SODO BIA
A Business Improvement Area (BIA) provides a mechanism for property owners and business to collectively obtain the improvements they want to see in their district. The SODO BIA was created under the auspices of the City of Seattle in 2014. The mission of the SODO BIA is to Advocate for a Safe, Clean and Moving SODO, for the benefit of property owners, businesses, tenants, employees and patrons of the SODO district.
The SODO BIA is guided by the Ratepayer’s Advisory Board which is comprised of members representative of the varying sizes, types and locations of business and property owners in the district and includes business tenants, MIC members and a Port of Seattle representative.
Staff

Erin Goodman, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
A Seattle native, Erin came to the SODO BIA from the U District Partnership where she administered the U District BIA and produced the annual U District StreetFair. With a Master’s in Public Administration, Erin is committed to being an ardent advocate for SODO businesses and assisting them in developing a vibrant business district in SODO that is Safe, Clean and Moving. Erin can be reached at 206-981-9877 or erin@sodoseattle.org and is eager to set up a time to meet and learn about your business.

Lauren Ross, DEPUTY DIRECTOR
An East Coast Transplant, Lauren serves as the Deputy Director of the SODO BIA. She holds a Master’s in Public Administration from the Evans School of Public Policy and Governance at the University of Washington. Before joining the SODO BIA, she’s worked with several Seattle based non-profits in program and campaign fundraising, advocacy, and outreach. She is eager to work with the diverse community and support businesses in creating a Clean and Safe SODO.

Tyler Sawers, OFFICE MANAGER
A native to the greater Seattle area, Tyler joined the SODO BIA team in October of 2020. He holds a degree in Business Administration from Seattle Pacific University. Between graduating and joining SODO BIA, he worked in sales, customer service, and then office management with a local construction company. Tyler is excited to be joining SODO BIA as the Office Manager to support in the process of a positive change in the SODO community.

Elie Jones Toutant, Program Assistant
Elie grew up in South Seattle and attended University of Washington, where she ran Track and Field. She received two bachelor’s degrees, one in Law Societies and Justice and the other in History with an emphasis in Race Gender and Power. She started interning with the SODO BIA in June of 2020 and is excited to be a member of the SODO BIA team as the Program Assistant and working in the SODO community.

Becky Gilley, REACH SODO Outreach Care Coordinator
Becky works for REACH and is contracted specifically to perform outreach in the SODO district with folks who are sleeping in tents, cars, and RVs. A local Seattleite, Becky stayed here during college, receiving her BA and Master’s in Social Work from University of Washington and has been working and volunteering in the Seattle social service world since 2010 (with a 2 year stint in Ukraine with the Peace Corps). Becky is a firm believer and practitioner of Harm Reduction and Motivational Interviewing and enjoys building trusting relationships with clients to help them reach their self-identified goals and improve quality of life for everyone.

KIWI, Boss
Board of Directors

Todd Biesold
President
Chief Financial Officer, Merlino Foods

William Lavaris
Vice President
Chief Financial Officer, Buffalo Industries LLC

Chad Zinda
Secretary
Founder & Broker, Metropolist

Robin Howard
Treasurer
Manager, Alcohol Compliance, Starbucks Coffee Company

SALLY DEL FIERRO
Director, Community Engagement,
Port of Seattle

Effie Gleason
Vice President Marketing, Gull Industries, Inc.

Tavia Rhodes
Director of Development, Evergreen Treatment Services

Regina Menssen
Property Manager, Prologis, Inc.

DARRELL SANDERS
Property Manager, American Life, Inc.

DARBY DUCOMB
Land Practice Lead, Schlemlein,
Fick & Scruggs, PLLC.

Alex Cooley
Co-Founder, Solstice

Lisa Nitze
Director of Marketing, Community & Investor Relations, Nitze-Stagen

Megan LaRiviere
Founder & Co-owner, ThirdLeaf NW
2020 WORK PLAN
Safe SODO: Security, Safety and Prevention
- Create a visible police presence in SODO to address chronic issues and develop relationships with SODO business community
- Classes, speakers & events to address safety issues in SODO
- Provide high quality staff support to this program
- Provide branded visual presence and response in SODO
Clean SODO: Clean, Beautify and Activate
- Maintain clean streets- remove debris, leaves and garbage on a regular basis
- Continue scheduled clean ups for addressing litter and garbage in SODO
- Proactively address the effects of tailgating by providing trash dumpsters and porta potties
- Proactively address graffiti through beautification of surfaces
- Community development and cleaning in SODO
- Classes, speakers & events to address cleanliness issues in SODO
Move SODO: Transportation, Mobility and Safety
- Provide a forum for diverse SODO stakeholders to address relevant transportation issues
- Advocate for the items identified in the Consensus Agenda document
- Continue to advocate for the City to maintain and repair streets in SODO
- Advocate for restoring 1st Ave Bus service and other Transit Improvements in SODO
- Continue to advocate for improvements to last mile connections in SODO
- Represent SODO’s freight businesses in city wide transportation discussion
- Engage City in commonsense overhaul of parking in SODO
- Engage Sound Transit to ensure that SODO has a voice in the routing through SODO
- Provide placemaking and wayfinding through art
- Improve SODO navigation with new wayfinding signage
- Improve road and transportation conditions in SODO
Advocate SODO: Communication, Outreach and Advocacy
- Increase ratepayer awareness of BIA and services provided. Develop relationships between ratepayers and BIA
- Maintain current database of contacts for all businesses and property owners in SODO
- Inform and engage ratepayers in the activities of the SODO BIA through the monthly newsletter
- Update website regularly to reflect current SODO Business Directory, SODO related news, SODO BIA meetings & events and other SODO happenings
- Engage new followers with relevant social media posts and drive traffic to the website
- Ensure our organization’s communications plan also supports our organization’s advocacy work
- Develop community and greater sense of being connected for SODO businesses
Administration
- Facilitate the financial and operational priorities of the Board of Directors and support the success of the Executive Director
- Ensure BIA resources are deployed effectively and transparently, and ratepayers benefit from the investment of their assets
- Ensure legal, financial and personnel policy documents are up to date and in compliance with applicable laws
2020 Work Plans
2020 Budget
Committees
The SODO Business Improvement Area is more than just one person or organization, it is a collaboration of businesses, property owners and the City of Seattle working together to create lasting change in the our shared district, SODO. Effectively addressing the issues of the district requires the participation of ratepayers to create a shared vision of the district. Interested in getting involved? Consider participating in one of our program area Committees.
1. Communications & Outreach
Responsible for developing the communications and marketing plan for the SODO BIA, to include, website, newsletter, social media, events and other avenues of outreach.
2. Transportation
This committee works to develop the SODO BIA’s transportation initiatives and works closely with the Duwamish TMA to develop understanding of transportation issues in the District.
3. Clean & Safe
Responsible for identifying crime and disorder hotspots, chronic cleanliness issues and overseeing the contractors who address these issues.
For more information on these committees and other ways to get involved: Erin Goodman, Executive Director, 206-294-3285, erin@sodoseattle.org