Future of Downtown

In November 2014 Jon Scholes became President and CEO of DSA following six years as the organization’s Vice President of Advocacy and Economic Development. He believes downtown Seattle is an essential voice of leadership in a rapidly growing and evolving city. Jon’s passion for taking on big issues is reflected in his 15 years of work in nonprofit advocacy, local government, and senior positions on statewide political campaigns. At DSA he leads a diverse team focused on creating a healthy, vibrant and inviting downtown. Jon is a member of the Visit Seattle Board of Directors and the Downtown Transportation Alliance and has served on a number of city and county task forces on transportation, homelessness and housing. He is a Puget Sound Business Journal 40 Under 40 award winner and a graduate of Leadership tomorrow. He attended the University of Texas in Austin before graduating from the University of Washington. Jon lives in downtown Seattle with his wife and seven-year-old twins, Parker and Avery. In his spare time Jon sails, skis and rides motorcycles. He loves how much mental focus and presence each activity requires.

Mr. Guincher is the president of Continental Properties LLC (“CP”), with over thirty years of experience in the real estate industry, and has directed the development of over 3,800 multifamily units over the past twenty-five years in the Puget Sound region. CP has developed the highest quality apartments and condominiums in the Seattle area, setting numerous price per unit and absorption records for the region. Mr. Guincher holds a Bachelor of Commerce with majors in Finance and Real Estate from the University of British Columbia. He has been married for twenty-six years, with two children, ages twenty-two and nineteen.

In his real estate practice, Matt represents local and national developers, builders and lenders in all aspects of acquisition, development, financing, construction, leasing, and disposition for single and multi-family residential, mixed-use, office, and retail projects—with a focus on creative, cost-efficient results. He creates private equity and debt funds for private regional lenders and other real estate-related companies, and assists them on completing a range of financing transactions. Matt’s work often involves large, complex projects such as assisting Chris Hansen and his affiliates in the assessment, procurement and financing of a property portfolio for development and construction of a new multi-modal use sports arena complex in the SODO district of Seattle, and representing King County in its coordinated sale and ongoing operation of real estate for the expansion of the Washington State Convention Center. As CH&’s Managing Partner, Matt leads the firm’s business success, and has successfully developed and implemented the firm’s strategic plan. He is responsible for the day-to-day management of the firm, including supervision and oversight of the firm’s administrative, financial, technological, and business development functions. Matt cares deeply about Seattle and the Puget Sound region. Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels appointed Matt to serve on the Council for Pike Place Market Preservation & Development Authority (PDA), a public corporation chartered by the City of Seattle in 1973 which owns, operates, and manages the properties in the nine-acre Pike Place Market Historic District. Matt is now the chair of the PDA Council.