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208 W 13 St
New York, NY 10011

Building Hours

7 Days a Week:
10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Center Board of Directors

The Center’s Board of Directors is responsible for oversight of the organization’s operations and guiding The Center's long-term vision and planning. The Board also focuses on the continued financial stability of the organization and participates significantly in fundraising efforts.

President

Rahul Tripathi

Board Co-Chairs

Brad Jakeman

Claire M Shanley

Treasurer

Jill Schlesinger

At-Large Members of the Executive Committee

Lisa A. Linsky

Maurice Obeid

Miles L. Tyrrell

Dennis D. Williams

Board of Directors

Sandra Caldwell

Sarah Carson

Daniel Diez

Reginald V. Grayson

Olu Howard

Lolita Morrow

Geena Rocero

Jeffrey W. Schneider

Addison Schultz Hirshberg

Allyn L. Shaw

Pauline Sobelman

Mitch Stein

Jo-Ná A. Williams, Esq.

Past Presidents

Greg Zaffiro, 2020

Johann Shudlick, 2019

Julie Harris, 2017 – 2018

Timothy Y. Chow, 2014 - 2016

Brian Offutt, 2012 - 2013

Mario J. Palumbo, Jr., 2010 - 2011

Bruce Anderson, 2005 - 2009

Richard Winger, 2001 - 2004

Judith E. Turkel, 1995 - 2000

Steven J. Powsner, 1992 - 1994

David Nimmons, 1987 - 1991

Irving Cooperberg, 1983 - 1987

Executive Director

Glennda Testone

Glennda Testone joined New York City’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center as its first female Executive Director in 2009. Since then, she has strengthened The Center’s programs for adults, youth and families, ensuring all LGBTQ New Yorkers have an opportunity to live happy, healthy lives. Testone recently helped launch a new Center brand and website, celebrated 30 years of service by the organization and completed a $9.2 million capital building renovation to transform the LGBTQ community’s home on W 13 Street. Testone also spearheaded the launch of innovative and groundbreaking programming at The Center for LGBTQ youth, transgender community members and LBTQ women.

Testone came to The Center from The Women’s Media Center (WMC) where she served as the Vice President for three years. Prior to the WMC, Testone was the Senior Director of Media Programs for the national Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD).

Testone has appeared on CNN, FOX News and MSNBC, and has been quoted in outlets including Vogue, The New York Times, The Chicago Tribune, Time Out and W Magazine.

She is a member of the Ending the Epidemic Task Force, which works to implement Governor Cuomo’s plan to end the AIDS epidemic in New York. Testone also sits on the CenterLink Board, the Executive Board of the City University of New York Institute for Health Equality and is a member of the Bronx Borough President’s LGBT Policy Task Force. In 2005, Testone won Syracuse University’s LGBT Foundation Award for Outstanding Alumni. In addition, she has served on the NYC Commission on LGBTQ Runaway and Homeless Youth and was a Tenenbaum Leadership Institute Fellow at Milano, the New School for Management & Urban Policy.

Originally from Syracuse, New York, Testone has a Bachelor’s degree in Broadcast Journalism and Philosophy from Syracuse University and a Master’s degree in Women’s Studies from The Ohio State University. Though she will always be a New Yorker at heart, she currently lives in Asbury Park, NJ with her spouse, Jama, and daughter, Frankie.

Senior Leadership Team

Pierre Chin
Senior Director of Contracts and Finance Administration

Pierre Chin
Senior Director of Contracts and Finance Administration

Pierre Chin is The Center’s Senior Director of Contracts & Finance Administration. He completed his Bachelor’s degree in Sociology at the City University of New York, Brooklyn College. Pierre has worked at The Center for nearly 24 years, first as the main office receptionist, then transferring into the finance department as the bookkeeper. Today, he works closely with the Chief Financial Officer, and across the agency with the development team and program staff to coordinate and manage The Center’s federal, state and local government funding. Similarly, he is responsible for managing large private foundation grants. All of this funding, and all of Pierre’s efforts, support The Center’s diverse social service programming. Pierre continues to integrate programmatic and fiscal oversight, aligning with The Center’s strategic planning and arming himself with concrete information and skills to help The Center, and himself, continue to develop.

