SDGMC - Key Persons
Cary is currently the Vice President of Human Resources at the Sahara Las Vegas Hotel & Casino. Prior to relocating to Nevada, Cary spent 4 years with Loews Hotels & Co., most recently as a Director of Human Resources for Loews Coronado Bay Resort in San Diego. Before joining Loews Hotels & Co. he was the Director of Human Resources for Saks Fifth Avenue, Boca Raton, Florida. Cary holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Management, is a member of the Society of Human Resources Management and sits on the advisory council of Human Resources Leaders of Greater Las Vegas. In addition to his work with SDGMC, he is also a member of the Board of Directors for Golden Rainbow; a 501(c)3 providing assistance to those individuals living with HIV in Southern Nevada.
Job Titles:
- Interim Director of Membership
Job Titles:
- Professional Recruiter in the Staffing Industry at the Adecco Group
- Secretary / Director of Board Governance
David Decker is a professional recruiter in the staffing industry at The Adecco Group. A lifetime lover of music, David acquired his Bachelor of Music Education from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, AZ. Since graduating David stayed involved in the arts community by singing in various community choruses as well as serving for nine years as a Regional and All State Choir Sight Reading Adjudicator for the Arizona Music Educators Association. A native of Phoenix, AZ, David made his move to San Diego in the summer of 2015 and quickly found himself immersed in this beautiful and diverse community. Joining SDGMC David in January 2017, David has since served as the Tenor 1 section leader, taught beginning music theory courses, been a soloist and small ensemble singer, sang with the acclaimed Chamber Chorale, and most recently had the distinct pleasure of conducting a piece during the 2019 Jingle performances. David also comes with an extensive board service background holding various positions with organizations such as the Phoenix Sunfish Swim Club, Valley Chamber Chorale, and the Young Professionals Council of the San Diego LGBT Community Center. David looks forward to using his experience in artistic leadership, people and business management, and community engagement to help SDGMC fulfill its mission within the San Diego LGBTQ+ and Greater Community.
Job Titles:
- Artistic Director
- Director
- Founder
Dr. Charles Beale is an international choral director, jazz educator, composer-arranger and author, with a unique approach to activist choral singing. A passionate campaigner for stylistic diversity within choral singing, Dr. Beale comes to SDGMC with over 20 years of experience with GALA Choruses (Gay and Lesbian Association of Choruses), having been the Artistic Director of the London Gay Men's Chorus from 2002-2007 and the New York City Gay Men's Chorus (NYCGMC) from 2007-2019. He presently serves on the GALA Choruses' Board of Directors and Chair of External Relations Committee and serves on the Board's Education and Networking Committee.
Dr. Beale is the founder and current President of the Global Alliance of Queer Choirs, a new choral organization that brings a global perspective to the LGBTIQ+ choral movement.
Dr. Beale is a powerful voice in the queer choral movement, and in turbulent and uncertain times such as we find ourselves in today, he is especially passionate about music as a way to unify, heal and bring people together.
Dr. James Marshall is a Professor in the Department of Educational Leadership at San Diego State University and an independent consultant to corporate, non-profit, and governmental organizations. He teaches graduate-level courses in program evaluation, human performance technology, instructional design, and organizational performance. An expert in program evaluation, his research focuses on the relationship between a program's design and the impact it achieves-for both program participants, personally, and the organizations in which these individuals operate. Dr. Marshall has been responsible for evaluating over $50 million dollars worth of federal-, state- and locally-funded programs for purposes of optimizing their design, and quantifying their impact. His work studying public media for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting has changed the way the over 365 public television stations work within their local markets to assess community needs and define outcomes. He is particularly passionate about informal learning, and regularly consults with zoos, aquariums, museums and libraries to enhance the visitor experience. Having sung in church choirs since preschool, he joined the SDGMC Tenor 1 section in May of 2017.
Jeff Heine joined SDGMC as Executive Director in August 2019. He was formerly the Executive Director of Minneapolis' Twin Cities Gay Men's Chorus (TCGMC), one of the largest gay men's choruses in the world. Heine has led the TCGMC since May 2009 and previously served on its Board of Directors. During this time, he was selected by GALA Choruses as a management adviser to its network of 160 LGBT choruses in North America. Previously, he was director of customer strategy within the hotel group of Carlson Companies, a global leader in the marketing, hospitality and travel services. He also served as a trustee of the Marketing Science Institute. During his free time, Jeff likes to explore his new home of San Diego by bike, walking on the beaches, and taking advantage of his new Disneyland Annual Passport (at least up until the pandemic lockdown!).
