The NTC Foundation recently announced the appointment of fourth generation Point Loman Lori Fleet-Martin as the board chair. Fleet-Martin, who joined the board in 2010, has been active in the continued development of Arts District Liberty Station and its transformation from Navy Base to Arts and Culture District. Martin replaces Richard Opper, also a Point Loma resident, who will remain on the board.
Fleet-Martin’s roots run deep in this community. Her great-grandfather and grandfather helped develop the Fleetridge neighborhood of Point Loma and community philanthropy has been a bedrock of her family for generations. She has been a trustee of the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center for 13 years.
Additionally, she has been involved with The San Diego Foundation, MADCAPS (Mothers and Daughters Club Assisting Philanthropies), the San Diego Yacht Club Junior Board, as well as numerous committees for The Bishops School and Warren-Walker School.
“I initially became involved with the foundation because it was important for me to help something in our local community be successful and thrive. I wanted to give back to the community that I was born and raised in,” Fleet-Martin said. During her tenure, Fleet-Martin spearheaded the effort to relocate the Fantasy on Ice Skating Rink to Liberty Station and founded the Friends of NTC to help build a community of people and businesses committed to the success of the not-for-profit NTC Foundation and its advancement of San Diego’s premier center for arts, culture and creativity.
Now, Fleet-Martin says, “Liberty Station has grown into a broader community-wide asset.” She takes the helm just as the NTC Foundation heads into their 10th anniversary year. In December of 2006, the NTC Foundation celebrated the opening of the very first building in San Diego’s newest arts and culture district. In 2017, the foundation will begin a year of programs celebrating the growth from “an unprecedented opportunity” to a successful, thriving, nationally and internationally-recognized destination. Plans include activities to honor the past, recognize those who helped us get here and celebrations including exciting community programming, public art installations and arts and culture activities.
Joining Fleet-Martin on the board are new members, Jason Paguio and Linda Mamer.
Paguio is a small business owner, nonprofit founder, and public policy advisor who lives in Chula Vista. While a music teacher, Jason founded Parade Band Foundation Inc., a nonprofit that helps to connect school music programs with their community and has awarded tens-of-thousands of dollars in grants, scholarships and incentives to school music programs.
Paguio has extensive experience and a commitment to serving the community. San Diego Metropolitan Magazine awarded him one of the region’s “40 Under 40,” the San Diego Business Journal awarded him a finalist of the “Most Admired CEO” Awards and winner of the “25 in their 20s,” the Chula Vista Chamber of Commerce has twice awarded him the “Pacesetter of the Year Award,” “Outstanding Business Advocate of the Year Award”, the “President’s Award”, and the Philippine American Business Improvement & Development awarded him the “Rising Star Award.”
Mamer has more than 20 years experience in commercial and business banking. She has worked for Wells Fargo Bank and Bank of California/Union Bank and is currently a senior vice president/senior relationship manager at Bank of California in their Commercial Banking Group. She specializes in working closely with business owners to help them reach their goals by understanding their needs and brainstorming ways to overcome challenges. Mamer has experience serving her community in a variety of ways including president of the PTA and as a Girl Scout leader. She remains active in the American Cancer Society, has completed the LEAD Influence program and supports Jewish Family Services “Ways to Work” program. Together with rest of the 17-member board, Fleet-Martin is committed to getting the community more engaged to help sustain the Arts District, moving forward on the Barracks Hotel Project and celebrating 10 years of creativity. The NTC Foundation bids a thanks and farewell to retiring board members Roger Brenes and Fran Holian (former board chair). “We are grateful to our retiring board members for their service and their vision. Their efforts have led to our continued growth and success,” said NTC Foundation CEO Lisa Johnson.
“We are excited about this latest change in command,” she added. “The foundation is looking forward to more positive changes for 2017 and 2018 and we are confident in our new leadership and fully engaged board.”