Director

Damian has a diverse background with extensive experience in finance, real estate, technology, and non-profit organizations.  He is Founder of SmartProperty, a real estate technology startup.  Over the past 16 years, he has worked in the real estate industry and served as CEO of Barrera & Co., a reserve study firm that specializes in financial planning for community associations.  Prior to working in real estate, Mr. Esparza worked in technology for the investment banking industry in San Francisco. He helped raise over $2 billion in the initial public offering (IPO) process, secondary offerings and private placements. He began his career in the mailroom of a Hollywood talent and literary agency. In college, he served as a congressional intern. 

Mr. Esparza has also served in a non-profit capacity as the Director for Stewardship and Development for the Diocese of San Diego.  In that role, he helped establish the Catholic Community Foundation of San Diego, the Bishop Flores Scholars Tuition Assistance Program, the Mental Illness Network partnership with San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency, the “Strengthening Our Catholic Schools Research Project” with University of San Diego, the Healthy Lunch Program for Catholic Schools in partnership with the Neighborhood House Association, and the Stewardship and Sustainability partnership with San Diego Gas & Electric.

He also served on numerous boards and leadership committees for multiple non-profits, and currently serves on the boards of the Boy Scouts of America for Imperial and San Diego Counties, A Faith That Does Justice, Inc., and the Latino Leadership & Policy Forum. 

Damian enjoys spending his time with family including his wife Danielle, young son Oliver and dog Harlow.  He likes fishing, mountain biking, surfing and being outdoors.  He is a graduate of the CONNECT Springboard Entrepreneurship Program and San Diego Public Leadership Institute, a program of the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce.  He graduated from Boston College (BA, Philosophy, ‘96).