THE DEMA BOARD OF DIRECTORS guide policy, funding and plan activities for the organization. They are voted into their positions by the DEMA’s members and serve a three year term. The Board is comprised of business owners, residents, property owners and community activists eager to make a difference in our downtown. They set DEMA’s goals which then are carried out by the staff.
The Executive Officers include a Past President, President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer. An additional nine members make up the full board.
Treggon Owens: “I live & breathe Encinitas”
Treggon Owens, President
I grew up in Encinitas, on a flower farm off of Crest Drive. I graduated from San Dieguito High School in 1992. I worked all through high school as a real estate appraisal assistant, driving the county, getting to know the entire community by taking pictures of houses and their views. I was an avid gamer, and subsequently pursued a career as a video game developer. I worked to bring video game products to market, and was able to get a game published in 1996, while attending SDSU’s electrical engineering department.
Video games caused me to switch my focus to Physics, and the simulation of the real world. I obtained Bachelors in Computational Physics from SDSU in 2000, while working and pursuing gaming and technical consulting. Upon graduation I went to work for my college mentor, Dr. Lowell Burnett at Quantum Magnetics in San Diego. I pursued the field of Magnetics, and the detection capabilities of that field. During 9/11, I was working on airport security devices, and this led to a career developing products for the government to detect the bad guys. The last sensors I worked on were made of the smallest hand fabricated holes in the world, on a nano-scale. I led a team of individuals at Electronic Biosciences, for DARPA. This burned me out. I left my cubicle life in 2008 to pursue Tregtronics full time; and to spend more time with my son and daughter. Using my years of government contract experience, my wife and I wrote a proposal to take over the Moonlight Beach Concession Stand. In February 2009 we were awarded the contract. My wife and I run a baby gift website, the concession stand, and I run a technical consulting business that produces websites. I think my years of creative problem solving, mixed with my ability to interact with the government will be an asset to DEMA’s board of directors.
John DeWald: “DEMA, a great tool to help create & maintain a vibrant downtown”
John Dewald, Vice-President
John DeWald is principle of John DeWald and Associates along with his partner Scott Kelly. John DeWald and Associates is an environmentally conscious development/real estate investment group behind several innovative, lifestyle communities and developments including Pacific Station, a mixed use, transit oriented project in Encinitas CA, and Serosun Farms, an agriculture preservation development in the Chicago area.
John DeWald & Associates’ goal is to create innovative communities and living that is environmentally responsible. Based in San Diego area, the firm provides investors the opportunity to participate in a variety of unique and successful real estate ventures. Known for visionary approaches, John DeWald & Associates has developed upscale, custom single-family residences, distinctive condominium properties and innovative mixed-use, lifestyle developments.
Mr. DeWald grew up in the Midwest, moved to the San Diego area in the mid 80’s and now lives in Cardiff, CA. His educational background is diverse and includes Biology, Chemistry, Civil Engineering and Business. He has worked in the environmental field managing environmental labs and engineering groups and in the information technology arena running software engineering companies and as CIO for a midsize technology company. For the past eight years he has been involved in real estate development.
Favorite Event: Safe Trick or Treat
Don Taylor: “DEMA continues to make downtown the place to be”
Don Taylor, Treasurer
I have enjoyed my tenure as first a member and now the Treasure of the Downtown Encinitas Mainstreet Association board of directors. I would like to continue to serve you as a DEMA board member because I believe I have energy and experience and have learned much about DEMA and downtown over the past years. I am extremely proud with the improvements that have happened in the downtown over the past years and believe DEMA is part of the reason for many of them.
Favorite event: Taste of MainStreet
Carolyn Cope: “I am Homey . . . Love my hometown!”
Carolyn Roy Cope, Secretary
McNeill House
One of the few locally born and raised citizens still in Encinitas, Carolyn attended all local schools graduating from San Dieguito High School in 1968. As a concerned community activist she has been a parent volunteer, Cardiff Chamber board member, volunteer of the year for DEMA twice and past president of the San Dieguito Heritage Museum. Carolyn is currently involved in the Rotary Club of Encinitas (14 years), served as the first Chairperson of the Commission for the Arts (1998-2002) and again recently was reappointed to that committee. She remains highly involved in the Sister City Program since its start in 1988, the Encinitas Historical Society, enjoys serving on the Holiday Parade Committee and is in her fifth year with the Leucadia Art Walk.
“As a business and property owner I have seen many changes in our downtown area and feel that I can add historical perspectives and help formulate visions for the future of our lovely downtown community.”
- Dave Agyagos: “I love it. I grew up downtown.”
