Executive Director, SOMA West CBD (San Francisco, CA)
Christian Martin is the founding Executive Director of the SOMA West CBD, and worked with the board to set up the district’s financial and operational systems before the organization launched services in March of 2020. Mr. Martin has over 9 years of experience in managing improvement districts that serve business communities, residents, and visitors.
Prior to his work in SOMA, he served as founding Executive Director of the Lower Polk and Discover Polk CBDs. His experience also includes three years as the Executive Director of the Trenton Downtown Association (TDA) in Trenton, NJ; under his leadership, the district significantly improved its street ambassador operations with the addition of new equipment, reclaimed public green spaces and launched a green scaping program; reactivated a near-defunct art studio building program; extended the organization’s marketing infrastructure; and grew a number of events and activities that brought traffic and visibility to the District. Mr. Martin holds a B.A. from Princeton University, and is on the executive board of IDA, where he exchanges best practices with industry leaders.