Mid-Market Business Association & Foundation Announces Fernando Pujals As Executive Director
Deputy Director steps into leadership role to continue Market Street Arts' momentum
Alyse Panitz Photography
SAN FRANCISCO (November 13, 2025) – The Board of Directors of the Mid-Market Business Association & Foundation has appointed Fernando Pujals as Executive Director. Pujals, who has served as Deputy Director since joining the organization, brings deep neighborhood knowledge and proven leadership to this pivotal role as Steve Gibson transitions from the Executive Director position.
"Fernando has played a key role in developing Market Street Arts and our community-based safety program over the past several years," stated Sara De La Riva, Board Chair. "His strategic vision, operational expertise, community relations skills, and passion for the neighborhood will be essential in guiding the future of Mid-Market. We are grateful to Steve for his leadership in launching these transformative programs, and we're excited for Fernando to continue building on the incredible momentum in the area."
Pujals has demonstrated exceptional leadership in operations, strategic partnerships, community engagement, organizational development, and advocacy for San Francisco's central city neighborhoods. As Deputy Director, he worked to implement the Community-Based Safety Program when joining the organization in 2021 followed by Market Street Arts in 2023, helping to put Mid-Market on a path toward becoming a thriving arts and entertainment district.
"I'm honored to take on this role at such an exciting time for Mid-Market," said Pujals. "Our Market Street Arts initiative has brought new energy to the neighborhood, becoming a platform for creatives and businesses to thrive. I look forward to collaborating with our board, amazing team, the City, private partners, and the community to continue building on our success."
Under Pujals' leadership as Executive Director, the organization will continue its mission to transform Mid-Market into a globally recognized arts, culture, and entertainment destination. Key priorities include expanding the successful Creative Hubs to tenant groundfloor spaces, strengthening existing businesses and continuing flagship events like the UNSTAGED: Live on Mid-Market series in the Mid-Market Entertainment Zone. The organization remains focused on supporting local businesses through grants, advocacy, and marketing initiatives.
Pujals brings a unique blend of creative and operational experience to this role. He holds an MFA in Creative Writing from San Francisco State University (2012) and completed the IDA's Emerging Leaders Fellowship (2019). He previously served as the Senior Director for the Tenderloin Community Benefit District and has been working in the area since 2015.
Suzette Lee, Jonathan Carver Moore, Fernando Pujals and Robert Moses attend Market Street Arts Mixer x Jonathan Carver Moore on September 28th 2023 at Jonathan Carver Moore in San Francisco, CA (Photo - Drew Altizer Photography)
ABOUT THE MID-MARKET BUSINESS ASSOCIATION & FOUNDATION
The Mid Market Business Association (MMBA) is a 501c6 and advocates on behalf of businesses, property owners, and other stakeholders along Market Street between 5th and Van Ness and surrounding areas.
In 2019, the MMBA established the Mid-Market Foundation (MMF) a 501c3 to conceive, implement, and manage transformative programs. It launched Market Street Arts in August 2023, creating a uniting vision for the neighborhood. MMF also launched the Tenderloin/Mid-Market Community-Based Safety Program, one of the largest alternative community safety programs in the country, providing ambassador services across San Francisco’s Mid-Market, Tenderloin, and SOMA neighborhoods.
ABOUT MARKET STREET ARTS
An initiative of the MMBA&F, Market Street Arts is a multi-year collaboration between the City, neighborhood stakeholders, businesses, residents, private donors, and corporate sponsors to actualize the true potential of Mid-Market. It capitalizes on Mid-Market’s centralized location and creative infrastructure as San Francisco’s historic theater district. Implementation strategies specifically leverage the neighborhood’s larger cultural venues with a fabric of new and existing creative entrepreneurs, arts organizations, businesses, public art, beautification, and events of various scales, serving as a multipronged platform for creative expression, human connection, and economic investment.
Market Street Arts is funded by the Mid Market Foundation, a 501c3 established in 2019 to conceive, implement, and manage transformative programs, in partnership with the San Francisco Office of Economic and Workforce Development.
