Chris Hillman
Chris Hillman has been working with the Industrial BID in different capacities over the last year, officially becoming your “Mary 1” (radio code) and dedicated Contract Manager in January. Chrysalis has been fortunate to have Chris as part of the team for over 16 years! In this time, Chris has positively impacted the lives of thousands of Chrysalis program participants on their journey to self-sufficiency. And he’s not done yet! He said he is always learning new things and growing every day. Prior to working with Chrysalis, Chris worked in both custodial and driving positions. Though he is originally from New Jersey and visits his family there twice a year, his favorite local team is the Clippers. Chris might be a man of few words, but don’t let that fool you—he is a strategic wizard when it comes to street maintenance! He said that his favorite part of working here is feeling supported by the BID staff, the safety team, and his clean team. He knows that with the management support of Clean Team Supervisor Jose Ruiz, his team is the best suited to serve the complex challenges of our neighborhood.
Jose Ruiz
Jose Ruiz came to Chrysalis in 2021 and was immediately promoted from Sweeper to Driver thanks to his previous experience as a forklift operator and his dedication to the job. After just over a year, Jose was hired as a permanent Supervisor with Chrysalis. In addition to his driving experience, Jose has managed his own crews in warehouse work, amongst other fields, citing his raising his four kids as the way he learned how to manage different personalities! Jose says that the best part of working at DIDBID is that there is never a dull moment. He loves that there is always something to be done as he enjoys staying busy. He said that working here has reminded him to stay humble and grateful. He knows others are going through hard times and considers his work one of the ways he can give back to his community. Jose is a native Angeleno, having grown up in Echo Park, and is an avid Lakers and Dodgers fan.
We Say Goodbye to James Blackwell and Thank Him for His Years of Service!
James Blackwell
James Blackwell acted as the head of the Industrial Clean Team for just over five years, beginning in October of 2017, when Chrysalis took over maintenance services for the BID. In these years, James worked tirelessly to serve the community in every way possible. In January of this year, James was promoted to Operations Supervisor with another team at Chrysalis but remains extremely thankful to the BID for the incredible experience he had while working for this dynamic neighborhood. He says that his favorite part of working for the BID was that he was always learning new things, perfecting the art of multi-tasking, and creating incredible relationships within the BID team. He gives a special shout-out to Operations Director Jesse Ramirez for always being a collaborative partner and teammate.