Renee Colombo
Chief Development Officer

Renee Colombo
Chief Development Officer

Renee Colombo joined The Center in 2022 as the Chief Development Officer. In this role, she is responsible for strategic oversight and execution of all fund development initiatives. Prior to joining The Center, she served as the SVP for Development and Communications at Junior Achievement of New York. Renee has extensive fundraising experience - with an emphasis on corporate, individual and government support, as well as special events - in the youth empowerment space. She served for nearly eight years in the role of VP for Development and Communications at the Council for Economic Education. She has also served in senior roles at various AIDS service organizations, including Bailey House and New Mexico AIDS Services. She began her fundraising career at God’s Love We Deliver and has been hooked on fundraising ever since. Renee received her B.A. in Government from Smith College and currently resides in Park Slope.

Cristina Jones, SPHR, SHRM-SCP
Chief People and Equity Officer

Cristina Jones, SPHR, SHRM-SCP
Chief People and Equity Officer

Cristina (she/her) is the Chief People and Equity Officer of The Center. She is a change leader with a passion for the intersection of people and equity work. In her role, she provides thought leadership, oversight and direction to the overall provision of people and HR services and partners with leaders across the organization to develop and implement strategic initiatives that drive and support a highly engaged and performing organizational culture centered in equity and justice. She brings a people-centered approach to all aspects of talent strategy and applies an equity lens, actively working to bring underrepresented voices to the table. Cristina started her career in the education space working for SCORE! Learning Inc. and The After-School Corporation, which provide after-school services. After getting her MBA, Cristina joined a single-sex charter school network and developed and implemented finance, operations, and HR strategies for a fast growing network of charter schools. Cristina went on to work as an independent consultant focused on helping schools, nonprofits and small businesses with human resources, talent management and organizational development best practices. Prior to The Center, she served as the Senior Director of Human Resources for The Fortune Society, a criminal justice nonprofit that supports successful re-entry from incarceration and promotes alternatives to incarceration. Cristina received her BA from Stanford University and MBA from Columbia University. In her free time, she is focused on her family and is the proud mom of two young girls.

Natasha Jones, CASAC-T
Senior Director of Community Programs

Natasha Jones, CASAC-T
Senior Director of Community Programs

Natasha Jones (she/her) is the Senior Director of Community Programs. In this role, she is responsible for the oversight, development and implementation of Community Support Services and Center Youth programs serving LGBTQ+ youth and adults. Prior to joining the Center in 2010, Natasha has served as a liaison between many New York City schools, community-based organizations and the NYC Department of Education to provide children and families with overall support, education and resources. She has dedicated over 20 years of service in youth development and community organizing spaces. Natasha is an alum of several public service and leadership programs including, American Express Leadership Academy, AmeriCorps and the Pipeline Project: people of color leadership, advancement & program development strategies for the LGBT movement. She holds a bachelor's degree in Speech Pathology & Audiology from the City University of New York, Lehman College.

Jeffrey Klein, Esq.
Chief Operating Officer

Jeffrey Klein, Esq.
Chief Operating Officer

Jeffrey is the Chief Operating Officer of The LGBT Community Center. In this role he oversees operations, legal, strategic planning, technology & data systems, private & public fundraising and program evaluation. Jeff is also an Adjunct Professor at Pratt Institute and previously has taught at Columbia University. His courses include Fundraising, Nonprofit Law and Intellectual Property Law. Previously, he has served as the Vice President of Programs & Services for Learning Ally (formerly Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic). While there, he was the functional head and chief strategist for program design, account implementation and customer support. He also has served as a staff attorney and fundraiser for Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts specializing in counseling nonprofit organizations on their legal and business issues. Jeff is a graduate of Fordham University School of Law and is admitted to the New York State Bar. Additionally, he holds a BA from Skidmore College.

Nico Marino
Senior Director of Data & Evaluation

Nico Marino
Senior Director of Data & Evaluation

Nico joined The Center in 2022 as the Senior Director, Data and Evaluations. He has over a decade of experience on the Salesforce platform in the nonprofit world, uses his talents in data structuring and process efficiency to help organizations utilize their data and systems to further their mission and make decisions based on facts, not feelings. He started in data working at New York University in the Office of University Development and Alumni Relations, querying their systems for alumni information and prospective donors. After completing his Master’s degree, he moved on into the nonprofit space working with organizations like The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research and the National Kidney Foundation. He enjoys being able to use his skills for mission-driven organizations as a way to satisfy his desire to be part of a solution. Nico is a former Nonprofit Salesforce User Group Leader for the New York City area where he was able to connect with and learn about a variety of nonprofits; from health-related and higher education to advocacy and representation equity. He has a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Arizona and a M.A. in International Education from New York University.

