TASK FORCE - Key Persons

Alfredo Del Cid

Job Titles:

Member of the Board of Directors

Alicia Boykins

Job Titles:

Vice President, People and Culture

Alicia Boykins is a Masculine of Center (MOC) Lesbian, a Mother, Dominant Woman, a Leader and one of the most promising LGBTQ Advocates in the field of Human Resources (HR). She is a Certified Professional in Human Resources (PHR) & SHRM-CP with more than a decade of experience. She has an active Secret Security Clearance. Alicia has managed organizations with staff as large as 500 and possesses a solid working knowledge in the following fields of HR: Strategic Planning, Organizational Development, Collective Bargaining, Health & Wellness Initiatives, Compliance, Compensation and Benefits, Recruitment and Retention, Employee Development, Performance Appraisals, Federal and State Employment Laws. As the National LGBTQ Task Force Director of Human Resources and Administration, she has been a public speaker, presenter and trainer on diversity and inclusion issues in the workplace with a focus on LGBTQ and People of Color (POC) communities. She is a member of the executive leadership team and advises management on compliance with Federal and State Laws. Her responsibilities include working to improve the knowledge, understanding, and implementation of National LGBTQ Task Force policies, procedures, and programs; oversees full scale recruiting and hiring and supports employee use of organization's benefits program. Alicia is a graduate of Grambling State University with a B.S. in Political Science and a Master of Public Administration-Human Resources Management Degree. Alicia is a long-standing member of The Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM) and the National Association of African Americans in Human Resources (NAAHR). At the Task Force, Alicia can merge her passion for human resources and advocacy while supporting diverse communities and showing up as her fully authentic self-every day. She hopes to create change by showing the people that look like herself and her community that we can be in leadership positions, have a seat at the table and not have to dress, look like or be anyone other than ourselves.

Almas Sayeed

Job Titles:

Member of the Board of Directors

Andy Garcia

Job Titles:

Director of Conferences and Events

Andy (he/him) has over 30 years of experience working for queer liberation and social justice, with a particular passion for directing conferences and events that build power for LGBTQ people across the country. He spent the first 15 years of his career doing LGBTQ youth work at both the national and local level, first at the National Youth Advocacy Coalition and later at the Boston Alliance of LGBTQ Youth (BAGLY). His long history of designing and implementing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives includes positions at the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Massachusetts Legal Services, and the LGBTQ Pipeline Project. He also did policy work, program implementation, and conference planning for both the Equality Federation and Point Source Youth. Prior to returning to the Task Force as Director of Conferences and Events, Andy served in two consecutive roles at the National LGBTQ Task Force: Director of the Creating Change Conference and Director of the Advocacy and Action Department. In his personal time, Andy enjoys exploring the world through travel, music, books, and food. He holds a BA in Psychology and Women's Studies from Cornell University. A native of New Jersey and Miami, FL, Andy has also lived in Boston and Brooklyn. He's currently based in Washington, DC.

Anthony Aragon

Job Titles:

Senior Advisor for Community Affairs / Denver, CO

Anthony Aragon joined the Office of Mayor Michael Hancock in August, 2011 as the Director of Boards & Commissions. He manages over 130 different civic boards and commissions and makes recommendations to Mayor Michael Hancock who to appoint to the various boards and commissions. Prior to joining the Mayor's Office, Anthony worked for the State of Colorado as a member of Governor John Hickenlooper's transition team and helped coordinate the Governor's inaugural events. On January 11, 2011 he was named Chief of Staff to First Lady Helen Thorpe. Anthony also served as Governor John Hickenlooper's GLBT Liaison. Prior to that, he worked at the Mayor's Agency for Human Rights & Community Relations (HRCR) as the Director of the Denver Office on Aging & Community Relations on August 18, 2008. Previously, he was the Director of Boards & Commissions for Mayor John Hickenlooper and also served as the Mayor's Director of Scheduling for several years. Anthony is a Denver native and has been a proud member of Denver's GLBT community for over 25 years. He is a long-time Democratic activist having worked for former Mayor Federico Pena, Governor Roy Romer and Ambassador Swanee Hunt. He has also been honored as the Colorado Pride Guide 2005 Coloradan of the Year and the 2006 Colorado Business Council Professional Man of the Year. Some of Anthony's civic engagement includes serving as a Commissioner on the Colorado Civil Rights Commission, having been appointed by Governor Bill Ritter in July, 2007. Anthony was also on the board of One Colorado and is a past President of the Board of Directors for Equal Rights Colorado. Anthony lives with his partner of 16 years, David Westman & their doggies Andale & Arriba in Stapleton.

