The document provides information about candidates for the 2020-2022 Board of Directors for the La Jolla Village Merchants Association (LJVMA), including 6 incumbent candidates and 3 first-time candidates. It summarizes each candidate's background and reasons for seeking a position on the Board. It also outlines the board structure, election process, and modifications made due to COVID-19 to allow for online and contactless voting.
3. B Y L A W S R E V I E W A N D A D A P T I O N S
Board Structure and
Candidates
• LJMVA is a 15 Person Board
• Board members serve two-year terms allowing approximately ½ of the
board to rotate each year.
• Term Limits: three consecutive two-year terms
• Board members can reapply after a one-year hiatus
• Board members must be BID members/delegates
• Current State of Board
• All Seats are currently filled
• 9 members are rotating off the current board
• 6 current members are running for re-election
• 3 current members are not running for re-election
• Number of Total Candidates
• 6 Incumbents
• 3 First Time Candidates
Election Process
• Each BID member business gets one vote. (There are 1256 merchants in the
BID. Let’s get out the vote!)
• Ballots are cast using a secret ballot and collected in person.
• COVID-19 Modifications
• Ballots will be available online and can be delivered upon request.
• Completed ballots can be delivered to the LJVMA offices or will be
picked up and sealed by LJVMA staff.
• Voting can take place anytime between September Board Meeting
and October 9 (LJVMA Election Day)
• Ballots will be sealed at time of pickup/drop off and voter eligibility will
be verified by LJVMA staff.
• All eligible Ballots will be counted at LJVMA Annual Meeting on
October 14 in the presence of Election Official.
4. J O E LY N C U L L E N
C U R R E N T B O A R D M E M B E R
L I F E T I M E L A J O L L A , G E N E R A L
M A N A G E R
F I T N E S S – S P A - C A F E
It is an honor to have been selected to fill a mid-year vacancy of the current board. It would be even a greater
honor to be elected to serve a full term.
I moved here in August of 2019 and opened LifeTime in December 2020. In the short time that LifeTime has
been a part of this community, it’s been a pleasure to be involved with numerous community events sponsored
by the Merchants Association. I respect and appreciate all that this dedicated group of volunteers do to serve
the Merchants, as well as the whole community. I am fortunate to live and work right in this charming Village of
La Jolla. La Jolla is my home. I would be honored to be a part of the board of and support this beautiful
community.
LifeTime considers itself a Healthy Way of Life Company. In addition to fitness, I believe our LifeCafe and
LifeSpa bring a uniqueness that will complement the current board members and businesses. I have been in
the Health and Wellness Industry for 30 years, in 4 states and involved in those communities. I have helped
with sponsorships, charity fundraisers, and other community events. I am a servant leader and I offer my
service to you and the people that live, work and visit in La Jolla. I hope to have the opportunity to strategize
and learn from you, the leaders in La Jolla.
In good health,
Jo Cullen
Note: Jo Cullen filled a mid-year vacancy on the LJVMA Board earlier this year and hopes to continue her
service on the board.
5. G A B B Y G U E VA R A
C U R R E N T B O A R D M E M B E R
B L U E A P P A R E L , O W N E R
R E T A I L
As a member of the La Jolla community I would be
honored to continue serving on the LJVMA board of
directors. My knowledge of working retail for the last 6
years can contribute to planning events that will attract
tourists and locals into the village. I have served on the
marketing committee which has been a vital group to the
betterment of La Jolla and the events that have taken
place.
Note: Gabby has served on the LJVMA Marketing
Committee for two years and holds a LJVMA seat on the
La Jolla Coastal Access and Parking Board.
6. K AT E Y L O N G O
C U R R E N T B O A R D M E M B E R
P E T E R L I K F I N E A R T , G A L L E R Y
D I R E C T O R
R E T A I L A R T G A L L E R Y
My name is Katey Longo and I am the Gallery Director at Peter Lik Fine Art Photography in La Jolla. I have
been a La Jolla Village Merchants Association Board Member since March 2020, and it is my pleasure to
represent an Association that is dedicated to making La Jolla better.
My goal as a Board Member is to represent the arts in our community, and I will help support growth by
bringing creative ideas to the board and our fellow Merchants in the Village. Our Art Galleries play a
significant role in La Jolla’s history, and these spaces provide unique experiences for locals and visitors. At
the Peter Lik Gallery, we pride ourselves on showcasing stunning artwork and we provide a warm and
inviting atmosphere for everyone to enjoy. We love hosting events and partnering with local businesses. My
experience at the gallery has taught me how beneficial it is to know and support your neighbors, and I hope
to inspire other Merchants to create relationships that will help their business grow. These relationships will
help our Village hustle and bustle once again.
The Jolla Village Merchants Association pursues new ways for tourists and locals to spend time in La Jolla
and have a memorable experience. I would be thrilled to continue to hold a seat on the La Jolla Merchants
Board and help La Jolla and our merchants thrive.
Thank you for your consideration!
Note: Katey Longo filled a mid-year vacancy on the LJVMA Board earlier this year and hopes to continue her
service on the board. She also holds a LJVMA seat on the La Jolla Planned District Ordinance Committee.
7. R O B E R T M A C K E Y
C U R R E N T B O A R D M E M B E R
L A J O L L A G O L F C A R T S | O W N E R
R E T A I L S A L E S A N D T O U R I S M
It has been a pleasure to serve on the board for the past
several years. I feel the accomplishment her improved
greatly to help local merchants. I look forward to serving
my final term.
Note: Robert Mackey is seeing his third term on the
LJVMA Board. He serves on the LJVMA Marketing
Committee. He also has served on behalf of LJVMA on
the La Jolla Traffic and Transportation Board as well as
the La Jolla Coastal Access and Parking Board.
