Meet the Staff
Mike Ai
Los Angeles Field Manager
Hobby: Posting cheesy videos of acoustic covers on YouTube
Current obsession: Lady Gaga
Former life: financial auditor and college recruiter
Volunteer recruitment and management, office organization, voter contact and assistant to Marriage Director Marc Solomon. Mike co-founded the Equal Roots Coalition, a collection of primarily young and new activists in the Los Angeles area that are dedicated to achieving full federal and social equality for the LGBTQ community. Mike graduated from UCLA with a degree in economics and accounting.
Jorge Amaro
Communications Manager
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Hometown: 90201
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Previous life: Emiliano Zapata
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Can’t get enough of: Pain au chocolate
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2009 EQCA Summer Invitational Debate Tournament Champion
Strategic communications and Spanish-language media relations. Once a Spanish High School teacher, performer, and reporter, Jorge was born in East Los Angeles and earned his Bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University. He is dedicated to fighting for economic, environmental, and social justice.
Joseph Arroyo
Los Angles Field Manager
- Passions: 1980's Dance and feeding people
- Luck: Has found over $500 on the floor
- First Love: Gwen Stefani
Voter contact plan, leadership development, canvass data guy, and coalition building. Since Prop. 8, Joseph hasn’t been able to stop talking about marriage, even at the expense of losing some friends due to the obsession. He lent his organizing skills to Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority during the 2009 Homeless Count and served on the board of the Atwater Village Chamber of Commerce. A rare native Angelenos, Joseph is fighting for equality and justice by building LGBT political power from the ground up.
Elizabeth Aversa
Orange County Field Manager
Volunteer recruitment, motivation and organizing. Devastated by the LGBT community’s loss of marriage rights, Elizabeth co-founded the Orange County Equality Coalition and served as their activism chair. If she were a candy bar, she’d be Abba Zabba.
Jim Carroll
Managing Director
Professional Bio
Administration, finance, departmental and human resource allocation. Keeps the organization running like a well-oiled engine. He studied business administration at the University of Florida and previously worked for the Breast Cancer Fund and PFLAG. Jim schedules twice-daily walks for EQCA’s guard dog, JAS, on his Outlook calendar. The afternoon walk is always followed by Lipton iced tea. Married Scott Romesburg on October 5, 2008.
Kenny Cassady
Palm Springs Major Gifts Officer
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Most glamorous former occupation: Club Deejay
- Favorite Star Trek movie: First Contact
- Marathons completed: Two, and that’s plenty
- Preferred cocktail: Anything starting with the letter “M”
Fundraising, major donor cultivation and membership giving. After a successful career in broadcast advertising, Kenny transitioned to non-profit fundraising, most recently as a senior development director for the American Heart Association. He is most proud of his work with Gay Associated Youth and the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center. In his spare time he enjoys driving his 1960 Chrysler, two-step dancing and living the most interesting life he possibly can.
Alanna Coby
Duplicate Project Associate
Lauren Custer
Major Gifts Officer, Los Angeles
- Drives: Stick, backwards and in high heels
- Loves: Picking produce, design-milk.com, LA, etymology and random facts
- Did you know: The word clavicle’s french root means little key (or bolt)
- Or that: Ketchup was sold as a medicine in the 1830’s
Oversees major donor relations and giving in Los Angeles. Studied History of Art & Architecture at UCSB (swears it’s not just a party school –“we actually have Nobel laureates there”). Lauren was formerly development manager at Project Angel Food in Los Angeles. She will instantly nerd-out if you bring up fancy beers, cognacs, or whiskies and is riveted by the history of anything. Lauren is proud to be a part of one of the most important civil rights movements of our time and to be living a beautiful life with her partner Emily.
Jay Davis
Online Community Director
Leads strategy for online organizing and advocacy. Plans and executes online campaigns, manages all aspects of the organization’s web presence. In his former life, Jay worked and consulted for other nonprofits on communications and, before that, an editor. A proud California transplant, he spends his weekends on the hiking trails conquering the Pacific Crest Trail section by section. Don’t ever ask him about potatoes.
