Our Team

Chris Bernardo, CDS’ President, and Founder, has worked in the downtown revitalization industry for nearly three decades. Chris works closely with BID board members, municipal staff, local law enforcement, elected officials, and district stakeholders to develop and implement a broad range of public space improvement programs, including:

• Supplemental sanitation and maintenance
• Streetscape beautification and amenities
• Quality-of-life management
• Placemaking and public events

Through CDS, Chris has been able to fully realize his devotion to “turning a place around” and working with stakeholders to co-create a vision that is grounded in the practical yet expansive enough to be transformative.

Chris resides in Verona, NJ with his wife and two children. He currently serves on the board of trustees for Downtown New Jersey, New Jersey’s only statewide organization representing place management organizations.

Gerald (Jerry) Blankman, CDS Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, serves as our most senior Operations Manager and Human Resources specialist. Jerry’s 20-plus years of experience in serving as the President and Vice President of the Downtown Jersey City Special Improvement District, is amplified further by his 30 years of experience as a downtown retailer. In his current role, Jerry is the heart of CDS, managing the day to day resources and ensuring overall client satisfaction. Jerry works closely with the CDS management team to develop and implement plans for the operational infrastructure of systems, processes, and personnel to successfully meet the growing needs of clients. Jerry’s greatest sense of accomplishment at work comes from delivering operations and management expertise to every client on a consistent basis, no matter what the size of the project.

German “Jerry” Rafalovich brings a wealth of experience in the public sector. His expertise spans the areas of horticulture, outdoor maintenance, commercial and residential facilities maintenance, operational management and human resources. Jerry holds an Associates degree in Business Administration and is pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Urban and Community Studies. At CDS, Jerry focuses on managing daily operations in the Somerville and Montclair areas and leads the organization’s staffing operations. Jerry also works to bridge partnerships between CDS and local administrative department partners and expands CDS’ project management capacity.

With over 15 years as an office manager, Paula knows how to keep things organized even on the busiest of days. She is the cheerful voice on the phone answering questions and taking detailed messages and the friendly face greeting guests at the office. Her easy-going personality allows staff to stay focused and motivated when each day brings something new and sometimes unexpected.

Victoria, a dynamic and results-driven team player, has honed her skills in client support services, office administration, and operations management. As assistant Program Manager, she assists CDS in developing and implementing placemaking activities and overseeing administrative projects for our clients.

Victoria is a proud graduate of Rutgers University, where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice.

Natalia Tomusiak supports placemaking, communications, and program operations across Commercial District Services’ portfolio of managed districts. She brings experience in marketing, public engagement, and event coordination, with a strong focus on creating accessible and vibrant public spaces.

Natalia holds a B.S. in Marketing and an M.S. in Business from Rutgers Business School. Prior to joining CDS, she worked in both private and institutional settings, where she developed internal communications strategies, executed social media campaigns, and managed community-focused projects. At CDS, she plays a key role in advancing district initiatives—from market activations to stakeholder outreach—ensuring seamless execution and thoughtful public impact.