FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 4, 2008
Hudson Valley LGBTQ Community
Center Elects Five New Board Members at
Annual Membership Meeting on Jan. 29
KINGSTON, NY (Feb. 4) At its annual membership meeting on Jan. 29, The Hudson Valley LGBTQ Community Center elected five new members to its board of directors. The new board members, who represent a variety of skills, background and localities, join four incumbent directors in overseeing the work of the Center.
Elected to the Center board of directors were Michelle DeDominicis of Kingston, Kathy Friend of Glenford, Michael Mary of Cairo, Lance Ringel of Rhinecliff, and Diane Silverberg of High Falls. They join President Ginny Apuzzo of Kingston, Vice President Craig Burdett of New Paltz, Treasurer Nicole Ressa of New Paltz, and Marcuse Pfeifer of Kingston. Friend was elected to the position of Secretary for the organization.
"Just one year ago, the LGBTQ community of the Hudson Valley entered a new era with the opening of the Center building," said Apuzzo. "The election of these new directors signals that our amazing growth and progress will continue. These women and men represent the best of all areas of the Hudson Valley, and are dedicated to the positive social change effected through the Center's ongoing advocacy, education, wellness, and cultural competency initiatives."
Brief biographies of the new board members follow:
Michelle DeDominicis
Kingston (Ulster County)
A founding member of the Center, DeDominicis participated in the Site Search Committee and co-chaired the New Paltz Pride March and Festival in 2007, and will do so again in 2008. She also serves on the Center's Membership and Special Events committees. An accomplished musician, DeDominicis has taught guitar and bass for more than a decade, as well as performing for more than 25 years. She is a personal fitness trainer at local gyms and has set bench-press records in her age/weight class.
Kathy Friend
Glenford (Ulster County)
With over 35 years in the commercial banking industry, Friend's experience includes work as a Senior Vice President managing a $15 billion commercial loan portfolio. While at HSBC, Friend co-founded the Women's Forum. Additionally, Friend founded the LGBTQ Forum and successfully led HSBC to adopt LGBTQ non-discrimination policies, offer domestic partner benefits, and to contribute to numerous LGBTQ organizations. Friend has served as president of the Cherry Grove Property Owners Group, vice president of the Gay Bankers Group, and as a board member of the Women's Studio Workshop in Rosendale. She also has volunteered extensively at her local church and the Brooklyn Food Kitchen.
Michael Mary
Cairo (Greene County)
Educated at Cornell University and the Wharton School, Mary brings a wealth of experience in the business travel industry to the Center. He is a member of the Center's Cornerstone Capital Campaign Committee actively working to help liquidate the Center's capital debt. Mary's long history of volunteer experience includes service as Treasurer, President and Board Chair of the Oregon Business Travel Association. He was on the board of directors of the 7,000-member National Business Travel Association, and was a member of the Corporate Advisory Council for the Portland International Airport. He also volunteers as an elections inspector for primary and general elections in Greene County.
Lance Ringel
Rhinecliff (Dutchess County)
Ringel, who recently lost a very close race for Rhinebeck Town Board, is a member of the Rhinecliff Hamlet Advisory Council and has just completed six years on the board of the Dutchess County Arts Council, chairing the Allocations Committee for three. He currently works as Senior Writer and Coordinator of Communications in the Vassar College Development Office. His previous experience includes service as Director of the Office of Lesbian and Gay Concerns and as Assistant Commissioner of Human Rights in the administration of Gov. Mario Cuomo, as well as work in the U.S. Senate and for the Brooklyn District Attorney. His career in journalism includes three years as editor of the Weekend section of Taconic Newspapers.
Diane Silverberg
High Falls (Ulster County)
Silverberg, a top-selling real estate agent at Westwood Metes and Bounds, has brought numerous LGBT residents, weekenders and second-homeowners to the Valley. She is also a longtime acupuncturist and massage therapist in private practice, with a master's degree in acupuncture and herbs and a bachelor's in accounting. An active member of the Cornerstone Capital Campaign Committee, Silverberg is working to raise funds to pay off the Center's mortgages. Her other community volunteer work includes a seat on the Marbletown Zoning Board of Appeals and service with the Marbletown and the High Falls Business Associations.
The Hudson Valley LGBTQ Community Center was founded in 2005 to support and nurture the LGBTQ community in the Hudson Valley. Since that time, the Center has attracted more than 1,100 dues-paying members and is creating programs to empower the LGBTQ community to achieve their maximum potential. LGBTQ refers to the sexual orientation and/or gender identity of the community served: lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people. To learn more about the Center, visit http://lgbtqcenter.org/.
The Hudson Valley LGBTQ Community Center is working to build tomorrows infinitely safer, saner and healthier than our yesterdays. Learn more at http://lgbtqcenter.org/.