8. K E L L I M E T C A L F
C U R R E N T B O A R D M E M B E R ,
T R E A S U R E R
G R A N I T E E S C R O W
P R O F E S S I O N A L S E R V I C E S
For the past two years I have been on the Board of the La Jolla Village
Merchants Association and have served on the Executive Board for the past
year as Treasurer. I am proud that the organization has been running so
smoothly even during the COVID Crisis and it is a pleasure working
alongside such dedicated professionals.
I've been working in La Jolla village for the past 10 years in the real estate
industry. I have been with Granite Escrow for the past three years. I
consider myself a good team player, and a detail-oriented person. I believe
that by being part of the LJVMA board, I would play an important role in
building bonds among the local merchants and community. I am happy to
contribute my time and efforts in making a difference for the LJVMA and the
community.
Note: Kelli Metcalf is running for her second Term on the Board of Directors.
She has served as Treasurer for two years.
9. D R . N E V I N R A M O N A H U S S I O N
C U R R E N T B O A R D M E M B E R
L A J O L L A C H I R O P R A C T I C ,
O W N E R / C H I R O P R A C T O R
P R O F E S S I O N A L S E R V I C E
As not only a business owner but also a resident of La Jolla Village, I
proudly consider this my community. I’ve been joining the La Jolla Village
Merchants Association Marketing Committee meetings, as well as the
LJVMA Wednesday meetings for the past 4 months, as I see the
importance of engaging our merchants in critical conversations to
improve policies, practices and quality of life for our merchants and their
customers.
Growing up in an international, tight knit community in Dubai, and after
having lived and practiced in Amsterdam, Seattle, NYC, ATL and now La
Jolla, I have continually growing my understanding of the needs of a
community, and also the importance of including and considering all
walks of life.
Note: Dr. Nevin Ramona-Hussion filled a mid-year vacancy on the LJVMA
Board earlier this year and hopes to continue her service on the board. .
10. K A R E N F I N E R M A N
F I R S T T I M E C A N D I D A T E
K A M L A H O T E L S / E M P R E S S H O T E L
D I R E C T O R O F S A L E S A N D M A R K E T I N G
H O T E L A N D T O U R I S M
Serving as Corporate Director of Sales & Marketing for Kamla Hotels, partnering and synergizing
with other local businesses is important to create a fabulous experience for our guests. La Jolla
Village is such a great spot to visit with wonderful shops, restaurants, and activities (from Fitness to
Kayaking) - truly something for everyone to enjoy. Empress Hotel La Jolla, “Where Classy Meets
Comfortable”, offers accommodations that meet the needs of many travelers, and thus helps attract
even more visitors to this beautiful Coastal Community. The more we know about our community,
the better we support our guests to make their stay memorable, from casual to upscale requests.
Being active in our community is also helpful to support a strong position in the Village and we look
to being even more involved through La Jolla Village Merchants Association.
On a personal note, my husband and I have twin daughters, one of whom just graduated with her
master’s degree from UCSD. We have many family memories of dining in the Village, watching the
sea lions and enjoying the stunning sunsets over La Jolla. My last gift was a Hobie Pedalboard and
love getting “on the water” as often as possible. I never take a sunset for granted and you will see
many posts of La Jolla sunsets on Empress Hotel or The Shoal La Jolla Social Media. I would be
honored to expand my presence as a Board Member and look forward to positively contributing to
La Jolla Village Merchants Association.
11. S U M M E R S H O E M A K E R
F I R S T T I M E C A N D I D A T E
L A V A L E N C I A H O T E L | G E N E R A L
M A N A G E R
H O T E L A N D T O U R I S M
As an active board member of the San Diego Tourism Marketing District and a
hospitality leader in our coastal communities for more than 10 years, I believe in the
continued success of La Jolla and its diverse businesses. I am proud to represent the
historic La Valencia Hotel, an iconic destination in our beautiful village. In my time as
General Manager, I’ve placed a great deal of energy into understanding our community,
partnering with local businesses, and bringing new guests from near and far to visit our
community. With extensive experience in both hospitality and the event industry, I
would be an asset to bettering La Jolla Village. Throughout my career, I have developed
a strong reputation for being highly creative in developing innovative experiences,
actively engaging in finding solutions, and being a strong partner in organizations.
The La Jolla Village is one of the most beautiful and attractive destinations for visitors
from around the world. Together we can continue to build upon and enhance La Jolla’s
reputation as a sought-after coastal destination. We do this by enhancing
communication and developing unique village-wide programming to encourage locals
and visitors alike to enjoy our wide variety of businesses and experiences. I’m eager to
be a member of this board to support our community, help successful businesses thrive
and help other businesses attain the same success level. In this new environment, it is
more important than ever for our businesses to unleash their creativity and lean on each
other to succeed.
12. W I L L W H I T T L E
F I R S T T I M E C A N D I D A T E
S A N D I E G O F L Y R I D E
G E N E R A L M A N A G E R
R E T A I L A N D T O U R I S M
Greetings fellow business leaders of La Jolla Village Merchants Association. My name is Will
and I am the General Manager of San Diego Fly Rides. After receiving my Business
Administration Degree at SDSU in 2008, I moved to Buenos Aires, Argentina and started a
bike tour company called Biking Buenos Aires. The following ten years taught me valuable
lessons in international business and entrepreneurship. It also proved to be the perfect arena
to apply new knowledge of business strategies in practical settings in one of the most exciting
cities in the world.
At this point in my career, what I value most are establishing key partnerships through
networking and procuring relationship over time with like-minded individuals who value
support within the community. For this reason, I am excited to join the association in the
hopes of being a valuable member with ideas I bring an follow-through that I prove over time.