Chemistry is Powerful
Amazing things happen when a unique set of elements combine.
There are plenty of examples of this rare phenomenon found in nature, culture, and business.
Plinth is one of those occurrences.
We are a group of artists, entrepreneurs, and strategists which together form a team with the power to grow business and make dreams come true.
Spoiler alert: We're lifelong friends.
Desi Danganan
Managing Director / Civic Leader /
Business Guru / Alchemist
Desi is our founder and go-to first point of contact for anyone interested in PLINTH’s services. He brings 20+ years being part of entrepreneurial projects in various roles to economic and community development. His passion for and push with the community is exemplified in the development of SOMA Pilipinas, Kultivate Labs, Kapwa Gardens and most notably, UNDISCOVERED SF.
His ability to develop ground breaking concepts and unique brand experiences (online & offline) is tied to his mission to create lasting civic effects with successful community development programs, additional investments going back into the community and to awaken what is possible for the Filipino American community.
Desi is shaped by the privilege of traveling the world. The inspiration for him is to witness, explore and experience other cultures and return from his travels with a deeper appreciation for life. His greatest strength is being an orchestrator. By working with all kinds of people, he has the ability to see a very focused goal, describe it and inspire others to work towards that goal.
Concerning Desi’s economic and community development work, his long term vision is to make an impact in the world and create a new history -- what was once collateral damage for the community, is now a landscape of builders & dreamers not stuck to the struggles of our past. But a future narrative where the heroes of our stories turn their dreams into fruition.
In his free time, Desi likes to spend time with his dog Sumi and hang out at parks.
Andre Sibayan
Creative Director /
Artist / Backyard Gourmand
Andre has a passion for curiosity, discovery, and fun. He excels in solving problems through thoughtful design and creative strategy. Andre brings 15+ years of professional design experience creating work for clients like Target, Old Navy and the McCANN Worldgroup.
Andre brings that rare blend of artistry and business savvy to the Plinth team. He is believes every creative decision, every design is built to move a brand forward.
When he's not working, he enjoys eating and making good food with friends, creating digital tools for artists and designers. He’s also known for having legendary living room dance parties with his wife and son.
AARON ORCINO
Project Manager / Operations Lead
Aaron is able to wear many hats and has held roles as a project manager, product manager, program manager and also a lead UX designer.
He has spent time at large companies like Facebook and Blizzard Entertainment, as well small media startups, design agencies, enterprise tech consulting firms and even non-profits.
His breadth of experience makes him extremely adaptable and quick on his feet. He makes sure that projects stay on track and valuable time is spent efficiently. Aaron is passionate about amplifying community and commerce. He’s been a Kultivate Labs team member for 4 years, advocating for small business development.
This will be his 2nd year running the SEED Network and Accelerator Program.
Aaron is also program lead for Filipinos Feed the Frontlines. The program has raised for $150k to help stabilize Filipino owned restaurants and have delivered over 14,000 meals to essential workers, senior citizens and those in need.
SARAH MEIER
Brand Strategist / Copywriter
Sarah Meier’s experience in media, youth culture, and fashion spans twenty years.
Her vibrant aura is perhaps most recognized from her early career as an MTV Asia VJ, Sarah pivoted an on-camera gig into other industry, outlets, creating and hosting shows for both radio and television. She started a production company and creative agency in 2003, with Nike, Absolut, and Mazda as clients.
More recent roles have included Editor-in-Chief of ABS-CBN Publishing’s pillar fashion, beauty, and lifestyle publication, Metro Magazine, and creative director at e-commerce fashion start-up, Pormada.
Her writing has been lauded as “global cultural commentary through a Filipino lens” by Manila Bulletin’s Lifestyle Editor, AA Patawaran, for whom she penned a column in the newspaper’s Arts & Culture pages.
Recently transplanted to California, Sarah is busy building her consultancy firm, wecreativenatives, and supporting her husband, Jon, in their family cannabis business. Sarah is also the founding CEO, and now advisor, of the She Talks Asia learning community.
jy JIMMIE GABIOLA
Digital Marketer / Brand Creative Copywriter
Jimmie is a Bay Area-based multidisciplinary artist and has held roles as an operations manager, visual stylist and artistic director.
With 5+ years in the digital marketing space and helping entrepreneurs develop their brand strategies and launch campaigns, Jimmie’s heart as a Poet benefits in developing a succinct brand voice that speaks from the soul of the business.
Bridging the psychology of marketing and the visual language of art and design, Jimmie's passion is seeing brands come to life with strategic intuition & finesse.
On his free time, Jimmie enjoys spending quality time with family, traveling via a good book and exploring the nature of consciousness.
Jimmie is part of the inaugural class of Brownthought Academy, a marketing internship where he learned all aspects of marketing from email campaigns, social media, website maintenance, paid social media, and the fundamentals of socially conscious economic development. While working on the marketing campaign for UNDSCVRD Season 4.
To honor the memory of Marco Jastillana and to uplift the next generation of creative thought leaders, presented by Kultivate Labs and Jastillana family.
WE GROW BUSINESSES THROUGH CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT, THE ART OF BRANDING, AND THE SCIENCE OF CROWDFUNDING.
LET'S SEE WHAT WE CAN DO FOR YOU.
