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.

Farnaz Devitt • Treasurer (Term: July 2024 - 2027)

Farnaz was born and raised in Tehran, Iran. She moved to the Bay Area in 1998 and has lived in the Portola neighborhood since 2005. For the past 19 years, Farnaz has been volunteering in the Portola in various capacities. She has been one of the key members planning the Portola Holiday Party and joined the PNA's Arts and Beautification Committee in 2021. She also occasionally volunteers with the Garden Club on their first Saturday of the month volunteer days!  Currently, Farnaz serves as the CFO at San Francisco School, where she has fostered a stronger bond between the school and the Portola neighborhood, recognizing the mutual benefits of such a connection. In addition to her love of finance and business, Farnaz is an artist (ceramicist) and a small business owner (Farnaz Ceramics), which allows her to share her love of art with those around her. Her ceramic pieces are sold in various locations in SF, including Hey Neighbor Café in Portola.

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, he purchased his home in the Portola; he immediately felt a sense of the old San Francisco.  He appreciates the Portola’s local and diverse roots and the sense of pride shared by the community. 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.

Josh Chen (Term: July 2024 - 2027)

Josh is a San Francisco native who grew up in the city and graduated from SFSU in Cinema with a minor in music. He is currently the Cambridge Campus English Pastor at Cornerstone Evangelical Baptist Church, creating new ways to support and be a resource to the Portola community as well as a positive place for people of faith. He is passionate about seeing people grow and providing opportunities for people to use their gifts and talents to build a loving community. Josh is a foodie who loves music and live theater, and enjoys traveling and film photography!

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.

Hannah Hanssens-Reed (Term: January 2024 - 2027)

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.

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: November 2024 - 2027)

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