All Staff

Jon Scholes is president & CEO of the Downtown Seattle Association where he is responsible for the operations and programs of the DSA, an 1,100-member association formed in 1958 to create a healthy, vibrant downtown for all. In this capacity, Jon is also responsible for the management of the Metropolitan Improvement District (MID), which was established by property owners and the City of Seattle in 1999 to provide cleaning, safety, transportation, marketing and public-realm management services across 300 square blocks in downtown.

He was appointed president and CEO of DSA in November of 2014 following six years as DSA’s vice president of advocacy and economic development. He has led the growth and expansion of the organization’s services, advocacy agenda and response to the impacts of the pandemic on downtown Seattle. Today, DSA is one of the three largest downtown organizations in North America as measured by total annual revenue and staff. Jon has spent more than 20 years working in nonprofit advocacy, public affairs, local government, and in senior positions on political campaigns at the regional and state levels.

Jon serves on the boards of Visit Seattle, the International Downtown Association, and Downtown Emergency Services Center and has served on a number of city and county task forces focused on transportation, homelessness and housing. He was recognized in 2016 as a “40 Under 40” honoree by the Puget Sound Business Journal and named one of Seattle’s most influential people by Seattle Magazine in 2021. He is the host of Seattle City Makers, a podcast launched in 2022 featuring conversations with a cross section of leaders shaping the city.

Jon is a graduate of Leadership Tomorrow and attended the University of Texas in Austin before graduating from the University of Washington. He lives in downtown Seattle with his wife and their 14-year-old twins.

Jenn Casillas is Vice President of Public Realm & Ambassador Operations for DSA. Along with a great team of colleagues, Jenn is responsible for staffing, activating and programming in downtown parks and public spaces. She is excited about DSA’s focus on the public realm and enjoys the creativity and innovation involved in building a vibrant, interesting and healthy urban core.

Prior to DSA, Jenn was Assistant Director of University Services at Seattle Pacific University. Preceding SPU, Jenn worked in various organizations sharpening her skills in business development, marketing, event planning and operations.

Jenn graduated from the University of Washington and earned a Master’s of Science in Communications from Ithaca College in New York. During breaks between raising two energetic children and working full-time, Jenn enjoys running along Alki Beach, skiing, relaxing with family and friends at her family’s lake house and volunteering with Westside Baby and NW Hope & Healing.

Alex Hudson is Executive Director of Commute Seattle. Alex brings more than nine years of experience as a nonprofit leader, having previously served as the executive director at Transportation Choices Coalition and the First Hill Improvement Association. A widely respected civic leader, Alex also serves on the boards of Bellwether Housing and the Freeway Park Association.

Alex is a lifelong resident of King County who has proudly called First Hill home for more than 15 years. Her car-free family includes her partner, a teenager at Garfield High School (Go Bulldogs!), an elderly cat, and a jungle of houseplants. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her family, reading books from the library and exploring the beautiful Pacific Northwest on transit and by bike.

Matt Gurney joined the Downtown Seattle Association as the new chief operating officer, beginning May 12. In this role, Matt oversees DSA’s financial, human resources, regulatory and administrative functions.

Matt brings a deep commitment to social impact, extensive leadership experience and a strong connection to the city. He has called Seattle home since 1995, and has a deep love for place. DSA’s mission and the work done through the Metropolitan Improvement District resonates with him — especially the commitment to creating opportunities for all and supporting a thriving downtown.

Matt has spent much of his career in the social enterprise and nonprofit space. He served more than 20 years at FareStart in downtown Seattle, where he held senior leadership roles including VP of social enterprise and chief innovation officer. Most recently, he served as CEO of Fort Worden Hospitality. His roots in community impact go back to his first venture, Habitat Espresso, a Capitol Hill coffee house and social enterprise that developed the idea for a barista training program for homeless youth, which eventually became part of FareStart.

He looks forward to bringing his experiences in leadership, social enterprise and business administration to DSA. Matt’s goal is to “help maximize the impact of services for our ratepayers, the broader community and dedicated staff.”

Outside of work, Matt enjoys playing soccer, watching the Sounders, and backpacking and hiking all over Washington state.