Milton Davis, Jr.
Los Angeles Field Manager
- Favorite food: the Golden Arches, but he’ll settle for Wendy’s
- Mascot: Oswald the Tiger (Go Oxy!)
- Shoe size: 13
- Perfect night: a glass of Franzia and the movie Drumline
Field manager and volunteer coordinator in Los Angeles, focusing on South Los Angeles. Milton is the vice president of the Jordan Rustin Coalition, a group dedicated to engaging Greater Los Angles Area African American communities with the issue of marriage for same-sex couples. When he’s not organizing canvasses, you can find him watching the Lakers, Dodgers or USC football. Milton is most known for his role in the 1994 Disney classic “Angels in the Outfield."
Toni Duran
San Diego Field Manager
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Favorite Condiment: soy sauce
- Obsession: watches and finding the perfect hair product
- Dislikes: things that crawl using more than 4 legs
Volunteer recruitment and management, office organization and voter contact. Toni began organizing while working as member of the board of directors for Pride St. Louis. She enjoys learning how to play the Wii and often tries watching scary movies. While Toni refuses to dance in public, she can often be found bustin’ a move in the company of friends if a good tune comes on.
Demi Espinoza
Inland Empire Field Manager
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Location: Riverside
- Favorite food: Pizza
- Obsessions: Kittens, Bicycles, Zines and Portland
- Aspiration: Learning the harp, growing a cacti garden and become a retired beekeeper
Volunteer recruitment, motivation and organizing. Demi has worked as a fellow for the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and a union representative for the SEIU labor union. Prior to organizing, she worked at the Ontario Public Library. If she wasn't so dedicated to LGBT equality, she probably would of been a librarian...but field organizing is so much more exciting.
Casey Fulmer
Administrative Associate
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Location: San Francisco
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Loves: jasmine green tea, going barefoot, composting
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Childhood wallpaper: bears with fire trucks
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Aspiration: root beer and ginger beer connoisseur
Database administration, general support. With a degree in anthropology from UC Berkeley, Casey enjoys doing archaeology and is passionate about social and environmental justice. She does her best dancing by imitating other people.
Gabe González
Inland Empire Field Manager
Daniel Gould
Health Network Coordinator
- Location: Los Angeles
- Favorite Sport: Triathlon
- Teaches: Psychology at Antioch University
- Ideal vacation: a 10,000+ ft mountain, a backpack and no cell phone in sight
- Past life: Firefighter and EMT
Brings organizations together to set health priorities for the LGBT community in California. Master’s degree in social welfare from UCLA. With over 16 years’ work in health and social services, Daniel co-founded and managed health programs for FTMA of Los Angeles and is a member of the California Center of Excellence for Transgender HIV Care Advisory Board. He learned to drive on a 1928 Model-A Ford pick-up.
Mario Guerrero
Government Affairs Director
Professional Bio
Eric Harrison
Development Director
Professional Bio
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Location: San Francisco
- Native of: Twin Cities
- Looks like: Rupert Everett, Captain America
- Also speaks: French, Malagasy
- Favorite wines: Big, bold and red
Responsible for the oversight and implementation of statewide fund development. Leads a team of superheroes, who are passionate about the civil rights issue of our time. Enjoys the diversity of living in San Francisco’s Marina District, working in the Castro and escaping to Sonoma Wine Country to visit old friends.
Michael Holtz
Major Gifts Associate, Los Angeles
Donor relations. Michael comes to EQCA with over 5 years of business development, relationship and project management experience in London and New York. He completed his undergraduate degree at Fordham University in International Political Economy Development while continuing his Mount Batten International Business certificate program in London at Cambridge University. Michael has a passion for the outdoors and sports.
Michael Kaiser-Nyman
Bay Area Field Manager
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Location: San Francisco
- Favorite math subject: Taylor series
- Long-term plans: Learning to cartwheel
- Likes: Sandwiches
Mobilizes San Francico activists. Field team support. Bikes anywhere and everywhere. Origami master. Michael studied economics at Occidental College and will one day get a PhD. In the meantime, he works tirelessly for equality and bakes the best desserts you’ve ever tasted (and you’d never guess they’re vegan).
