Meet the Team
An introduction to the Catskills Pride board members
Dwayne Brown
HE, HIM, HIS
President
Dwayne is a Licensed Social Worker (LMSW) and works in New York City. He and his partner have a weekend home in Narrowsburg. Before going into social work, Dwayne had a 20+ year marketing career. He hopes to utilize his love of marketing and passion for social justice to support Catskill Pride in growing and evolving.
Gary Ott
Vice President
Gary Ott (He, Him, His) is a New York City transplant, living in Grahamsville. Professionally, Gary is a Territory Account Manger with ViiV Healthcare, and promotes the use of HIV medicine with his health care providers. Gary is politically active and serves on the Board of Directors with GlaxoSmithKline PAC. The bass/baritone enjoys performing and is a member of the Sullivan County Community Chorus. As a member of the Delaware Valley Opera Company, Gary appeared in their production of HMS Pinafore, last summer. In his spare time he enjoys, cooking, baking, playing piano and guitar and can often be found under the hood of his 1972 Cutlass Convertible, “tinkering and restoring”.
Samantha Jacobson
Treasurer
Samantha Jacobson (they/them) is a freelance research, design and editorial strategist. Since 2015, they have provided the primary research and administrative support to Third Streaming, a Brooklyn-based consultancy serving nonprofit and government organizations focused on culture and social justice. With Eileen Joy, they are a co-founder of keepitdirty.org, a multimedia journal focused on issues of collective consciousness, propriety and ecological advocacy. Jacobson has also designed homes for clients in California and Connecticut, and completed several large-scale, data-driven landscape artworks, most recently "Flotsam (How to Live Together)," a 2.3 mile-long installation on the campus of the University of California, Santa Barbara (2014). They divide their time between Brooklyn, Los Angeles and Livingston Manor, where they are currently establishing a place-based art residency and clinic focused on rural LGBTQIA+ wellness and community health.
Luke Sinclair
Secretary
Luke is a digital marketing and community building leader with almost 20 years of experience working with the world's biggest, brightest, and boldest brands. He is also a member of the Aspen Institute First Movers Fellowship, an accomplished group of innovators working inside companies to create new products, services, and management practices that increase business value and make the world a better place. Luke is Australian (with the funny accent to prove it) and now lives with his two cute puppies in the town of Deer Park, where he is trying his hand at beekeeping and gardening. Oh, and he bakes a mean cake!
Frankie Guzman
Board Member
<Frankie Bio>
Brent Saunders
Committee Member
Brent has had more than 25 years’ experience in fundraising; major gifts, special events, individual giving, annual appeals, sponsorships, public relations, relationship building, and public speaking. Prior to his current non-profit fundraising career, he was a performer in NYC, having appeared on Broadway, television and film. He has been a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and the Association of New York Event Planners. He was a former member of SAG, AFTRA, AGVA and Actors’ Equity and the former president of the West 84th Street Block Association.
Get in touch with us
We're always seeking new, diverse and passionate people who want to get involved. Contact us by email if you'd like to talk about opportunities.