Jacob joined Main Street Launch after a career in real estate development, venture finance, and economic development, and is responsible for developing the organization to achieve greater impact. He started his career in real estate development, first as a project manager for Peter Buck, a leading land use attorney and developer in Seattle, followed by key roles within the consulting division of Helmsley Hotels in New York. Subsequently, he helped launch Pacific Community Ventures (PCV), a non-profit community development equity fund, where he served as Director of Portfolio Management and Investment Development. In between, he founded a non-profit organization in Big Sur focused on watershed preservation and environmental education in partnership with the Esalen Institute. Jacob holds a Ph.D. in Community Studies from Union Institute, an M.B.A. from Claremont Graduate School’s Drucker School of Management, and a B.A. from California State University Pomona. He is also an artist and father.