UDP Staff

Don Blakeney

Executive Director | don@udistrictpartnership.org

Don Blakeney joined The U District Partnership (UDP) in 2021, bringing with him fifteen years of local economic development and non-profit experience. Prior to UDP, Don led advocacy and economic development for the Downtown Seattle Association (DSA) and was also the Executive Director of the business improvement area in Seattle’s Chinatown-International District. Prior to returning to Seattle, Don worked for the Times Square Alliance—a business improvement district in Manhattan’s theatre district. Don earned masters degrees in both Public Administration and Urban Planning from Columbia University and has been actively involved in the Seattle community over the past decade. He co-founded Seattle’s first storefront arts program–Storefronts Seattle–and has served on a variety of boards including Historic South Downtown, Cornish College of the Arts, the Cal Anderson Park Alliance, Friends of the Benson Trolleys. Today, Don lives on Capitol Hill with his wife Erin.

Marcus Johnson

Clean & Safe Manager | marcus@udistrictpartnership.org

Raised in the Seattle area, Marcus has dedicated his career to community development. Since 2015, he has been a pivotal force at The U District Partnership as the Clean and Safe Program Manager. In this capacity, Marcus orchestrates and supervises comprehensive initiatives including district cleaning, public safety measures, and innovative homeless outreach programs. Marcus holds a Masters in Public Administration, specializing in Nonprofit Management, in addition to a Bachelor’s degree in Law and Justice, showcasing his commitment to strategic leadership and effective governance, with a multifaceted understanding of societal dynamics.

Janet Lee

Urban Vitality Manager | janet@udistrictpartnership.org

Janet Lee, AICP brings a decade of experience in urban planning, policy development, and community-driven placemaking to her role as Urban Vitality Manager at The U District Partnership. She has led high-impact projects at the regional and county levels, including managing the 2025 King County Strategic Climate Action Plan, advancing equity-centered planning in the 2024 King County Comprehensive Plan, and developing the King County Affordable Housing Dashboard to establish countywide housing targets. Janet’s previous work includes award-winning placemaking programs in Redmond and Anaheim, as well as open space advocacy with the Regional Open Space Strategy (ROSS) at the University of Washington. Her approach combines a deep understanding of planning systems with a strong commitment to stakeholder engagement and equitable outcomes. 

Janet holds a master’s degree in landscape architecture and regional planning from the University of Pennsylvania. In her role at UDP, she leads public realm strategy, advocates for neighborhood priorities, and builds strong partnerships to shape a thriving and inclusive future for the U District.

Hannah Kiburz

Economic Development Manager | hannah@udistrictpartnership.org

Hannah is a dedicated community economic development professional with undergraduate degrees in economics and anthropology from Yale University, and a strong background in data analysis. She brings prior experience working with the Downtown SF Partnership, where she played a key role in developing the organization’s in-house economic development department, implemented data-driven approaches to evaluate program success, and offered targeted support to help businesses grow. With a lifelong commitment to community-based organizations and humanitarian work, Hannah aims to uplift and advocate for the U District’s small businesses, support grassroots initiatives, and celebrate the neighborhood’s vibrant, multicultural identity. She has worked with several nonprofits addressing complex social issues and is especially passionate about building bridges between universities and their surrounding communities.

Nikki Somers

Operations Manager | nikki@udistrictpartnership.org

As UDP’s Operation Manager, Nikki is responsible for a handful of things around the office, including organization and order. She manages the day-to-day data, information, and financial systems. Previously, she spent over 15 years in the Pioneer Square neighborhood, where she had the opportunity to engage deeply with the neighborhood—its businesses, residents, and events! In her free time, she volunteers with Bulldog Haven NW, an English and French bulldog rescue in the greater Northwest area.

Lauren Carey

Event Manager | lauren@udistrictpartnership.org

Lauren joins the UDP Team with twenty-five years of experience in events and small business support. Lauren has run national conferences as well as a weekly outdoor event for over 10 years in addition to several years in development and fundraising. Her wealth of experience helps UDP’s signature events reach the next level of success. When Lauren isn’t running events, she is a sports mom to her daughter.

Pollyanna Yokokawa

Marketing Manager | pollyanna@udistrictpartnership.org

Polly joins the team at UDP with an extensive background in marketing and experience growing communities in the arts and culture sector. She has a Masters in Fine Arts in Arts Leadership, specializing in nonprofit management from Seattle University, Washington, and a Bachelors in Marketing and Management from University of Portland, Oregon. Polly recently led the marketing efforts at Pilchuck Glass School and Northwest Girlchoir and has also served as a marketing consultant for other area nonprofits.

Jeremy Gollyhorn

Clean Team Supervisor

Justin Reynolds

Clean Team