Trevon Mayers
Senior Director of Advocacy & Community Engagement

Trevon Mayers
Senior Director of Advocacy & Community Engagement

Trevon Mayers, MPA currently serves as the Senior Director of Advocacy & Community Engagement, where he is responsible for oversight, vision, and implementation of The Center's statewide LGBTQ advocacy initiative and government affairs work. In prior professional roles, Trevon has overseen a number of successful issue-based advocacy and organizing campaigns including voting reform, Medicaid expansion, ethics in government and civic engagement. In 2019, Trevon received the Democracy Champions Award for being part of a successful multi-year effort to overhaul voting rights in New York State. Trevon has also led national health equity initiatives around health policy, as well as developed strategic planning to strengthen organizational diversity, equity and inclusion. Trevon holds a Master's degree in Public Administration from the University of Massachusetts Boston and a Bachelor's degree in Public Health and Psychology from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Daniel Reyes
Chief Program Officer

Daniel Reyes
Chief Program Officer

Daniel Reyes joined The Center in 2020 as Chief Program Officer, having worked in the non-profit sector for over 20 years. He began his professional career as a high school Spanish teacher before moving into social services. Most recently, he served as the Executive Director of Junta for Progressive Action; a New Haven-based Latinx Multi-Service Agency committed to the economic, social and civic advancement of Connecticut Latinx communities. He previously worked at the New York Common Pantry for 15 years where he rose from Program Director to Deputy Executive Director. Mr. Reyes has extensive experience consulting on community-engaged research to address disparities and social determinants of health among Communities of Color and communities experiencing economic challenges. He has collaborated with the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Medical Center, Vanderbilt University and Yale University. He also served as a Cultural Ambassador at the Yale Center for Clinical Investigations.

Dinean Robinson
Senior Director of Communications & Marketing

Dinean Robinson
Senior Director of Communications & Marketing

Dinean is a tenacious Communications executive committed to helping cause-driven organizations achieve their goals through strategic communications and impactful storytelling. Her career highlights include transforming Teach For America New York's messaging framework, establishing the Public Relations function at the African American Heritage Museum of Southern New Jersey, and serving as a founding publicist for Darnell Moore, Vice President of Inclusion Strategy at Netflix. Dinean is a passionate advocate for LGBTQ folx. In both her full-time and volunteer work, she has centered the needs, voices, and experiences of our most vulnerable and often silenced communities. She previously served as Board Chair for GLSEN Northern NJ, was an event consultant and Program Coordinator with the Hetrick-Martin Institute, and worked to combat HIV/AIDS as a CLEAR counselor with Project Wow. Dinean also worked to support LGBTQ young adults and professionals in her role as Director of PR & Speaker's Bureau for the You Belong LGBTQ Sports & Leadership Initiative. Before joining The Center, Dinean was the VP, of Communications for Multiplying Good (formerly known as The Jefferson Awards Foundation). She currently resides in New Jersey with her fiance and fur baby.

Kathy Rodriguez
Senior Director of Operations

Kathy Rodriguez
Senior Director of Operations

Kathy Rodriguez is The Center's Senior Director of Operations. Back in the 90s, Kathy was a leader of a youth-run youth group that used to meet at The Center called BiGLTYNY and she was also a member of The Center's youth program. Since then, Kathy earned her Bachelor's degree in Justice Studies and Masters degree in Public Administration at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. She has dedicated her entire career in service of young people and education. She's worked at Callen-Lorde Community Health Center, the Hetrick-Martin Institute, The Center's Youth Program, was the founding operations leader for The Door's charter high school, Broome Street Academy, and spent several years leading other charter schools in NYC. Kathy is excited to be back at The Center to lead and support the operations team to ensure we maintain a warm, welcoming, and inclusive space that is reflective of our entire community.

