Maggie Weis • Chair (Term: October 2022 - 2024)

Maggie retired as Assistant Head of the Lower School at The San Francisco School on Gaven Street in 2020, having worked there since 1989. She first connected with Portola neighbors while walking her P.E. classes to Palega Park, and her involvement grew as she became involved in the efforts to build the Portola Library Branch and provided key support for the Alemany Island Beautification Project. Maggie was instrumental in involving the students at The San Francisco School in service-learning opportunities in the Portola. In her free time, she enjoys dog walks and bird watching at St. Mary’s and McLaren Parks.

Elisa Laird • Vice-chair (Term: October 2022 - 2025)

Elisa Laird is a non-profit executive and attorney. A San Francisco resident since 2000, she moved to the Portola in 2008 and raised two kids here, among the local playgrounds and the trails of McLaren. Elisa is passionate about creating green spaces and agriculture in urban environments and has volunteered for many years with San Francisco non-profits and city agencies to promote people-friendly environments within the city. She loves gardening, San Francisco history, exploring the City, and trying to achieve a perfectly crafted cocktail.

Hannah Hanssens-Reed • Treasurer (Term: January 2022 - 2024)

Hannah has spent her career teaching in schools and working for nonprofits in the States and abroad. She grew up in Philadelphia and lived in ten different cities before falling in love with San Francisco and finally moving here. Hannah lives in Cole Valley and works for Family Connections Centers, supporting the organization’s communications, development, and community partnerships. In her free time, she loves long backpacking trips and camping by alpine lakes, collecting an excessive number of houseplants, and diving into new art and cooking projects.

Nick Reavill • Administrator (Term: October 2022 - 2025)

Nick was born and raised in England. He lived in London and New York before moving from the UK to San Francisco with his family in 2013 and has lived in the Portola since 2015. He works as a software developer but prefers to spend his time woodworking or taking his dog (enthusiastic) and children (less so) to walk in McLaren Park. Nick is keen to be part of and promote local community action.

Paul Alaga (Term: September 2021-2023)

Paul Alaga is a lifelong San Francisco resident who brings legal knowledge, as well as construction, small business, and community outreach skills to the PNA Board. In 2002, he opened his law practice South of Market and has practiced there since. In 2018, when he and his wife purchased their first home, in the Portola, he immediately felt a sense of the old San Francisco and the longer he stays, the more he appreciates the Portola’s local and diverse roots. Paul is enthusiastic about following in the footsteps of locals who have beautified the streets with greenery and landscaping.

Laura Bridges-Pereira (Term: October 2023-2026)

Laura is a quadrilingual, hiking, pickleball-playing, and book-loving educator who lives in University Mound and works in the Portola. She is the Director of Special Programs at the San Francisco School. Laura has lived and worked in France, Portugal, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Florida, and finally California! She moved to San Francisco in June 2023 and considers herself a regular in many of the shops on San Bruno Ave. She is passionate about integrating youth into community projects and all things related to trash clean-up.

Max Garrone (Term: March 2021 - 2023)

Max moved to the Portola in 2020 with his family. Professionally he covers the world of agave spirits but his volunteer efforts have been directed at boosting education in San Francisco. Now that he’s in the neighborhood, he spends an inordinate amount of time gardening.

Alexander Hobbs (Term: January 2021 - 2023)

Alex is an interior architectural designer with a strong background in design and project management. He's passionate about the neighborhood and is eager to help improve it. Alex and his partner Jonnie moved to the neighborhood in 2014 and fell in love with it. Soon after moving here, Alex joined the PNA. He has served as Chair, has chaired the Arts & Beautification Committee, planted trees throughout the Portola, and is currently co-chairing the PNA’s Portola Garden Club Committee.

Lisa Magruder (Term: January 2021 - 2023)

Lisa is an artist with an MFA in printmaking and painting from the University of Missouri. She served on the Arts & Cultural Commission for the city of Folsom, where she lived and contributed to her community for 19 years.  Lisa has owned and operated FrameArt Studio for 24 years, offering art classes and custom framing, a business which she moved to the Portola in 2014 and expanded to include a gallery for local and emerging artists.  She serves on the PNA’s Arts & Beautification Committee and is grateful for what the PNA accomplishes in the Portola.

Raymond Ng (Term: March 2021 - 2023)

Raymond Ng’s family moved to the Portola in 1967 and continue to reside in the very house where Raymond was born. Nearby live Raymond’s brother and family. Raymond, his wife, and daughter enjoy McLaren Park’s natural beauty, and call their Garden District house their forever home. Like his parents, who ran the meat department at San Bruno Market years ago, Raymond’s career is retail grocery (Safeway, 30 years). In 2016, he opened Grocery Outlet, which “brought him home.” Thankful for his blessings, he serves on the PNA board to reciprocate and share his experience and skills with the Portola community.

Valerie Luu

The PNA Corridor Manager partners with residents, merchants, and community organizations to facilitate community-led projects and support business development in the Portola. 

Contact Valerie for assistance with:

• loan and grant applications (view available resources here)

• lease negotiations and renting available storefronts

• navigating city programs, permits and regulations

• marketing (online and print)

• PR (press releases, media pitches)

• business signage and retail merchandising

• website development (creating a website and training on how to maintain a website)

• social media consulting (establishing social media accounts and social media strategy)

• referrals to consultants, lending agencies and small business resource centers

PNA Office Hours: by appointment

Contact: valerie@portolasf.org / (415) 506-7608