Kaitlin Karkos
Special Events Manager
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Beloved possession: Her library of cookbooks
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Loves to: Garden, sunbathe and plan trips she may never take
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Hero: Martha Stewart
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Words to live by: “Make it work!”
Event planning, funding research, and donor relations. Kaitlin has loved non-profit event planning since she was 10 when she helped coordinate her mom’s Breast Cancer fundraiser, soliciting donations and all. She holds two degrees from the University of Connecticut (Go Huskies!) where she was active with the school’s LGBT Center and Women’s Center. She studied theater for 10 years, and in her spare time makes art that she hopes is one day good enough to include in an EQCA silent auction.
Kacey Kelly
Office Manager
Geoff Kors
Executive Director
Professional Bio
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Location: San Francisco, Palm Springs, Los Angeles
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Alum: Stanford Law School
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Avid fan: New York Giants
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Lunch: Diet Red Bull
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Honors include: EQCA Ping Pong Champion, 2007
The visionary, strategist and leader. An attorney by profession with a distinguished record of service to the LGBT community. Geoff was the architect of San Francisco’s landmark Equal Benefits Ordinance. His favorite office pastime is altering colleagues’ Outlook calendars with hysterical insider jokes.
Scotti Maldonado
Central Valley Field Manager
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Stress Reliever: Chopping produce
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Title: 2006 Mr. Fresno Gay Pride
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Pets: Three dogs: Dakota, Hannah and Clovis
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Reproductive Rights Activist
Volunteer recruitment and encouragement, passionate canvasser and community leader. Prior to working with EQCA, Scotti was the senior front desk agent for a Holiday Inn hotel and has been a volunteer organizer for the past 7 years. He plans to marry his partner Rob Huntley when we win marriage back in California.
Shumway Marshall
eCommunications & Graphics Manager
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True itentity: Stanislaw Shumway Marshall (after his grandfathers)
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Also speaks: French
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Board member: Scott Hitt Foundation
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Pink Berry toppings: chocolate chrisps, mochi and mixed nuts
Graphics, eCommunications strategy and web master. Occidental College grad and former media intern at GLAAD. Shumway is forever searching for the perfect colors to compliment EQCA’s red and orange. Was voted “most school spirit” in high school, but never attended a single athletic event. If he were a food, he’d be Rainbow’s End Trail Mix. Nutty, full of energy and a tad sweet.
Steve Mele
Finance Director
- Location: San Francisco
- Alum: San Francisco State University
- Favorite pastime: Reading, writing, movies and travel
- Alter ego: Candi Licious
Coordinates the finances of EQCA’s three related organizations, sets policy regarding financial matters, and ensures compliance with all local, state and federal laws that govern the work we do. Previously, Steve was owner of ML Associates, an accounting firm specializing in nonprofits and political campaigns and was treasurer for three No on Prop. 8 campaign committees.
Amy Mello
Field Director
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Favorite food: Anything Portuguese
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Obsessions: Ray Allen and NPR podcasts
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Aspiration: Dance the tango
Leadership and training development, voter contact, grassroots strategy. Amy has worked for marriage equality in Massachusetts and Connecticut. Former Washington State NARAL staffer and one-time Boston Red Sox Ball Girl, Amy is an avid Boston sports fan. Her favorite canvassing experience was getting Steven Tyler of Aerosmith to sign a petition at Starbucks.
Chris Moore
Deputy Director of Government Affairs
Jaymi Morgan
Central Valley Field Manager
- Favorite food combination: Spicy Cheetos and vanilla ice cream
- Games: Closet World of Warcraft & Dungeon & Dragons Master
- Companion: Her cat, Princess Bunny Foo Foo
- Obsession: Rock-N-Roll big hair bands
Volunteer recruiter and community organizer devoted to leadership development. Jaymi’s loves people and the thrill of strategic challenges. An LGBT advocate for years, she was motivated to join in on the fight after the devastating loss of Prop. 8. Jaymi aspires to change the world with “one act of random kindness” at a time.