Antonio Ruberto, Jr., MS, LCSW-R, CASAC
Senior Director of Behavioral Health

Antonio Ruberto, Jr., MS, LCSW-R, CASAC
Senior Director of Behavioral Health

Antonio Ruberto, Jr., MS, LCSW-R, CASAC, Senior Director of Behavioral Health, is a licensed clinical social worker and joined The Center in 2011. In this role, Antonio currently oversees youth and adult substance use treatment, youth prevention services, crystal meth harm reduction services, TGNC/NB harm reduction services, and recovery support including the youth clubhouse, along with strategic planning related to telehealth and mental health expansion and integration at The Center. Antonio initially served as Director of Center Recovery, the first and only LGBT-specific, OASAS-licensed outpatient substance use treatment program in New York and worked in both substance use and mental health treatment as a clinical social worker. Prior to his career in social services, Antonio worked in flagship retail management and for seven years at Columbia Business School as a Program Manager for executive education programs. Antonio is a member of the New York State OASAS Clinical Advisory Panel and the ASAP Diversity Equity Inclusion Committee. Antonio has provided workshops and trainings for the ASAP Conference, the NASW Addiction Institute Conference, the New York Criminal Justice & Treatment Conference and The Gay Men’s Health Summit and SYNChronicity Conference, both in Washington, D.C. In addition, he maintains a private psychotherapy practice in Manhattan and is a contracted trainer for the CASAC program at Outreach Training Institute. He received his Bachelor's degree in Psychology and Art History from NYU and his Masters of Science in Social Work degree from Columbia University.

Corey Westover
Senior Director of Equity and Learning

Corey Westover
Senior Director of Equity and Learning

Corey Westover (she/her) is the Senior Director of Equity and Learning. In this role, she is working to develop and implement a comprehensive, multi-year equity strategy-- in collaboration with the Chief People & Equity Officer, senior leadership, the board race equity working group, and staff race equity steering committee and implementation teams. The overarching goal is to support the staff and board in transforming the organization and ultimately embedding race and gender equity in The Center’s policies, practices, programs, decisions, and culture. Corey joined The Center in 2017, first serving as the Director of The Network, and then Director of Government Programs. Prior, she oversaw sexuality education and counseling programming at Community Healthcare Network, a network of federally qualified health centers throughout NYC. She holds a Master's degree in Public Health from Columbia University, with a concentration in Sexuality and Health, and a Bachelor's degree in Applied Psychology from NYU. Corey’s professional career has been dedicated to eliminating health disparities, working at the intersections of racial, economic, reproductive, and gender justice.

Departmental Staff

More than 300,000 visitors come to The Center every year to celebrate LGBT life and receive support. Our team works to ensure that we continue to meet the needs of each and every member of the community! To join our team or to intern at The Center, please visit Employment Opportunities.

