Board of Directors
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Ethan Barnett President 314.398.6733 |
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Originally from St. Louis, Ethan Barnett is established in various industries including, non-profit management, Media and Public Relations, and large event management and production. He received his Bachelors degree in Broadcast Journalism and Communications from Webster University in 2004 and has served on the board of Pride St. Louis Inc. for two consecutive years filling various roles such as Athletics Director, Event and Fundraising Coordinator, Development Coordinator and Beverage team for Pride St. Louis Inc, annual festival, PrideFest.
Ethan has 3 years of media industry experience as well as over 5 years of non – profit management experience working as a Production Manager for the NCAA Men’s Final Four in St. Louis with the CBS team, serving as the Membership Director for the Lakeview YMCA; responsible for an operating budget in excess of 2 million dollars, exceeding retention rate goal increases of 30 percent, and Transportation Manager for JetSet Sports during the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China.
During his two years of service on the Board of Directors, Ethan has spearheaded two new successful annual events; Pride Band Showcase and Out at the Ballpark, overseeing marketing, sponsorship, recruitment and operations over these events. It is Ethan’s personal goal to make Pride St. Louis Inc, more mainstream throughout the St. Louis area giving the organization more legitimacy and visibility within and outside of the LGBT community. |
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Darrell Grant Vice President 314.971.1125 |
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Darrell Grant grew up in southeast Missouri and attended Missouri State University in Springfield before moving to St Louis and obtaining his MBA at Fontbonne University. He believes in the power of education and developing a strong, core support network.
Darrell is a Financial Service Representative focusing primarily on the needs of the LGBT Community. In that capacity, he helps people protect their possessions and lifestyle today while also building a support NET to provide for their long-term financial goals of retirement and legacy. The legal status of LGBT relationship requires special financial planning strategies to be put in place that married couples do not have to consider.
Darrell currently serves as Secretary of the Safe Connections Young Professionals Board, Treasurer of Tyler Place Presbyterian Church, and as the Vice President of the Board of Directors to Pride St Louis Inc, where he serves on the Sponsor and Scholarship Committees. |
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Debbie Smith Treasurer 314.974.7103 |
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Debbie Smith is a Chicago native with 33 years experience in the financial services field and is currently the Assistant Vice President of Branch Operations of a $185 million in assets credit union. My responsibilities include the operations of tellers and member service representatives at four branches, a call center and all ATM operations. Debbie is the credit union representative to the information management system provider for all systems. She also develop and deliver operational and compliance training to all employees. As Treasurer of Pride St Louis, Debbie has brought fiscal discipline to the organization and worked closely with the other directors and coordinators to create a fiscally stronger Pride St Louis. Debbie ensures that fiscal operations and full accountings are done for each fundraiser and ensure that all monies due to Pride St Louis are paid promptly and in full. Debbie has served on the board for 5 years and have filled various roles, including Commitment Ceremony Coordinator for the past 5 years and has made it a profitable event year after year. She has served on the Executive Board for the past 4 years as Treasurer. |
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Matt Harper
Secretary 314.772.8888 secretary@pridestl.org |
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| Matt Harper studied music education at Southwestern Illinois
College and Southern
Illinois University in Edwardsville. He teaches part time at
Belleville East High School in the vocal music and theater department and is
the General Manager of Dots Clothing Store. He is a part time bartender at
Bastille in Soulard. In the past, he was the assistant to the Director of
Choral Activities at Southwestern
Illinois College
and an active member of the Activities Board at SWIC and SIUE. He is very
excited in serving the Pride Board in whatever capacity he can. |
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Directors
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Brittain Cagle Director at Large |
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Brittain Cagle has been involved with Pride St. Louis for the past four years, formerly serving as Communications Director. His background includes retail management and event planning with Pride St. Louis and Loading Zone, Ernie’s and Attitudes Nightclub. He currently works at Salon 212 and is pursing education in cosmetology. Brittain’s main focus within the organization will be event planning and vendor relations. In addition to his Board responsibilities, he serves as the current Mr. Pride 2011. |
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Chad Fox Director at Large |
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Chad Fox has proven himself as a leader in the LGBT Community and his personal and professional life. He is a 30 year veteran in the management field and has been an active member of the LGBT community for more than 20 years. He is a former Executive Board Member and has served as the former President of the St. Louis Pride Committee. Most recently, he has worked in the beer booths and has been a key member in its facilitation. In addition to serving the LGBT community, Chad has been instrumental in raising thousands for many local charities. Outside of philanthropic work, Chad is a licensed trainer for his company, Panara Read, and has a large following both as Chad and his alter ego, Victoria Rose. |
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Colin Lovett Director at Large |
