About - Board of Directors
The Center’s Board of Directors meets together as a full group quarterly for all day business and strategic review and planning sessions. Board committees meet monthly (and occasionally more frequently) to pursue the work of the organization and the board.
The public is welcome and invited to attend Center board meetings, with the exception of the small portion of the session dedicated to personnel matters (executive session.) Because the meetings are all day meetings, the board has ensured that the beginning of each meeting includes opportunity for public comment and questions, allowing those unable or uninterested in staying for a full day meeting an opportunity to participate or offer comment without having to make a day long committment.
The meeting schedule for the full board of directors for 2010 is as follows:
March 13, 2010: 9:30-5pm; June 5, 2010: 9:30am – 5pm; September 11, 2010: 9:30am – 5pm; November 6, 2010: 9:30am – 5:000 pm
The first meeting for 2011 is scheduled for January 29, 2011: 9:30am – 5:00pm.
All meetings are held at The San Diego LGBT Community Center, 3909 Centre Street, San Diego, CA 92103
Please feel free to contact The Center’s CEO djacobs@thecentersd.org for any further information you may require. |
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Dale Kelly Bankhead is the former committee consultant for City Councilmember Toni Atkins for the Council's Budget and Finance Committee. She is the former campaign manager for Equality for All, a leading coalition of LGBT and civil rights organizations coming together to defend California's progressive domestic partnerships laws and defeat anti-marriage measures, and previously served as the public affairs director of the ACLU of San Diego & Imperial Counties. Her background includes a broad array of public interest, advocacy and political positions. Prior to joining the ACLU, she was a legislative aide with the California State Assembly in Sacramento. She has held several volunteer leadership positions in community organizations such as the League of Women Voters and the Rancho de los Penasquitos Town Council and has won numerous awards for community service. She is a graduate of Wellesley College and also attended the University of Miami School of Law for two years. |
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Dr. Shaun Travers is a Diversity Officer at the University of California, San Diego and the Director of the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Resource Center on campus. Shaun received his Doctorate in Education, and his current research involves the leadership practice of social justice educators in higher education. In addition, he lectures on self-reflection in higher education practice, and the opportunities and challenges of working in the LGBT community. With a 1994 Psychology and Theatre degree from California Lutheran University coupled with a 1996 MS in Education from Indiana University, Shaun has experience in diversity, higher education, qualitative research, gender issues, youth and non-profit management. An active representative of the bisexual community, he frequently speaks at and participates in forums supporting the diversity of many social justice movements. He works with the San Diego LGBT Community Leadership Council, as well as the National Consortium of LGBT Directors in Higher Education. He and his partner live in the San Diego community of Hillcrest. |
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Andrea Villa joins The Center board with an impressive background in social and community involvement. Andrea is currently serving on the board of the San Diego Democratic Club. She served on the board of San Diego LGBT Pride for six years and was co-chair for three years and the board of Labrys Productions, a Lesbian Theatre Company. She is a Human Factors Engineer at QUALCOMM Inc. Previously, Andrea worked for Cykic Software. Andrea joined the Board in December, 2004. |
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Sid Voorakkara is a program officer with the California Endowment, and has served as a consultant for such organizations as California Consumers United and Californians for Tax Fairness. He previously served as a field director for the United Nations Foundation and as a communications advisor for Congressman Richard Gephardt. Since relocating to San Diego in 2004, Voorakkara has been active in working to end marriage discrimination in California, and currently serves as co-chair of San Diegans Against Marriage Discrimination. Voorakkara earned his bachelor's degree in government from New York University. |
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SECRETARY |
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Matthew J. Doherty has an extensive background in non-profit housing and the management of social service programs. He has worked previously for the San Diego Housing Commission and the King County Housing Authority in Seattle, and is currently Director of the National Resource Center for the Corporation for Supportive Housing, leading CSH's efforts to develop technical assistance materials, training curricula, and other tools to assist organizations to create new supportive housing opportunities for persons who are homeless, adults with disabilities, seniors, families and youth. In his role, he provides consulting services to diverse organizations and provides trainings to audiences drawn from throughout the United States. Doherty holds a bachelor's degree from Oberlin College and a master's degree in public administration from the University of Washington, Seattle. |
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Lisa Briggs is National Government Affairs Manager for Sempra Energy. Prior to joining Sempra, she served as Policy Advisor to Mayor Jerry Sanders, where she helped shape policy on energy, labor and employment issues for the City of San Diego. Her background also includes a diverse array of public interest, advocacy and government positions. Prior to joining Mayor Sanders’ staff, Briggs was CEO of the San Diego County Taxpayers Association. She is an attorney with an emphasis in utility regulatory law, which served her well in her roles at the County of San Diego and AT&T. She has held several volunteer leadership positions in community organizations such as Senior Community Centers of San Diego, where she served as Board Chair. During her term, that organization completed its first senior housing project in East Village and embarked upon its second successful project in City Heights. She is a graduate of Northern Arizona University and California Western School of Law. |
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| EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBER-AT-LARGE |