Advocacy and Government Affairs

Louisa Benarbane, Network Coordinator

Charlie Kerr, Network Associate

Vladimir Martinez, Director of Policy and Government Affairs

Rachael Pelton, Community Organizing Coordinator

Vladimir Tlali, Director of The Network

Building Services

Juan Adams, Building Services/Porter Staff

Demetrius Frazier, Building Services/Porter Staff

Devin Garcia, Facilities Coordinator

Lakia Graham, Facilities Specialist

Christopher LaPlant, Director of Facilities

Charly Polanco, Building Services Associate

Margarita Quiles, Building Services/Porter Staff

Kalisha Reid, Building Services/Porter Staff

Communications

Evan Britt, Director of Marketing

Helen Buse, Communications Manager

Vanessa Diaz, Marketing Coordinator

Cultural Engagement

Data and Evaluation

Bethsaida Charlot, Program Evaluation and Systems Manager

Roi Mase, Data Quality and Training Coordinator

Jillian Niler, Director of Data Management

Development

Christopher Barberesi, Director of Corporate Partnerships

Marc Castaneda, Fundraising Coordinator

Brian Doyle, Special Events Manager

David Hovey, Director of Fundraising Initiatives

Christian Kamongi, Development Coordinator

Eugene Lovendusky, Individual and Planned Giving Manager

Brad Snyder, Director of Strategic Giving

Economic Initiatives

Tyanne “CeCe” Banks-Ransom, Career Developer

Joanna McClintick, LCSW, Economic Initiatives Manager

Melissa Ruiz, Director of Community Advancement

Lyric Truth, Employment Support Specialist

Event Production and Reservations

Gabriel Farofaldane, Director of Events, Production and Reservations

Sam Kiley-LaRoche, Reservation Specialist

Richard Morales, Cultural Programs Manager

Finance

Eric Alcantara, Director of Accounting

Stacy Blundell, Revenue and Billing Manager

Barry Brown, Contracts and Finance Administration Manager

Juliet Brown, Billing Specialist

Brian Kennedy, Billing Specialist

Lady Parada, Junior Accountant, Cash and Receivables

Claudette Williams, Junior Accountant - Payables

Mark Zangrilli, Staff Accountant

HIV and Sexual Health Services

Brandy Andrews, HIV & Sexual Health Services Manager

Christopher Beach, HIV and Sexual Health Specialist

Yohon Tatum, Community Engagement Coordinator

Vil Suarez, HIV and Sexual Health Specialist

Human Resources and Administration

Michelle Cintron, Administrative and Purchasing Coordinator

Sasha Jamieson, Human Resources Associate

Ryan McAllister, SHRM-CP, Director of People

Leonardo Salazar, Programs Administrative Coordinator

Sean Segerstrom, Executive Assistant

Information & Referral

Sherri Barnes, Information & Referral Specialist

Josey Flores, Information & Referral Specialist

Michael Greehan, Information and Referral Manager

Gabby Harrison, Information & Referral Specialist

Belize P. Hernandez, Information & Referral Specialist

Juan Merlo, Information and Referral Coordinator

Luis Rubio, Information & Referral Specialist

Renan Ruiz, Community Safety Coordinator

Mental Health Counseling Services

Gustavo Carlos, MAMFT, MFT-LP, Mental Health Counselor

Z Cordero, LMSW, Family Permanency Coordinator

Sophia Glass, LCSW, Mental Health Services Manager

Sébastien Haizet, LMSW, Mental Health Counselor

Daniel Rich, MHC-LP, Mental Health Counselor

Substance Use Treatment and Prevention

Ryan Brown, LCSW-R, Director of Clinical Services

Heather Chatman, CASAC-T, Substance Use Prevention Counselor

Joe Disano, CASAC, ICADC, Director of Substance Use Treatment and Prevention

Yuriem Espinal-Seery, MHC-LP, Substance Use Counselor - Outer Boroughs

Luis Illades, CASAC, LMSW, Treatment and Prevention Intake Coordinator

Jason Meisel, Substance Use Treatment Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner

Joey Mirabile, Recovery Support Specialist

Michelle Novie-Herman, RN, Health Care Coordinator

Freddy Perez, CASAC-T, Substance Use Treatment Counselor

Bryce Perry, LMSW, Substance Use Treatment Counselor

Stephanie Quispilaya, MHC-LP, Substance Use Treatment Counselor

Jeremy Simmons, MHC-LP, Substance Use Treatment Counselor

Shane Spicer, MD, Medical Director

Support Services

Gilberto Alvarado, Case Management Coordinator

Felipe Alvear, Community Program Coordinator

Francisco Cardozo, Case Management Coordinator

Jesus Casado, Community Casework Manager

Nathalie Chara, Director of Support Services

Miosoti Lopez, Patient Navigation Coordinator

Nereyda Luna, Case Management Coordinator

Sarah Pomar, In-Person Assistor/Navigator

Scottie Roche, In-Person Assistor/Navigator

Technology

Stephen Andrews, Director of Technology

Gabrielle Campbell, Technology Support Specialist

Youth Counseling and Support

John Cho, LMHC, Youth Prevention Manager

Peter Karys, LCSW, CPP, CASAC, Director of Youth Counseling and Support

Sammy Maramba-Ferrell, LCSW, Youth Prevention Coordinator

Gabby Ramalho, Youth Community Substance Use Counselor

Shana Salzberg, LMSW, Youth Substance Use Treatment Coordinator

Maireni Soriano, Youth Clubhouse Community Coordinator

Leslie Tan, MHC-LP, Youth Prevention Counselor

Cornelius Wiggins, Youth Community Engagement Coordinator

Youth Leadership and Engagement

Lee Dindial, Youth Education and Workforce Developer

Salem Joseph, Youth Leadership Developer

Cheyenne Rosado, Youth Leadership Coordinator

Olin Winn-Ritzenberg, LMSW, Youth Leadership & Education Manager

Young Leaders Council

The Young Leaders Council is an active and diverse group of young New Yorkers committed to The Center and its work. The Council advises Center staff and board members and develops programming to engage its demographic as Center supporters, members, volunteers and leaders.

Co-Chairs

Michael Maloof

Anthony Popeo

Communications Lead

Luc LaGasse

Engagement Lead

Fundraising Lead

Michael Stitt

Team YL Captain

Cal Greene

Volunteer Lead

Lindsay Brown

Members-at-Large

Jason Chandra

Ben Djaha

Bradley Kelly

Brian Kirn

Robert Knox Hayes

Bryce Prenovost

Randy Wilson

Center Ambassadors

The Center Ambassadors are thoughtful and powerful community leaders who lend their name and influence as supporters of The Center. We thank them for their partnership as well as their years of advocacy on behalf of LGBT people and causes.

Justin Vivian Bond

Lea DeLaria

Jesse Tyler Ferguson

Jonathan Groff

Mary-Louise Parker

Billy Porter

Michael Urie