Shea Morrissey
Administrative Associate
Field team support. Developing canvass and phone from home programs. After earning a politics degree from Whitman College, Shea worked on the gender equity front for the Womens’ Sports Foundation in New York. Looking to make a life at the busy intersection of community, play and public health, she spends weekends with the girls of Soccer Without Borders. Most mornings you’ll find her sharing the rooftop of her neighboring laundromat with a bowl of gluten free grub.
Otto O’Connor
Intern and Database Project Manager
Intern supervisor, database support, and general administration. Otto hails from the cold nation of Canada by way of Cornell University where she holds a B.S. in Policy Analysis and Management. She enjoys biking all over town, playing bass in her band (yet to be named – suggestions welcome!), and hanging out with her kitten. Otto is slowly working her way towards her Masters of Divinity at Starr King School for the Ministry in Berkeley and will one day be a Unitarian Universalist Minister.
Albert Ogle
Major Gifts Officer
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Location: San Diego
- Look alike: Anthony Hopkin’s out-of-wedlock son
Builds relationships with donors and major sponsors for events in Southern California. Albert moved to the U.S. from Ireland in 1982 and began working at the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center as Youth Director and Acting Executive Director. He designed the first AIDS service plan for California in 1987 and this experiment became the AIDS Service Center, Pasadena. He recently finished research on the Irish Peace Process at Trinity College, Dublin after working for ten years as an openly gay Episcopal priest/missionary in Orange County.
Michelle Ortiz
Deputy Director of Development
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Known for: Dry sense of humor
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Board member: National Center for Lesbian Rights, San Francisco LGBT Center
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Signature accessory: Striped scarf
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Superhero: Superman
Fundraising and event planning, focusing on corporate sponsors and major donors. Michelle has spent 13 years on political campaigns for the likes of former Texas Gov. Ann Richards and U.S. Sen. Bill Bradley. She spends her weekends discovering rare beers on tap in the grottos of San Francisco. (She can’t help it. She’s a Texan.) And Michelle wouldn’t dare to have gone anywhere else but UT-Austin.
Leanne Pittsford
Director of Administration
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Signature accessories: Water bottle or coffee cup
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Words to live by: “I need to hydrate.”
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Obsession: Sides of extra sauce
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Honors: Defeated former heavyweight champion Geoff Kors in EQCA’s 2008 arm wrestling competition
Information central and database guru. Holds a master’s in equity and social justice and a bachelor’s in political science. Is a former high school basketball coach and youth counselor. A devoted Bikram yoga attendee, Leanne also runs marathons, surfs and plays flag football. Her perfect day involves a combination of hot tubs, underground R&B and sushi. (Not in that order.)
Jacqueline Palmer
San Diego Field Manager
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Favorite foods: grandma’s pyrogies and vegetarian burritos
- Obsession: karaoke
- Aspiration: (re)learn Latin
Local coalition building, voter contact, volunteer recruitment and management. Jacqueline volunteered feverishly for the No on 8 campaign. She is an obnoxiously proud Berkeley graduate but loves working with the San Diego community. Door-to-door canvassing is her new favorite hobby.
Jennie Reiken
Sacramento Field Manager
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Life-love: Hurley McFurley (her dog)
- Aspiration: Dance on Broadway
- Survives on: Pasta and chocolate
- Greatest accomplishment: Completing the AIDS Lifecycle
A competitive roller skater turned activist, Jennie grew up in Shingle Springs, CA and has always had a passion for helping out a great cause. Jennie’s passion was fueled by studying Sociology and Women’s Studies at Sacramento State University. She loves living in downtown Sacramento.
Chris Riley
Silicon Valley Field Manager
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Hometown: Motown
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Little known fact: wordsmith and poet
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Passion: dancing and organic pasta with fresh basil
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Aspirations: screenwriter and yoga teacher
Community organizer, volunteer coordinator, coalition builder, campaign strategist, and plotter to take over the world. Chris has been fighting for women’s and queer rights most of her life. When she is not working, she can be found hiking the trails of Northern California.
