Meet Our Board of Directors

We Are Improving Downtown El Cajon

Here is a little bit about the members of our Board of Directors. Downtown El Cajon Business Partners is committed to improving the entire downtown experience. Our goal is growth for all.

In addition, we are working hard to draw more businesses and investors into our downtown area. Finally, we want to involve everyone in our community. This helps in the future growth of our downtown. By having this kind of participation, we keep it local.

If you have questions, you can contact our local office to find out more about us. If you want to get involved, contact us to find out how.

Visit the rest of our site to get more information about our events in Downtown El Cajon. Finally, visit the Cajon Classic Cruise, Dinner and A Concert Series, America on Main, the Mother Goose Parade, etc.

Daryl Priest

Daryl Priest

Board President

With more than 40 years in development, Daryl boasts his greatest achievement are in development of youth programs in the community. Daryl and his wife can regularly be found at a local high school football game or sponsoring aspiring students in agriculture.

Cathy Zeman

Cathy Zeman

Board Treasurer

Cathy is a founding member that turned the Downtown El Cajon Business Partners back on it’s feet. Cathy leads the team that puts on San Diego’s hottest summer concert event: The Dinner and A Concert series.

Mark Clifton

Mark Clifton

Board Member

After growing up in the car business, Mark represents the changing needs of the community. Mark regularly works as a member of the local Lion’s Club to champion the progress of both youth and senior programs.

Gabriel Marrujo

Gabriel Marrujo

Board Member

After the Marrujo family combined their efforts into creating the hugely successful Downtown Cafe and Por Favor restaurants, Gabe focused his efforts on helping other family run businesses thrive in the community. Gabe can regularly be found advocating the success of the up and coming small businesses in Downtown El Cajon.

Victor Zeman

Victor Zeman

Board Member

Victor has provided real estate lending to El Cajon’s developers and residents for more than 45 years. As a local oriented towards family success, Victor adds a particular fatherly figure to the efforts of Downtown El Cajon.

Lee Mench

Lee Mench

Board Member

Lee has been providing Downtown El Cajon businesses flexible office space solutions, revenue maximization and integrative networking techniques for more than 20 years.

Graham Mitchell

Graham Mitchell

El Cajon City Representative

Graham Mitchell has enjoyed over twenty years working for local governments in California. He worked in Monterey Park and Moorpark, where he started his career working in the fields of economic development and redevelopment. In 2003, he was appointed as the city manager of Farmersville and in 2003 was appointed as Lemon Grove’s city manager. After twelve transformative years in Lemon Grove, Graham worked as the assistant city manager and city manager for Escondido beginning in 2015. In 2017, Graham joined the City of El Cajon’s team as its assistant city manager and was appointed as its city manager in 2018.

Graham has overseen the redevelopment of several downtowns, ushered in mixed-use development projects, and is viewed as an innovative and entrepreneurial leader.

Graham holds a B.A. in International Relations from Brigham Young University and a MPA from the University of Southern California.

Ron Nevels

Board Member

Ron joins the Board as an expert in small business and development within the county. He brings great insight to the growing needs of Downtown El Cajon.