Beth Zemsky

Job Titles:

Consultant, Multicultural Organizational Development / Minneapolis, MN

Beth Zemsky MAEd, LICSW, currently works as a consultant specializing in intercultural organizational development with non-profits, educational institutions, foundations, social change, and faith-based organizations. She has 30 years experience as a community organizer, educator, psychotherapist, and organizational leader including serving as founding staff at Minnesota's statewide LGBT civil rights organization (OutFront MN), founding Director of the GLBT Programs Office at the University of Minnesota and former co-chair of the Board of Directors of the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force. Beth is also adjunct faculty at the University of Minnesota where she has taught in Gender, Sexuality, and Women Studies, Social Work, and Family Social Science. In 1996, Beth was chosen to be Grand Marshall of the Twin Cities GLBT Pride. In 2000, Beth was awarded a Bush Leadership Fellowship to study organizational development of social movement organizations, and in 2008 she was awarded Quorum's Lifetime Achievement Award for service to Minnesota's LGBT community.

Candelario Saldana

Job Titles:

Member of the Board of Directors

Cathy Renna - CCO

Job Titles:

Director of Communications
Adjunct Professor at Montclair State University

Cathy Renna joins the National LGBTQ Task Force as Communications Director but is no stranger to the organization. As a longtime supporter and contractor on projects over the years and a regular presence at Creating Change, she has been part of the Task Force's extended family for decades. Renna is a veteran in the communications industry and serves as the Principal of Target Cue, an LGBTQ+ focused communications consultancy. Since her time at GLAAD through the 1990's, Cathy has executed her particular expertise in crisis and strategic communications, playing a central role in shaping nearly all major issues affecting the LGBTQ community, from the beating death of Matthew Shepard in 1998 to the fight for marriage equality and the repeal of "Don't Ask Don't Tell". She most recently worked with the team that coordinated historic coverage for WorldPride/Stonewall 50, working with NYC Pride, the emerging visibility of transgender and non-binary people and is thrilled to elevate the visibility of the Task Force as a strong, inclusive and intersectional voice in the queer movement and a queer voice in the progressive movement. After leaving her position at GLAAD as National News Media Director, Cathy joined Fenton Communications, where she served as its New York office Media Director from 2004 to 2006 and worked with clients ranging from MoveOn.org to the American Lung Association to Nobel Peace Prize recipient Wangari Maathai. She went on to found Renna Communications and then Target Cue in 2013. In her near 30 years of media relations and activism experience, Cathy has garnered placements in every major media outlet in the U.S. and internationally, including The New York Times, USA Today, The Associated Press, BBC, and the Washington Post. She continues to be a sought-after spokesperson for LGBTQ+ issues. Renna is currently an adjunct professor at Montclair State University, teaching "The Role of Media, Public Relations, and Communications Strategies for LGBTQ+ Equity and Advocacy." She is the proud Mom of Mars, who attends HSPVA High School for Performing and Visual Arts in Houston, TX.

Chad Richter

Job Titles:

Manager, Retail Sales

Chad Richter served as chair for the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force's Winter Party Festival from 2009 to 2012. He currently serves as a Board member of Miami Beach's LGBT business enhancement committee where he makes recommendations to city commissioners to ensure the welfare of the Miami Beach LGBT community. He helped found Miami Beach Gay Pride and served as president in 2012. A Miami native, Chad is dedicated to his community and an advocate for human rights.

Christopher Russell

Christopher Russell has over 20 years of experience in the financial services industry. During his tenures at Northern Trust, he first serviced high net worth clients in developing their estate planning strategies with an emphasis on their charitable giving. During his second term in the marketing division, he serviced and entertained the clients with his attention to detail, creativity and style while keeping within the standards of the brand. Since 2007 he has been involved with the Task Force through serving on the Miami Recognition Dinner Committee. He had the honor to serve as Co-Chair of the dinner in 2010 and 2011. He has been with his husband, Mario, for over twenty years and they were married in Toronto, Canada in July of 2008.

Colgate Darden - Treasurer

Job Titles:

Member of the Board of Directors
Treasurer
Treasurer / Fort Lauderdale, FL

Cordey Lash

Job Titles:

Leader
President / Jordey Group / Dallas, TX

Cordey Lash is a recognized leader in diversity, justice, and equality through his professional work in the hospitality industry and his personal commitment to social activism and philanthropic causes. Born in North Carolina and raised in Philadelphia, Lash is a graduate of Appalachian State University with a degree in Communications and Public Relations. Now based in Dallas, Cordey Lash's career spans over a decade and has focused primarily on gaining a diversity of conference business for Hilton, Intercontinental and Wyndham Hotel Groups. From Asian, Hispanic, and African-American groups to the LGBT community, Lash has achieved professional success by raising diversity awareness for his hotel properties and simultaneously serving multi-cultural client groups. As the President of Jordey Group, Lash utilizes his expertise and innovation in hospitality, non-profit and marketing to continue his pioneering efforts!