Daniel Shad
Orange County Field Manager
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Favorite Instrument: Piano
- Childhood Career Aspiration: Garbage Truck Driver
- Addicted to: Reality Television
Local coalition building, voter contact, volunteer recruitment and management. B.A. In Psychology & Social Behavior and Criminology, Law & Society. Daniel enjoys working with volunteers in his community. He is an avid hookah enthusiast and he enjoys playing the piano in his spare time. Daniel is slowly working up the courage to apply for law school.
Andrea Shorter
Deputy Marriage and Coalitions Director
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Location: San Francisco
- Alum: Whittier College
- Member: Board of Directors, Alice B. Toklas Democratic Club; Commission on Status of Women, City and County of San Francisco; NAACP SF Chapter
- Olympic Aspiration: Snorkeling
Coalition building strategist for marriage equality and long term civil and human rights movement work. Occupations have included Director, And Marriage For All; and Deputy Executive Director, Names Project Foundation/AIDS Memorial Quilt. Obsessed student of Bayard Rustin. Studied abroad in Denmark and traveled extensively 'round the world through Europe, Holland, Russia, Israel, Palestine, and South Africa. Andrea loves sushi and has been a proud Castro resident for nearly 20 years.
George True Simpson
Online and Communications Associate
Community blogger. Social networking and e-communications. Former public information intern at the United Nations. George helped secure gender neutral housing at his alma mater, Occidental College. He’s an armchair academic and film critic. He consumes news and cheese in large quantities. He’s also a feminist, Eastsider and a West Coast liberal.
Marc Solomon
Marriage Director
Professional Bio
- Location: Los Angeles
- Hometown: Kansas City
- Height: 6'5"
- Favorite transportation: Mini Cooper, convertable
Figuring out how to overturn Prop 8 and restore the freedom to marry in California. Before joining EQCA, Marc led the successful fight to protect marriage equality in Massachusetts, then helped with the efforts in Connecticut, Vermont, and Maine. Marc likes hiking, kayaking, relaxing at the beach, and meeting activists all over California.
Owen Stephens
Board Liaison
- Location: San Francisco
- Thinks everyone should: Compost and recycle
- Favorite tea: Pomegranate white
- First job: Moaning Cavern tour guide
Coordinates board and executive staff activities. Owen has a degree in Sociology and has developed expertise in a wide spectrum of political work including voter registration, fundraising, special events, volunteer coordination, and community leadership development. He is the president of the Treasure Island Development Authority Board of Directors, and serves on the board of several local and state political organizations. Prior to the November 2008 election, Owen married 82 couples as a deputy marriage commissioner. He enjoys cooking, travel to faraway places and occasionally designs metal jewelry.
Vaishalee Raja
Communications Director
- Location: Los Angeles
- EQCA Distinction: Longest commute (2½ hours, from Orange County)
- Loves: HGTV, Madhuri Dixit, Taco Bell’s discontinued chili cheese burritos
- True calling: Bollywood
Strategic communications, media relations. A native of Littleton Colorado, Vaishalee has a Masters Degree from the Missouri School of Journalism. Her career has focused on executing smart communications strategies for social and economic justice campaigns. Prior to EQCA, she worked for SEIU and GLAAD. In her spare time she finds ways to avoid exercising.
Nick Tanabe
Silicon Valley Field Organizer
George Zander
Coachella Valley Field Manager
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Alum: University Of Washington, Seattle
- First love: Political Action
- Second love: Cooking
- Third love: His cat, Petey
Local coalition building, voter contact, volunteer recruitment and management. George has been actively involved in Democratic Party and LGBT issues since 1980 when we was one of the first board member Seattle's first openly lesbian and gay lobbying organization, The Dorian group. He has worked for dozens of issues and candidates including the King County Democratic Party, the 1996 Clinton-Gore campaign and Senator Barbara Boxer. Twice a month George publishes a travel column in the BottomLine Magazine, re-exploring far away destinations he visited during his time in the travel industry.
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