Dave Agyagos, Past-President
My roots became firmly planted in our downtown Encinitas soil over 30 years ago. I grew from local Middle School, High School, and College, into grocery clerk (15 years), then entrepreneur. I am now the president of Moonlight Screenprinting Inc. a successful downtown business that I started 14 years ago. I am the father of two beautiful girls. I am a surfer communicating the Aloha Spirit by sharing our surf town with the community at large. My life is devoted to showing others what a beautiful place we call “Home”.
I have seen our downtown grow from tumble weeds into new development. I have helped shape Encinitas by serving on many committees, which include: Streetscape, Security, Survey/Stakeholders, and the Outdoor Dining & Parking Committees. I have served as DEMA’s President. I also serve on the Executive Board of Directors for the Encinitas Preservation Association working to preserve the Boat Houses.
Favorite event: Street Fairs
Chassie Bell
Chassie Bell, Director
Chassie Bell is the Marketing and Community Liaison at Whole Foods Market, Encinitas. She is originally from Las Vegas but moved to Encinitas with her husband and two dogs nearly two years ago and has never looked back. They are now the proud owners of a fixer-upper in their dream community. Chassie focuses her marketing efforts on bringing the community together for events that enrich people’s lives through cooking classes, nutrition lectures, movie screenings, concerts and a variety of events for kids. She is also the driving force behind the store’s fundraising efforts and since the store opened has helped raise almost $15,000 for not-for-profit organizations in the Encinitas community. One of her current projects at Whole Foods Market is to help certify all three stores as zero waste properties.
Chassie was previously a board member for Heaven Can Wait Animal Sanctuary and helped bring significant brand awareness to the non-profit which increased event exposure and donations to help serve homeless animals and teach humane education in Las Vegas. She is also enrolled in the nutrition program at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, is the author of the food and lifestyle blog, cbandjblog.com and can cook up a mean corn and tarragon ravioli.
Chassie is committed to utilizing her passion and knowledge of social media, graphic design, marketing and event planning to help Encinitas maintain a healthy, active and family-friendly community that is progressive, innovative and all-around awesome!
Aime Brown
Aime Brown, Director
In April, 2012, I accepted the position of Director of Business Strategies for Community Resource Center (CRC), a non-profit dedicated to providing safety, stability and a path to self-sufficiency to victims of domestic violence and other episodically homeless members of our community.
I took the position because of my passion for helping women and girls, but have now fallen in love with everything CRC has to offer the residents of Encinitas and surrounding communities. Our “self-sufficiency” model is effective and appeals to all audiences. I am so proud to be a part of the downtown community through both our Social Services office and our popular Encinitas Thrift Store. I absolutely love working in Encinitas, set smack in between the incomparable Moonlight Beach and some of my favorite restaurants in all of San Diego!
Prior to working at CRC I worked at the Council of Community Clinics as Executive Director of the for-profit subsidiary, Council Connections, a national Group Purchasing Organization. I am a graduate of the Clinic Leadership Institute (CLI), a project of the Blue Shield of California Foundation and UCSF’s Center for the Health Professions, and recently completed my two-year term as Co-Chair of the CLI Alumni Committee. I am a proud member of Hand to Hand, a local initiative which provides funding to organizations and programs that impact long-term positive change and self-sufficiency in the lives of women and girls in San Diego County. In 2011, I received both a Certificate in Non-Profit Management and a Certificate in Fund Raising Management (CFRM). I have a B.A. in Women’s Studies and a B.A. in Sociology from San Diego State University.
In 2010, I purchased a home in Encinitas where I enjoy time with my two daughters, ages 10 and 13. Because I live, work and play in Encinitas and I care about the community as it relates to my job and family, I would be proud to serve on the Board of DEMA and hopefully bring value with my experience in business, sales and leadership.
- Bev Goodman: “I lovvvveeee downtown!”
Bev Goodman, Director
Hi! My name is Beverly Goodman. I have lived in Beautiful Encinitas for the last 22 years. For the last 15 years I have owned Coast Hwy Traders. In addition to being on the DEMA board, I am also on the Historic Preservation Board. I am a strong believer in saving our Historic buildings and maintaining the unique flavor of Encinitas.
I was active in getting the ground floor retail amendment passed. What this amendment means is that when spaces come up for rent in historic old Encinitas, they must be retail. This keeps our downtown from being filled with lawyer offices, doctors, etc. I am also against parking meters in Downtown. I support neighborhood watch programs and ways to keep drug deals and crime from the alleys.
I am the chairperson of DEMA’s marketing committee. Recently, we redid the coupon book for local stores.
We had students at local schools do films on some of our downtown merchants. These films are on the DEMA web site and YouTube. We are looking at doing recycled bags for downtown. We have a dining guide for downtown. We welcome all ideas for ways to increase business downtown.
Favorite event: Street Fairs
- Shoja Naimi: “My second home is downtown.”
