Executive Office

Career Services

Communications

Community Empowerment

Development

Events

Finance & Operations

Training & Professional Development

Selisse Berry
Founder & Chief Executive Officer

Selisse Berry is Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Out & Equal Workplace Advocates, the world’s largest nonprofit organization specifically dedicated to creating safe and equitable workplaces for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people.  Under her leadership, the organization has grown significantly with dramatic increases in attendance for the annual Workplace Summit since 1999, the expansion of volunteer regional affiliates across the United States, and many global initiatives.  With her guidance, Out & Equal has also created numerous programs to advance its mission, including the annual Out & Equal Workplace Summit, the LGBT Executive Forum and Leadership Celebration, bimonthly Town Call seminars, the world’s largest registry of LGBT Employee Resource Groups, LGBT CareerLink online jobs board and substantial programming in the growing network of regional affiliates and global partnerships.

Her clear and unwavering vision has been instrumental in creating an internationally recognized organization whose philosophies reflect the importance of treating all colleagues in the workplace with respect and dignity. Since her first job as a guidance counselor, Selisse has continued her commitment to justice as a teacher and as executive director for several social service organizations prior to founding Out & Equal Workplace Advocates. She has master's degrees in education and theology from the University of Texas and San Francisco Theological Seminary respectively. Selisse and her wife, Cynthia Martin, were married in July 2007, and legally married in 2008.

Learn more about requesting Selisse Berry for a speaking appearance.

Pat Baillie
Director of Training & Professional Development 

Pat Baillie joined Out & Equal in January 2008 after retiring the second time in her career from Honeywell Federal Manufacturing & Technologies in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Prior to that, she served in the US Air Force retiring in 1993 as a Major. Her entire career has been involved with training, adult education, and activism and she is ready to pull all those parts of her history together at Out & Equal to make a difference for those in the workplace.

Pat graduated from California State University, Northridge with a Master’s Degree in Physical Education, Biology and Psychology. After college, she joined the Air Force and worked as a Weapons Controller and Space Operations officer. She was also active in LGBT causes her entire career and decided to retire on the day that President Clinton announced "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell." She was then able to publicly come out and was the featured speaker at the Veteran’s Day memorial in Sacramento, California in 1993. She has also worked extensively with sexual freedom issue as a spokesperson and educator and has work on national grass roots organizing. In Albuquerque, Pat worked within Honeywell on their Diversity Council and was asked to present on LGBT issues at the statewide EEOC conferences as well as being the only "out" employee that could be a resource. She also helped to grow the local and statewide LGBT community as the Co-President of Albuquerque Pride for over 10 years. She continued to be involved in community events from political to social until she realized she was ready to return to California. Her goal was to work in a non-profit on LGBT issues. Out & Equal added to that the ability to use her years of training experience so in December 2007, Pat moved back to California.

She lives in Oakland with her partner and travels extensively teaching, presenting and discussing the issues impacting LGBT equality in and out of the workplace.  The opportunity to influence the workplace is truly a dream job bringing together her political/activist passion with her love of teaching.

Julie Beach
Associate Director of Career Development

Julie joined Out & Equal Workplace Advocates in the spring of 2008 as Career Development Manager. Responsible for launching Out & Equal’s web-based LGBT career development program, Julie is a seasoned tech expert with an MA in Industrial Psychology emphasizing employment issues for the LGBT community.

For the past ten years, Julie has helped dozens of organizations develop their technological capabilities. As a technology consultant, she worked with public and nonprofit organizations including San Francisco Unified School District, Girls, Inc., UCSF and various San Francisco city departments. At Goodwill Industries, as a member of the IT team, she helped meet the tech requirements of 15 retail stores and several hundred employees. And for the San Francisco Children’s Council, she launched and managed a program to increase the technological skills and resources of San Francisco’s early childhood education community.

Also a skilled trainer, Julie has introduced a diverse array of people to technology. Working with Marin’s adult education programs, Jewish Vocational Service and other nonprofit organizations, she has enabled seniors, homeless individuals and those with barriers to employment to use computers for the first time and, in many cases, begin a path to sustainable employment.

