The Urbanization & Future of Downtown

As President/CEO, Kris oversees the day-to-day operations of the 300+ membership organization with responsibility for implementing the Board’s Strategic Plan for downtown with oversight of the $6 million Clean and Safe program. Prior to her position at the Partnership, Kris served as Chief of Staff to Mayor Jerry Sanders where she ran the day-to-day operations of the Mayor’s Office implementing the Mayor’s agenda for city government. She was Vice President of the Sickels Group with oversight of risk management and government approval/entitlements for key projects. She was Vice President, Marsh Risk and Insurance Services, where she led the Real Estate/Public Entity Practice in the use of insurance as a business solution for government and real estate transactions. Kris was also the Vice President of Governmental Relations for the San Diego Padres, where she managed overall governmental relations coordinating the campaign in support of Proposition C, the successful ballot measure that led to the development of Petco Park and prior to that, she was Director of Community Outreach, and Chief of Staff for Mayor Susan Golding spearheading the City’s efforts in hosting the 1996 Republican National Convention. Boards of Service: San Diego County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation, United Way of San Diego County, National Conflict Resolution Center, Workforce Partnership. She is a member of a variety of organizations including the Downtown Rotary Club of San Diego 33, the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce Public Policy Committee, and the Ending Homelessness Leadership Team.

Partner with leading employers, industry associations, business groups, educational institutions and the City and County of San Diego to spearhead regional efforts to grow and expand our region's diverse, vibrant and world-class economy.

Marjorie Burchett is an experienced real estate lawyer who has worked across major residential, commercial, mixed-use, and master-planned development projects in California for the last 30 years. Her transactional practice includes real-estate secured finance construction and permanent loan and purchase and sale transactions. She advises developers, lenders, receivers and individuals on issues related to all types of planned communities (including urban high-rise and mixed-use developments) throughout the state of California, including subdivision processing with the California Bureau of Real Estate. She has worked in Downtown San Diego for her entire career, and has worked on a number of marquis Downtown developments, including America Plaza, Emerald Plaza, San Diego Bridgeworks, Smart Corner, Treo, La Vita and Sapphire Tower. She serves on the Board of Directors of the Downtown San Diego Partnership, as well as other professional, civic and community organizations.

Mike leads Lowe’s Western region commercial property development, investment and management activities. He is responsible for $1.9 billion of current development projects and 1.5 million square feet of commercial properties managed. Mike is a past-President and current executive committee member of the San Diego Chapter of NAIOP, and a member of the Urban Land Institute and the International Council of Shopping Centers. Mike and his wife Tami enjoy hiking, camping and skiing in the Sierra Mountains. Education: United States Air Force Academy, BS; Chapman University, MBA

Roberto Jinich is a Co-Founder of Paragon Management Company, Llc. Mr. Jinich has over seventeen years of experience carrying out and managing real estate investments, including development, acquisition, property management, construction, real estate finance and corporate governance. Since founding Paragon, Roberto has played an integral role in assembling a multimillion-dollar portfolio consisting of multifamily and commercial properties, as well as a wide range of for sale residential and land developments.

As CEO and Founder of Reno Contracting, Matt is ultimately responsible for project delivery and client satisfaction on every Reno project. Matt’s philosophy is to provide top value through exact estimating, proficient scheduling and exemplary personnel. He measures the success of each project by his company’s ability to enhance its relationships with other team members. He sets high standards of performance for himself and his staff - his ultimate goal is to set the standard by which the construction industry is measured in San Diego. Matt contributes to the San Diego community, giving generously to The Warrior Foundation, Big Brothers and Sisters, YMCA of San Diego, the Multi-Cultural Contractors Association and many other organizations through his years as the company’s CEO. He enjoys quiet evenings at home with his wife Pam and their two dogs Deuce and Coco and three cats Carter, Biff and Augy.

As President and Chief Executive Officer of The Robert Green Company, Mr. Green is responsible for managing all activities of the company. His responsibilities and areas of expertise include acquisition and feasibility analysis, transaction structuring, finance, development management, entitlement processing, design supervision, construction management, and operator interface and coordination. Formerly the Director of Development for Hillman Properties, his experience includes the design, construction and development of large-scale mixed-use, commercial office, and hospitality projects. Hotel and resort development have been the most notable project types that Mr. Green has developed or constructed throughout his career, and have been the focus of his activity. Mr. Green launched The Robert Green Company during the successful completion of the Four Seasons Resort Aviara in Carlsbad, (currently Park Hyatt Aviara), a 650,000 square foot resort complex with three restaurants and an 18-hole golf course. His other projects include the Four Seasons Hotel Silicon Valley in Palo Alto, and the Four Seasons Resort, Jackson Hole. Projects currently under construction are the Pendry Hotel San Diego in the Gaslamp Quarter, the Kimpton Hotel in Hollywood, CA, Saggio Hills Resort & Residences in Healdsburg, CA and SilverRock Resort & Residences in La Quinta, CA. Projects currently in planning are the Fifth Avenue Landing Convention Center Hotel in San Diego, CA and Joie de Vivre Hotel in Mountain View, CA. Mr. Green has been a member of the Board of Management of the Magdalena Ecke YMCA in Encinitas for eight years, and served a two-year position as its Board Chairman. A husband and father of four children, Mr. Green also served for four years as member of the Nativity School Advisory Board in Rancho Santa Fe, and served for two years as its Board Chairman. Mr. Green graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Architectural Engineering from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. He also received a Master of Real Estate Development from the University of Southern California.

Mr. Kovtun is a native of San Diego, California and has been actively involved in Real Estate Development and Construction Management for over 25 years. He is currently President of KCM Group based in San Diego, California. He founded KCM Group in 2000 and has led the growth of KCM Group into one of San Diego’s leading construction and project management firms. Mr. Kovtun lives in Pacific Beach with his wife and three children.