Our Team
ken kawachi
Ken Kawachi’s multi-faceted career has seen him in a variety of roles, including as a Barista at Blue Bottle Coffee, “Tea Geek” at a boba shop in Hayes Valley, a Server and Host at Namu Gaji, a Barista and Food Runner at Sunday at the Museum, Barback at Churchill and Anina, Barback and Bartender at True Laurel, Bar Prep and Barback at Pacific Cocktail Haven, and Bartender at Members Only and Cavaña. Before joining our team, Ken was a welcome and familiar face at Viridian, often dropping by for a nightcap after work on his way home. Upon hearing of an opening at Viridian, Ken jumped on the chance, and the rest is history. Curious, intelligent and constantly looking for ways to learn and excel, Ken never fails to give his utmost support to Viridian. Drop by to pick his brain about cocktails or anything Dungeons & Dragons. This Dungeon Master has all the best stories to tell!
NICOLE NATHAN
We’re proud to have Nicole join Viridian as our most recent addition. While at True Laurel, Nicole helped the bar climb from #30 to #17 on the World's 50 Best in North America list and repped the team at pop-ups in South Africa and New Orleans. Before that, she sharpened her Japanese spirits and sake knowledge at Pabu Izakaya, landing original cocktails on multiple seasonal menus and stepping up to lead the team whenever necessary. While bartending and consulting for Empress by Boon, Nicole contributed new cocktails to the menu and was a crucial member of the prep team.
A familiar face in the industry, you may recognize Nicole from education events and conferences such as Camp Runamok, Tales of the Cocktail, and PDXCW. In addition to her deep dedication to craft, Nicole is also an SF State broadcasting and electronic comms graduate.
Ask her about Japanese spirits, her favorite pop-up memory, or her pro-tips on videography.
JUSTIN LAM
Before Viridian, you could find Justin behind the stick at two SF staples: Rickhouse, where he's guided guests through a 400+ whiskey list, and Pagan Idol, where he expanded his knowledge of rum and cane spirits. Before that, he sharpened his hospitality instincts at Philz and Peet's, eventually leading shifts and training teams.
In 2024, Justin took home the title at the Trader Vic's Mai Tai Competition and made the Top 8 at the Bounty White Spirit of Saint Lucia competition. He's an SF State grad (Business Administration, International Business) and speaks Cantonese and English. . In 2026, Justin placed first in the Bay Area Regional Pathfinder Competition and among the top two competitors in the national finals. Outside of work, Justin is a guitarist and vocalist for three local metal bands, including Hatriot, which has toured internationally.
Ask Justin for a whiskey recommendation, a perfectly built daiquiri, or what tracks are on his current playlist.
sky sczesny
Sky comes to Viridian by way of Oakland's Burma Superstar, where she earned a spot behind the bar and a promotion within her first three months, helping the team pull in some of its best reviews and rankings yet. Before that, she ran the floor at BAIA in SF, juggling high-volume nights while quietly building a loyal regular following and pitching in on inventory and ordering.
She's an SF State broadcasting and electronic communication arts grad and speaks English and Tagalog. Her past volunteering experience includes working with 4ocean, the cleanup crew that intercepts plastic pollution before it hits the sea, along with Green Meadows Homecare and CHOC.
When not at work, Sky enjoys a turn on the mic at karaoke and hanging out with Choco, her adorable black cat. Ask her for a drink recommendation or her favorite dish from Burma Superstar.
Q BOLAN, JR.
The backbone of the prep team, Q spends his mornings making the behind-the-scenes cocktail magic happen at Viridian. Many of the bespoke ingredients featured in our beverage program are processed and prepared by Q with careful attention to detail and advanced culinary techniques. Beyond the preparation of these critical components, Q also batches, blends, and quality tests our seasonal menu items, ensuring their speedy and optimal delivery by those who execute the last steps of their final presentation. Q can be found slinging drinks at Modernist in San Francisco on the weekends or coaching high school basketball in the evenings. A former Division I college basketball player, Q is a proven and tenacious athlete, helping lead his high school to the top-tier of both state and national rankings. Before joining the team at Viridian, Q tended bar at Hakkasan SF and Hello Stranger in Oakland.