David Bowers

Job Titles:

Vice President, Marketing / Showtime Networks Inc. Los Angeles, CA

David M. Pérez

Job Titles:

Member of the Board of Directors

Donald Hayden

Job Titles:

Member of the Board of Directors

Dr. Anika Simpson

Job Titles:

Member of the Board of Directors

Dr. Jerry Abraham

Job Titles:

Member of the Board of Directors

Jeremy Rye

Job Titles:

Member of the Board of Directors

John Allen

Job Titles:

Attorney / Muskegon, MI

Kevin Wang

Job Titles:

Member of the Board of Directors

Kierra Johnson - President

Job Titles:

Executive Director
President
Executive Director of the National LGBTQ
in 2018 As Deputy Executive Director

President, Kierra Johnson, joined the Task Force in 2018 as Deputy Executive Director but was already engaged with the organization, previously serving on the National LGBTQ Task Force's board of directors and its National Action Council. Johnson came to the Task Force after serving as URGE's Executive Director with a wealth of experience in organizational leadership and management, program development, youth leadership and reproductive justice. As a bisexual Black woman, Johnson will become one of few out queer-identified women of color at the helm of a national LGBTQ organization. She is recognized as a national expert on queer and reproductive rights issues and has testified in front of the U.S. House of Representatives and has appeared in Newsweek, The New York Times, Fox News, Feministing.com and National Public Radio. Johnson also serves on the boards of directors of the General Service Foundation, Groundswell Fund, and Guttmacher Institute. Throughout her career, she has also served on the boards of Center for Community Change and the Women's Information Network (WIN). Johnson has been recognized for her leadership with awards, including the Young Women of Achievement Award for WIN in 2002, the Women of Vision Award for the Ms. Foundation for Women in 2013, and Washingtonian Magazine's Most Influential Washingtonians Under 40 in 2009. When announced as the next Executive Director of the National LGBTQ Task Force, Kierra Johnson said, "Dignity, liberation, joy, freedom, love and resistance are just a few of the words that I associate with the National LGBTQ Task Force. As a bisexual/pansexual woman, I am no stranger to being made invisible, advised to tone down, or trained in the art of the code switch. As a queer southern mom, it is no surprise why I would be drawn to an organization that touts the tagline ‘Be You.' In these cultural and political times, it is an act of resistance to live out loud and to lead and love with our full identities. I am excited and honored to be named the next Executive Director of the LGBTQ Task Force! I welcome the opportunity to think strategically with a powerful team of leaders and be in service to those working to ensure that LGBTQ people-especially the most targeted among us-not only survive but thrive. I can't wait to roll up my sleeves and dive in to continue the ongoing and creative work of the Task Force to change hearts and minds, behavior and policies so that justice is no longer a vision but a reality for all!"

Malcolm R. Gage

Job Titles:

Member of the Board of Directors

Margaret Burd

Job Titles:

President & CEO / Magpie Software Services Corp. Denver, CO

Margaret Burd founded Magpie Software, a software development services company, in 2001. She was previously Director of Engineering at Lucent Technologies Bell Labs, leading development for mobile internet and other telecommunications applications. While at Bell Labs she was an inventor on two patents. She has a Master's degree in Computer Science from the University of Kansas and a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Missouri State University. In 1994, Margaret and her life partner of 33 years, Dr. Rebecca Brinkman helped found the ATL Foundation, which provides assistance to lesbians in need of financial help as a result of ill health. They continue to serve on ATL's Board of Directors. Margaret was a Task Force board member for many years.

Mario Guerrero

Job Titles:

Legislative Affairs Director

Matt Foreman

Job Titles:

Executive Director

Michelle J. Stecker

Job Titles:

Director / Lucy Cross Center for Women

Michelle Stecker, Ph.D., J.D., is a faculty member and the director of the Lucy Cross Center for Women at Rollins College, in Winter Park, Florida. She teaches history, law, social entrepreneurship, and women's studies. Michelle holds a Ph.D. and J.D. from the University of Toledo, and a master of divinity degree from Fuller Theological Seminary. She is a former board member of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, and currently serves as a steering committee member of Equality Florida. Michelle resides in Winter Park, Florida, with Dr. Carol Bresnahan, her civil union partner of 13 years.

Naomi Metz

Job Titles:

Owner
Principal

Naomi Metz is the owner and principal attorney of the Law Office of Naomi E. Metz, a boutique firm providing a full range of estate planning, trust administration, probate, and beneficiary representation services, with a special focus on the unique and still often complex needs of the LGBT community. While at UC Berkeley School of Law, Naomi focused her studies on laws related to the recognition and protection of LGBT families and their financial assets. Naomi's thesis examined the practical impact of SB 1827, a 2006 law requiring California Registered Domestic Partners to file their California income tax returns jointly. She also completed an externship at the National Center for Lesbian Rights, was a research assistant on a project examining the impact of the federal "ministerial exception" on LGBT employment opportunities, and worked as a law clerk for an estate planning firm with a strong focus on LGBT clients. Naomi often leads educational seminars for other professionals and the LGBT community on estate planning, tax, and property issues for LGBT families, as well as issues of "cultural competency" for professionals working with LGBT clients. She founded and facilitates a study group for attorneys and tax professionals that examines the complex interaction between California and federal tax and property laws. Naomi is also an adjunct professor at Empire College of Law, where she teaches classes on LGBT issues in the law, and is ta founding member and the co-chair of the Sonoma County LGBTQI Giving Circle.