Board & Staff

The business, property and affairs of the East Passyunk Ave BID are managed under the direction of the Board of Directors. In addition to fiduciary responsibility, they oversee the strategic direction of the organization.

Per the BID’s bylaws, the Board consists of an odd number of voting members, between five (5) and fifteen (15). One member of the Board shall be the Councilperson of the First Councilmanic District of the City of Philadelphia. The Board shall include a representative of property owners in the District, a representative of business owners in the District, and a representative of any institutions located in the District.

Below are the volunteer community and paid staff who keep the BID running.

Executive Director

Katie Hanford

From running youth development programs to advocating for independent music venues, a focus on people – and what makes communities thrive – has been a constant throughout Katie’s career. As ED of EPABID, her focus is on supporting all of the small businesses on our corridor through events, grants, partnerships and more.

A native of West Chester, PA, Katie studied Anthropology and Urban Design and Planning at the University of Washington and recently completed her Masters in City Planning at the University of Pennsylvania. In her free time, Katie loves exploring new parts of the city, grabbing food with friends and seeing live music. If you see her at show, come say hi!

Administrative Coordinator

Danielle O’Brien

A native of Upper Darby, PA, Danielle is dedicated to making essential resources accessible to immigrant business owners, leveraging her experience in community engagement and communications.

She has interned with the Philadelphia Department of Commerce, improving outreach for small businesses, as well as the Philadelphia Office of Immigrant Affairs, where she developed multilingual materials and connected with the community.

Her passion for helping immigrants stems from her belief in the transformative power of entrepreneurship and her background as an ESL tutor. A recent graduate of La Salle University with a degree in International Relations and minors in Spanish and Economics, Danielle is excited to contribute to supporting our businesses along the avenue!

If you see her on the Avenue, be sure to say hello!