Shoja Naimi, Director
Shoja Naimi has lived in Encinitas for over 30 years. He owns and operates the ever popular and successful Roxy Restaurant, in business also for over 30 years. He sat on the board of DEMA as it was just forming over 25 years ago and was instrumental in organizing and producing the First Street Fair in downtown Encinitas.
Shoji believes that his long term downtown business knowledge would bring much to the current DEMA board. If elected, he would like to contribute by working on downtown parking issues. He has given the subject a lot of thought and has many innovative ideas that address both problems and opportunities
Favorite events: Street Fairs & Taste of MainStreet
- Shawn Shamlou: “Our downtown is irreplaceable & incredibly unique.”
Shawn Shamlou, Director
I have been a Senior Environmental Planner at Dudek, at Third and E Streets, for the past 8 years, and have been working in the environmental planning industry for 15 years with a keen interest in environmental, coastal, and historical issues. With a Master’s degree in environmental planning and membership in the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP), I understand local planning regulations and interpretation of the City’s North 101 Corridor Specific Plan. I’ve been blessed to work closely with City planners and engineers on a variety of projects including the Pacific View School site, Scripps Encinitas Master Plan, and numerous others, and will bring this working experience to the DEMA Board of Directors.
I’m a family man. Along with my wife and two kids, I’ve lived in Old Encinitas since 1995. My wife is a speech therapist at Scripps Hospital Encinitas and Vice President of Ocean Knoll PTA, and my kids attend school within the EUSD. We spend much of our free time together surfing at Cardiff Reef and D Street, enjoying the best restaurants in San Diego along 101, and perusing the fabulous San Diego Botanic Garden — so you could say we are a total Encinitas family!
Our historic, award-winning downtown is in a class all to itself, and I would be jazzed to bring my experience and enthusiasm to the DEMA Board. I would greatly cherish an opportunity to serve the people of Encinitas on the DEMA Board of Directors.
Favorite events: Holiday Parade & Taste of MainStreet
- Bart Smith: “Love Historic Downtown Encinitas.”
Bart Smith, Director
Bart Smith is the Principal Architect of the Architectural Firm DZN Partners. DZN Partners has been providing Architectural services to the Encinitas and North San Diego County Coastal area from an office on Second Street in Encinitas for over 20 years. He has provided architectural services for many downtown merchants and a number of Encinitas community groups. Bart has been on the DEMA board since 1994 and is a past president.
He also continues to serve on the DEMA façade grant committee and is a past chairman of the committee. Bart is a board member of the Encinitas Preservation Foundation and is a Past President of the Palomar Chapter of the American Institute of Architects and Del Mar-Solana Beach Rotary Club.
An Encinitas resident, Bart is committed to Encinitas and the Downtown area in particular, and remains very active as a steward for the future while working to maintain our unique identity and character.
Favorite event: Street Fairs
Charlie Sougias: “I support DEMA as caretaker of our downtown.”
Charlie Sougias, Director
Charlie Sougias, owner of Encinitas German Auto Service and Charlies Foreign Car since 1978.
As a resident since 1970, and stakeholder and merchant since 1978, I work very hard to meet the needs of the downtown merchants and residents and take pride in my involvement in DEMA. I have been married for just 32 years to my wife Shelly and I have 2 grown children and a granddaughter.
Encinitas is a wonderful place to live and I enjoy seeing the progress made in downtown and love to see it prosper. I enjoy gardening and motorcycle touring, I serve on the board of the Encinitas Preservation Association and the DEMA Parking and Security Committees.
Favorite event: Classic Car Nights
- Bobby Virk: “DEMA looks out for local merchants & provides support for downtown related issues.”
Bobby Virk, Director
As the owner of the Moonlight Beach 7-Eleven, I have become deeply involved within our downtown Encinitas Community. My history is grounded in San Diego County, I attended UCSD as an undergraduate, followed by SDSU for the MBA curriculum. I am in the downtown sector daily as a customer and a merchant, and I’ve been blessed to surf some of the best breaks in the world; which happen to be in our wonderful town. I recently celebrated the 3-year anniversary of owning the 7-Eleven business, and I am also serving my 2nd year as a DEMA Board of Director. I have a deep appreciation and interest in the preservation and growth of our unique downtown, and I have served on various committees including outdoor dining, and marketing. Having served on the DEMA Board, I have been grateful for the wonderful relationships I have developed with fellow merchants, residents, and volunteers: many of whom I am fortunate to call friends. I hope to continue my efforts on the DEMA Board, and be involved in the appreciation of the gem we call Encinitas.
Favorite event: Street Fairs
2012 DEMA Board of Directors
Photos from the October 2011 Installation Dinner at Solace & Moonlight Lounge
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