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Jeff Gattas is Senior Director of University Communications & Public Affairs for UC San Diego. Prior to his current position, he served as San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders’ director of City Council Affairs. In addition he served as Chief of Staff to San Diego City Councilmember Toni Atkins and as District Director and Press Secretary for California Assemblymember Denise Moreno Ducheny. He has managed and advised on several national, state and local political campaigns. Before entering the public sector Jeff worked in public relations and marketing, assisting organizations in meeting their strategic communication, community outreach and product development and placement needs. He and his partner live in the San Diego community of North Park. |
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| Board Members |
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John Laird first became involved in the San Diego LGBT community as a volunteer for “The Gay Center” in 1981; and became involved in The Imperial Court de San Diego in 1982, and again in 1990. In 1992, he was elected as “Grey Wolf Emperor XXI.” John's service to the community personally and through the Imperial Court de San Diego and Temple Emanu-El includes the Lesbian Health Project “Pink Ribbon Campaign”, the chair or co-chair position of the community Toys for Kids, the Nicky Award Board of Governors, the AIDS Memorial Task Force, the Grocery Hearts Food Pantry, the San Diego Rescue Mission Women and Children's Center, The Storefront, Standdown for Vietnam Veterans, The Interfaith Shelter Project, and many others. He was also instrumental in having Temple Emanu-El be the first Jewish organization to march in San Diego's Pride Parade. |
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Ryland Madison Ryland Madison is Director of Marketing for Cox Communications San Diego, where he leads acquisition, upgrade, retention and competitive strategy through to implementation. Ryland’s team led the Cox San Diego launch of high-speed Internet, digital telephone, high definition cable, and digital video recorders. In 2001, Ryland led the national Cox team in the creation of a new high-speed Internet service. He was a board member of Family Matters of San Diego for over six years and was the president for two years until it merged with The Center in 2007. He has served as a senior consultant with Oracle Corporation and worked for the Walt Disney Co. as an Imagineer. A Southern California native, Ryland graduated from UCSD with a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering and business management. He is an active member of the UCSD alumni association. Ryland has been at the forefront of gay family rights in San Diego along with his husband of 22 years and three-year-old son. |
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G. Joyce Rowland is senior vice president of human resources and chief ethics officer for Sempra Energy. Prior to that, she served as vice president of human resources and chief ethics officer of Pacific Enterprises, the parent company of SoCalGas. Joyce holds a Master’s degree in business administration, with a concentration in industrial relations, and a Bachelor’s degree in psychology from UCLA. A board member of the San Diego Better Business Bureau and the Equality California Institute, she is also an active member in a number of professional groups, including the Society for Human Resource Management, World at Work and Anthem Blue Cross of California’s consumer relations committee. |
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Mary L. Stockton is a Financial Services Representative with New York Life Insurance Company, and has worked in financial services industry for more than a decade.Stockton is a member of the Diversionary Theatre Board of Directors, and previously served on the board of Stepping Stone, including two years as vice-chair. Mary brings more than two decades of experience in business, fundraising and community relations. Stockton is a graduate of Boston University, Stockton lives in the North Park area of San Diego. |
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| In
Memoriam |
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David H. Birnbaum was an extraordinary human being who touched the lives and hearts of all of The Center's staff, board, volunteers, clients and donors. Indeed, there are few in our community who David's warmth and generosity did not touch. The passing of his booming voice, his boundless enthusiasm, his strident support of families with LGBT sons and daughters, and his enormous love for the youth in our community will be a great loss. He and his wife, Deena, have been among our community's greatest allies, staunchest defenders, and most willing supporters.
David was a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the California Society of Certified Public Accountants. Prior to retirement, he was a Senior Vice President with Bank America Business Credit. For the past five years, David has served on the board of PFLAG (Parents, Family and Friends of Lesbian and Gays) as Support/Outreach Chair. Thousands of San Diego parents and youth have spoken to David as he offered hope, encouragement and resources for them. None will forget his warmth or kindness. David also served on the board of Ohr Shalom Synagogue. He was an active volunteer speaker for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, an Ambassador for City of Hope Medical Center, and a member of the Cancer Society's Action Network. He was a graduate of Queens College of the City University of New York. David joined The Center's Board of Director's in June 2001 and quickly became an active, energizing voice, advocating tirelessly for the LGBT community. |
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We remember and honor Ernest Green, who served on the Board from 1998 until his death on January 22, 2000. He co-chaired the Special Events Committee and was a member of the Public Relations Committee. Ernie was a lifetime title-holder in the Imperial Court. Over the years, he headed up numerous fund raisers benefiting many non-profit organizations, including The Center, and was co-chair of the Live and Let Live Alano Club from 1994 to 1997. He was a Certified Drug and Alcohol Counselor with Mental Health Systems in San Diego. Ernie and his work in the community will not be forgotten. |
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Lovel Waiters joined The Center board with an extensive understanding of non-profit organizations, and experienced knowledge regarding the importance of collaborative community organizing. Lovel had previously served as co-chair of the Ebony Pride Board of Directors, and had been an active volunteer with several San Diego area organizations, including Rolling Readers, the St. Vincent de Paul Center and READ San Diego. She had also been a volunteer with The Center’s Women’s Resource Center, including facilitating the women’s writing group.
Waiters was honored for her community service with Ebony Pride, and was named Woman of the Year by the National Council of Negro Women. |
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