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Colin is a teacher, entrepreneur, activist, writer and salesman. Actively involved in uniting the St. Louis LGBT Community, he is President of the Board of The LGBT Center of St. Louis and serves on the board of directors for Pride St. Louis. Teaching youth with developmental disabilities during the day, Colin also co-owns a school of self defense for adults with developmental disabilities. Alum of the Regional Arts Council’s Community Arts Training Program, he furthered his training in community empowerment. Addicted to Beethoven, Brahms, Tchaikovsky and the Romantics, Colin plays double bass with the St. Louis Civic Orchestra, of which he used to serve as the President of the Board. |
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Edd Cockrell Director at Large |
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Edd Cockrell has been an advocate for LGBT issues since coming out at the age of 18. Having served on the board of Metro East Pride, Edd was Co-Coordinator of volunteers. He is also extremely active in volunteering at The LGBT Center of St. Louis, the LGBT Brand Identity Committee of St. Louis, the HRC Political Committee and Southwestern Illinois College Q&A. At the early age of 19, Edd followed his father’s political career and ran for the Village Board of New Athens, Illinois, serving as the youngest board member in the state of Illinois. Edd wants to make sure people know that they are not alone and that everyone is meant to be here on this earth. He feels that every shade of the rainbow should be represented in the LGBT Community. |
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Ellen Vanscoy Parade |
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Ellen Vanscoy has served for the past 5 years on the Board of Directors with Pride St. Louis as the Director at Large and as the Parade Director. She has 20+ years of experience in sales, management, event planning, promotional products, merchandising, fund raising and marketing. For over 5 years she has performed as a Drag King and organized benefit shows, developing a working relationship and building respect within the St. Louis community establishments and organizations. Ellen hopes to utilize these bridges to cultivate new ideas for events and fund raising and strengthen community relations in general. |
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Lauren Rapp Community Engagement |
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Lauren Rapp strives to strengthen engagement between Pride St. Louis and the St. Louis Community. Her abilities to communicate with people across cultural, racial, socio-economic and identity lines and her knowledge of many of the area’s LGBT advocacy and social organizations enable her to navigate and unite the Community. In the past, she has collaborated with groups including SAGE, TransHaven, the Independence Center and St. Cronan’s Food Pantry. As an educator, Lauren facilitates the education area during PrideFest. She believes that a stronger connection to both LGBT and non-LGBT people in the community Pride St. Louis serves will further the ability to serve those people more effectively. |
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Leon Braxton, Jr. Scholarship
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Leon has been active in the St. Louis LGBT community for over 25-years, raising countless dollars and serving in many leadership capacities. Just this past year, Leon helped raise over $6,000 for the scholarship committee, of which he is the chair, which awarded 3 scholarships to 3 well-deserving LGBT students. In addition to the Pride St. Louis, he serves on the board of SAGE Metro St. Louis and is a founding member of and still serves on the Board of St. Louis Effort for AIDS, is a master Guardian with Project Ark since 2004, and is the founder of the I CARE! Campaign. He brings with him a successful background in finance and is also known in entertainment and fundraising circles for his illusion of the incomparable Dieta Pepsi. Leon was recently appointed Executive Director at The LGBT Center of St. Louis. |
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Mel Voss Director at Large |
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| Mel Voss has been involved with the casino/entertainment industry for the last 15 years. This included working with promotions and events as well as focusing on working with the public. Her previous experience includes owning and operating two businesses and involvement in community events and organizations. Her primary expertise is working with people and creating memorable experiences in both a professional and casual setting. She leads a very blessed life in experiences that she looks forward to sharing with Pride St. Louis and the St. Louis LGBT Community. | ||||
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Tracy Cox Director at Large |
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| Tracy Cox possesses sales and marketing sales that greatly benefit Pride St. Louis. Confident that with hard work, dedication and a sense of pride, Tracy believes anything is possible. Tracy’s work with Plaza Motor Company has provided sponsorship of the commitment ceremony, transportation for the parade officials and Pride entertainers. Originally from Festus, Missouri, Tracy has traveled all over the world including Hawaii, Rome, London, Germany, France and Mexico and experienced things that many do not get to in a lifetime. He loves spending time with family, bowling, the outdoors, traveling, dining out, social functions, movies, or just quiet nights at home. He feels that his family, friends and career have been a major influence on his life and has provided many great benefits to Pride St. Louis. | ||||
PrideFest Committees and Contacts
Vendor Relations
Chad Fox, Darrell Grant
Food Vendor Relations
Chad Fox
Parade
Ellen Vanscoy
Volunteer
Edd CockrellEntertainment
Ethan Barnett
Sponsorship
Ethan Barnett, Darrell Grant
Press
Ethan Barnett
Education and
Lauren Rapp
TBD
Commitment Ceremony
Debbie Smith
Merchandise
Matthew Smith
Pride Photographer
Scott Lokitz
Security
Priceton Makavelli
First Aid
Photography by scottlokitz.smugmug.com
To foster an understanding and tolerance of the LGBT Community in the general population by raising awareness through educational programs and events