Nashville Pride’s mission is to educate and maintain a sense of pride, community, and awareness of, about, and for GLBT people and culture in Middle Tennessee.
2011-2012 Board of Directors
Randall Roop
randall@nashvillepride.org |
Executive BoardPresidentRandall is the Senior Sales Manager for the Millennium Hotel – Maxwell House. He has worked in the hopitality industry for 15 years and joined Nashville Pride in the Fall of 2006 as a volunteer. “It is incredible to see the growth of the Nashville Pride Festival and the organization in general over the past few years, it has been an honor and priviledge to work with such awesome people and be a part of Tennessee largest GLBT event.” |
Jack Davis
jack@nashvillepride.org |
Past President
Jack is the Director of Student Centers at Vanderbilt University and an independent event planner. He has worked with events and logistics for 10 years and joined the Nashville Pride board in October 2008, helping organize and direct the festival set up and layout. “I believe in Pride’s mission to maintain a sense of community and awareness of, about, and for the GLBT people and culture. Pride is the most visible organization in the city and embraces the entire GLBT community.” |
Allan Gonce
allan@nashvillepride.org |
Vice President & Festival DirectorAllan is a Senior Buyer for Metropolitian Nashville Public Schools. Previously, he and his partner have been entrepreneurs owning both a successful moving company and restaurant. His aims to further expand the GBLT exposure in the business and political arenas.
“I’m very proud and excited to serve on the board and I am committed to supporting the community and its interests.”
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Joey Leslie
joey@nashvillepride.org |
Secretary & Marketing DirectorJoey is Web Traffic & Digital Marketing Manager at Southcomm Communications. He has worked in the media industry since 2007 and was elected to the Pride board in 2010, overseeing marketing, advertising and public relations. “We enjoy the privilege of planning our community’s largest, most significant celebration and, with that, the responsibility of keeping the importance of GLBT pride top-of-mind all year long.” |
Jenn Garrett
jenn@nashvillepride.org |
Treasurer |
Board Members |
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Teryl Brake
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Board MemberThis is Teryl’s first year working directly with Nashville Pride. His alter ego is well known in the local drag community, having been a longtime cast member at the Cabaret, Episode Two. Currently, Teryl works in retail and goes to college for digital photography. “I enjoy working with a organization that supports the community to move forward. In addition to Nashville Pride, he also volunteers for One-In-Teen Youth Services and Nashville 2600 Organization. teryl@nashvillepride.org |
Joey Brown
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Core 100 ChairJoey is the co-owner of Nashville hot spots Tribe, Play Dance Bar and Suzy Wongs House of Yum. He lends his entrepreneurial spirit to Pride by heading up Core 100 and has served on the board of Pride for two years. “I wanted to lend some of my business experience to the organization,” Joey said. |
Aaron Campbell
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Board MemberAaron Campbell recently became the Government Affairs Specialist for Youth Villages, a nonprofit organization with the mission to help emotionally troubled children and their families live successfully. Prior to working for YV, he served the last 6 years as a Legislative Liaison for Governor Phil Bredesen’s administration. “I am honored to be on the Board for Nashville Pride and look forward to working with the many awesome volunteers who dedicate their time to improving the lives of LGBT people in Tennessee.” |
Joseph Conner |
Public Relations CoordinatorJoseph is currently Director of Publicity at Lotos Nile Media, handling PR, tour support and publicity efforts for Bluegrass and Americana artists. Prior to Lotos Nile Joseph handled publicity efforts for Kaleidoscope Media. Having worked with events like Bonnaroo and Nashville institutions like the Loveless Cafe, Joseph brings over 10 years of marketing and PR experience to Nashville Pride. “I could not be more excited to join the board of Nashville Pride this year. To be part of an organization that works for acceptance and awareness of the LBGT community in Middle TN is an absolute thrill!” |
Lisa Howe
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Board MemberAfter a successful 17 year career as a collegiate soccer coach, including 2 championships and 3 times Conference Coach of the Year, Lisa Howe is now a diversity consultant and motivational speaker for Howe About… Consulting, LLC. When Coach Howe announced she and her partner were expecting a baby, it sparked one of the biggest LGBT rights movements in Tennessee history. Since then, Lisa has done interviews with The Tennessean, The New York Times, Glamour Magazine, and ESPN, to name a few. For her advocacy work, Lisa Howe was awarded the 2011 Justice Award from the National Center for Lesbian Rights. |
Christy Ikner
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Festival Logistics |
MAC
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Board memberMAC is a staple in the LGBT Community as part of Nashville Pride’s Board & Staff (20 years plus) and many other organizations. She was awarded the Bianca Paige Community Service Award 2011 and the Brother’s United Community Service Award 2009. She is a Nashville Black Pride Board Member (9 years), member of Her HRC and Coordinator of Sister’s United now entitled BASU. She is the owner of MAC Productions, an unique entertainment company that focuses on discovering, developing and promoting innovative & creative talent. The company specializes in the production of show performances & pageantry. MAC is the proud owner of one of the longest standing premier pageants in the South Eastern region The Mr. Esquire Pageant & Ms. Tennessee Diamond Diva Pageant. |
Brent Meredith
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Board MemberBrent is the Marketing & Communications Director at Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College of Education and Human Development. He is also one of three hosts on Out & About Today, Tennessee’s only GLBT television show. Prior to his post at Vanderbilt, Brent spent six years as the editor & creative director for Out & About Newspaper. He has been active in the Nashville community since 2000 serving as a member of the Nashville Pride Board, the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee’s H. Franklin Brooks Philanthropic Fund Board, the National Lesbian and Gay Journalist Association Nashville chapter president, the Frist Center Marketing Council, as well as other civic an community organizations. “It’s a great honor to be invited back to the Nashville Pride Board and to be working with such a talented group of dedicated volunteers! I consider it a privilege to be part of an organization that works year round to promote and celebrate diversity in our community.”
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Nora Spencer
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Board MemberNora Spencer has been a professional diversity educator and advocate for over 12 years. She currently serves as director of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex Life and the Margaret Cuninggim Women’s Center at Vanderbilt University, and teaches as an adjunct professor at Belmont University. |
Milton White
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Board MemberMilton is a fashion industry veteran with several years of experience as a fashion show producer, fashion stylist, publicist, model/talent agent, and celebrity stylist. Through The Fashion Office he provides various creative services to client like Nordstrom, Mad Donna’s, Olia Zavozina and Studio BBC Salon. “I am extremely honored to part of Nashville Pride. I look forward to supporting this amazing organization and will do whatever I can to further its mission.” |
Joseph Woodson
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Volunteer CoordinatorJoseph performs research and provides public policy analysis for the Tennessee General Assembly. He was first elected to the Pride Board in 2009 and has chaired the volunteer committee ever since. Joseph challenges himself to create a consistent base of volunteers to support Nashville Pride’s events and festival by showing their pride through volunteerism. “It is important for people in Tennessee to have a place where they can be themselves, no matter their background. Whether through volunteering at the festival, or becoming a part of Core 100, Nashville Pride gives so many in the GLBTQ community an opportunity to express themselves, find support, meet new people, and give back. |
To contact our board, please send an email to: info@nashvillepride.org or call (615) 844-4159.
