our team

Our team

LEADERSHIP

Betsy Brennan

President & CEO

Betsy Brennan

Betsy Brennan is the President & CEO of the Downtown San Diego Partnership, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the economic prosperity and cultural vitality of Downtown’s urban neighborhoods. Brennan leads the organization’s staff of more than 100 to provide a broad spectrum of services to benefit Downtown. These include providing a quality membership program to more than 300 individuals and stakeholder organizations, conducting successful advocacy in service of the organization’s mission, telling the story of the market as an ideal place for investment and growth, and providing excellent enhanced services to make 275 blocks of Downtown more clean and safe. Since 2018, Brennan has brought her background in leadership at the City of San Diego, community-serving nonprofits, and educational institutions to the benefit and growth of the organization, helping it gain new relevancy as a critical piece of the bright future of the San Diego region.  

Brennan earned her Juris Doctor, with a specialization in land use, at the University of San Diego (2003) and serves on the Board of Directors for several organizations in San Diego County as well as the board for the International Downtown Association. In 2022 she was recognized as CEO of the Year by the San Diego Business Journal.

Bio

Justin Apger

Chief Operations Officer

& Executive Vice

President

Justin Apger

As Chief Operations Officer, Justin leads the day-to-day operations of the Downtown San Diego Partnership, where he drives future growth and strategy for the organization of more than 100 employees. Justin obtained his Bachelor of Arts from Baldwin-Wallace College with a major in International Business. He went on to attend Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts where he obtained his master’s degree in Intercultural Relations with a concentration in Training and Consulting. Justin has a proven track record of stabilizing, systemizing, and growing businesses. He was a founding member and Chief Operating Officer of Mission Edge, one of the largest management consulting organizations for social enterprises and nonprofits in San Diego. He has served as an executive coach for local leaders, board strategist and startup specialist. Justin has also served in other operations and finance leadership roles, and as a human resource and operations consultant for event planning companies and restaurants. His community involvement includes board leadership at local nonprofits such as Community HousingWorks, The AjA Project and the Columbia Community Foundation. Justin and his partner, JC, enjoy the theatre scene in San Diego, all the hiking opportunities our region offers and trying new restaurants in San Diego’s growing culinary space. 

Bio

Alonso Vivas

Senior Vice President &

Executive Director

Clean & Safe

Alonso Vivas

As Executive Director of the Downtown San Diego Partnership Clean & Safe program, Alonso oversees one of the largest Property and Business Improvement Districts in the country servicing over 275 city blocks with an annual budget of 12 million dollars. The program employs more than 120 full-time employees who provide enhanced public services 24 hours a day, seven days a week above those offered by the City of San Diego. Alonso first joined the Downtown Partnership in 2005 as a Safety Ambassador. He quickly moved up the ranks and was promoted to Executive Director in 2016 where he learned the value of frontline staff and their crucial part in keeping Downtown San Diego clean and safe. In his current role, Alonso enjoys working with residents, business owners, and Clean & Safe staff to find creative ways to improve Downtown San Diego. During his off time, he enjoys spending quality time with his three daughters and wife. 

Bio

Josh Coyne

Chief of Staff

Josh Coyne

As Chief of Staff, Josh leads a team that elevates the mission and vision of the Downtown San Diego Partnership by cultivating and maintaining critical relationships to advance transformative policies and projects. Josh received his undergraduate degree from Niagara University and his master’s degree from Canisius College. Additionally, Josh is a graduate of the San Diego Leadership Alliance and a current board member for San Diego LGBT Pride. For self-care, Josh and his partner John enjoy traveling, walking their rescue dog Lucy along the beach, and enjoying a glass (or two!) of wine.

Bio

Sarah Brothers

Senior Vice President of

Brand & Strategy

Sarah Brothers

Sarah oversees the Membership & Events and Marketing & Communications departments for the Downtown San Diego Partnership. Her responsibilities include connecting residents, businesses and stakeholders to the DSDP’s stories of impact, advocacy and growth, showcasing DSDP marketing initiatives and campaigns, ensuring the DSDP's membership product delivers excellent value to the organization's investors, and working with her team to create events that connect the San Diego community to the organization's mission. Sarah received her bachelor’s degree from the University of California, San Diego. With her combined history in both public service and public relations she brings a strong background in communications, marketing and government to the DSDP. She is a graduate of the LEAD Impact and LEAD Advance programs and spends her spare time performing with a local choir.

Bio

April Hill

Vice President of

People & Culture

April Hill

April Hill is the Vice President of People & Culture at the Downtown San Diego Partnership where she serves as the top people leader responsible for the vision, strategy, development, and execution of organizational effectiveness, talent, and culture management programs aimed at advancing the mission and enhancing organizational results. April has 10+ years of human resources and managerial experience, and specializes in employee engagement, development, and training. She received her Bachelor of Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing from Tennessee State University and her Master of Business Administration, with a concentration in Management from Argosy University. April has a passion for community and serves as committee chair for two nonprofits where she has an enormous impact on the youth. In April’s spare time she loves to travel and explore new beaches around the world.

Bio

Nathan Bishop

Vice President, Planning

& Economic Development

Nathan Bishop

As the Downtown San Diego Partnership’s, Nathan leads the development of strategic initiatives that cultivate the economic and cultural vitality of the urban core of the nation's eighth largest city. He leverages more than a decade of experience in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors to actively promote business investment and real estate development in Downtown San Diego on behalf of the organization. He also oversees a team focused on creative placemaking efforts, visionary planning, and research. Prior to joining the Downtown San Diego Partnership, Nathan served in various place-based economic development and planning roles in St. Louis, Illinois, and Denver. An industry expert with a comprehensive and diversified perspective that is driven by curiosity, Nathan greatly values unique experiential mixed-use built environments that strengthen the connection between people and place. He received his undergraduate degree from Murray State University and his graduate degree in Urban Planning & Design from University of Colorado - Denver.  He is Certified Planner through the American Institute of Certified Planners and was recognized as a 40 under 40 business leader by the Springfield (IL) Business Journal.

Bio

Melissa Navarro

Vice President of

Finance & Administration

Melissa Navarro

Melissa is an accomplished finance leader with over 15 years of experience in strategic financial planning, organizational budgeting, fiscal oversight, and operational leadership. As Vice President of Finance and Administration at the Downtown San Diego Partnership, Melissa oversees all aspects of financial management for the organization's $22 million consolidated budget. This includes reporting, compliance, audits, and long-term financial strategy, ensuring the organization remains financially sound and mission-aligned.

With a strong background in both nonprofit and private sectors, Melissa brings a deep understanding of cost reimbursable contracts, grant management, and fund accounting. Her collaborative leadership style supports cross-functional teams and strengthens internal controls, while driving transparency and fiscal accountability.

Melissa holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, emphasis accountancy from San Diego State University as well as a Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership from Point Loma Nazarene University.

Bio