always happy to chat about?
Anything
What's your favorite book, movie, podcast, or song about, or set in San Francisco?
Anything with Robin Williams.
Serving on: Board of Directors, Business Relations, Government Relations
Kristin Ngo
SOMA lover & Beast mother
What’s your hidden-gem spot in the neighborhood?
Bay of Burma. Basil Thai. Ushi Taro Ramen. The Roll. Rooftop view at 99Rausch. Kingdom of Dumplings. Walking distance to anywhere - Union Square, FiDi, Hayes, Mission …we are the most central in SF
If neighbors stop you on the street, what topic are you always happy to chat about?
Food 😁
What's your favorite book, movie, podcast, or song about, or set in San Francisco?
Sweet November, The Rock, Mrs Doutfires, Bedazzled, Moneyball, Pursuit of Happiness
Serving on: Board of Directors, Events, Finance
Helene Sautou
classing up SOMA
What’s your hidden-gem spot in the neighborhood?
Montesacro
If neighbors stop you on the street, what topic are you always happy to chat about?
Food, cooking, running, strength training, cats
What's your favorite book, movie, podcast, or song about, or set in San Francisco?
Man from Reno
Serving on: Government Relations
Srinjoy Sen
3 year resident & thrill seeker
What’s your hidden-gem spot in the neighborhood?
The Bajaj on Hallam St
If neighbors stop you on the street, what topic are you always happy to chat about?
Humans
What's your favorite book, movie, podcast, or song about, or set in San Francisco?
Sourdough by Robin Sloan
Serving on: Business Relations, Communications, Events
David Singer
neighborhood troublemaker
What’s your hidden-gem spot in the neighborhood?
Turquaz
If neighbors stop you on the street, what topic are you always happy to chat about?
Public cleanliness and order (among other things)
What's your favorite book, movie, podcast, or song about, or set in San Francisco?
Bullet
Serving on: Government Relations