Job Titles:
- Treasurer / past President
Jeff Roberts comes to the Board of Directors with an extensive background in accounting and financial management and reporting, including six years in public accounting. He has worked many years as a Controller in the education, distribution, construction, professional services and real estate industries. Jeff graduated from The Ohio State University with a bachelor's degree in Accounting and is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). Jeff joined the Chorus in 2013 and has served as a Bass Section Leader, Board Member, and past Treasurer. He completed his tenure as Board President at the end of 2020. He is also a member of the Chorus' renowned Chamber Chorale masterworks ensemble. Jeff is a devoted fan of the performing arts, studied music for several years, and plays a few instruments. He was the choir director at his church for many years and still does some singing in church. Jeff enjoys spending time with his four children and "grandpuppies" when circumstances allow. He is also an identical twin, so don't feel bad if you call him the wrong name, he's used to it!
Job Titles:
- Associate at the Law Firm of Lozano Smith
- Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Josh Walden (he/they) is an Associate at the law firm of Lozano Smith where they primarily represent school districts in a variety of special education, student services, labor and employment, and governance matters. Josh regularly represents local educational agencies in all aspects of administrative due process proceedings, including resolution sessions, mediations, and due process hearings, and federal appellate proceedings. Josh has previously presented at the Association of California School Administrators' Every Child Counts Symposium and Lozano Smith's Special Education Symposium. Josh frequently presents on numerous special education and student matters, addressing, among other things, tools to empower school administrators and educators to create safe and affirming spaces for LGBTQ2S+ students.
Josh received their Juris Doctorate from the University of San Diego School of Law and their Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a double minor in Spanish and Professional Writing. While in law school, Josh was a Singing Member of the San Diego Gay Men's Chorus in the First Tenor Section from May of 2017 through March of 2020. Josh previously served as Secretary/Treasurer for the Young Professionals Council, a program of the San Diego LGBT Center, whose mission is to develop and empower emerging LGBTQ+ leaders.
Layla Jaffe holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from San Diego State University and currently leads an international sales team as Inside Sales & Marcom Manager at RASIRC, a chemical engineering company in the semiconductor industry. A Boston native, Layla traded coasts in 2013 and has called San Diego home for seven wonderful years. She is a passionate and involved member of the community and has contributed to countless local events, such as, CoPlace, an LGBTQ+ focused neighborhood block party. Serving on the SDGMC Board of Directors will be Layla's introductory role to board leadership. Layla is thrilled to join this elite team of local leaders and directly contribute to her extended San Diego family. As a board member, Layla hopes to support the Chorus's mission of providing a dynamic force for social change while inspiring action in younger generations. You can find Layla at Mission Beach every Saturday morning playing beach volleyball!
Job Titles:
- Member at Large
- Senior Systems Engineer for Atomic Data
Tony Konzal is Senior Systems Engineer for Atomic Data. He grew up in a suburb of Baltimore, MD which was very close to the Mason Dixon line. As a young person, Tony naturally was pulled into the world of the arts. He danced from ages 4 to 12 and sang in every chorus and choir that he could be a part of from grade 4 to college age. Being no stranger to the stage, he would either act, assistant direct, or be a lighting/sound director for every production at North Carroll High School. As a student at Villa Julie College in Stevenson, MD, he was the inaugural winner of a computer scholarship contest. After being interviewed as a finalist, Tony was 1 out of 45 students who received a full scholarship for all 4 years of his full-time education. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science for Information Systems, and went on to work in Washington, D.C. for both the Government of the District of Colombia and NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). In 2007, he decided to fulfill his dream of moving west to San Diego and joined the San Diego Gay Men's Chorus soon thereafter. He is hoping to bring some technology experience to the SDGMC to continue to further the mission of the organization, leveraging his existing relationships within and outside of the organization. In his free time, Tony enjoys cooking and growing plants around his house, walking the beach on weekends, and spending time with his Dog Jax.