Previous to her tech career, Julie received an MA in industrial psychology with an emphasis on LGBT career development after a 15-year management career with PG&E. While obtaining her degree, she worked in the human resources department at Autodesk, Inc.

Enabling LGBT individuals to develop successful careers with supportive companies and organizations has been a long-time passion for Julie. She is thrilled to now be able to combine these diverse interests on behalf of Out & Equal.

Julie lives in Marin with her partner of 19 years, a marketing executive for a San Francisco architecture firm, and their German Shepherd, Dover. She enjoys time at their Bolinas cottage, along with biking, home repair and digital photography.

Marina Bennett
Executive Assistant

Marina joined Out & Equal in May of 2012, shortly after receiving her Bachelors of Arts in Political Science from the University of California, Berkeley. As Executive Assistant, Marina works closely with Selisse and the executive team, providing comprehensive support for a variety of projects.

Before joining the team at Out & Equal, Marina provided development and executive support to an education non-profit in the East Bay, and worked with a political market research firm doing public opinion survey design and strategy. In 2011, Marina completed a fellowship with a California Assemblymember, working on casework for constituents and legislative research. While studying at U.C. Berkeley, Marina was active in the Prytanean Women's Honor Society, which focuses on service and empowerment projects.

In her free time, Marina enjoys painting, sculpting, and hanging out with her tortoise, Dwayne.

Pamela Berkowitz
Senior Manager, Finance & Operations

Pamela joined the Out & Equal Workplace Advocates staff in June 2006, as the new office manager.

Pamela earned her bachelor’s degree in Women’s Studies with a minor in Judaic Studies from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. She also spent two semesters as part of a teaching collective within the Women’s Studies Department at SUNY Albany, where she co-taught the course “Introduction to Feminisms.”

Pamela has a long history working with nonprofit organizations dedicated to social change. She was on the coordinating committee for the Social Justice Center in Albany, NY an umbrella group of nonprofit organizations. She was also was part of the collective at Peace Offerings (a nonprofit fair trade craft store) and worked for five years on the committee for the Women’s Networking Fair in Albany, NY. She is currently active in the Network of Spiritual Progressives, eQuality Scholarship Collaborative, and Jewish Voice for Peace.

Pamela enjoys biking, animals, reading, foreign films, science fiction, and vegetarian cooking. She lives with her three cats in Berkeley, CA.

Bianca Beyrouti
Accounting Associate

Bianca is excited to be a member of the Out & Equal staff, after having joined the organization as a Development Intern in the summer of 2012. As the Accounting Associate, she provides crucial administrative, financial, and project management support to the various departments and programs at Out & Equal.

Bianca is a proud native of the San Francisco Bay Area and LGBT ally with a long history of commitment to advocacy, the arts, and the intersection of the two. During her undergraduate studies at UC Berkeley, Bianca was an active member of the university’s chapter of VDAY, where see helped produce three consecutive benefit productions of Eve Ensler’s play “The Vagina Monologues” for the campus community. After obtaining her B.A. in Film Studies in 2009, Bianca pursued a career in independent media production through numerous local short-form and feature-length film projects. One of her proudest credits is her role as Assistant Director on the 2011 queer horror film The Craving, which screened in several regional and international film festivals. Bianca’s passion for nonprofit organizations began with her internship at the San Francisco Film Society in 2011. She continued to develop her skills and interests through various positions in the nonprofit sector before landing her internship and eventual staff position at Out & Equal.

Outside of work, Bianca enjoys indulging in local food, art, music, and cultural events and adventures with friends and family throughout the East Bay and the San Francisco Bay Area. In addition to the causes of women’s rights and LGBT equality, she is an active supporter of animal welfare, the disabled/differently-abled community, and justice in all forms. Through her work at Out & Equal, she is thrilled to help make the world and all workplaces safer and more equitable for all.

Dave Bueché
Senior Manager, Development & Communications

Dave has been on the staff of Out & Equal since 2004, during which time he has managed both the departments of development and communications. As senior manager, development & communications he plays a key role in supporting the development team’s ongoing efforts to increase revenue through corporate partnerships, fundraising, and strategic communications within the development department.

Prior to joining Out & Equal, Dave was Communications Manager in the Alumni Relations Department at Stanford University in Palo Alto, CA, and 10 years as VP of development and marketing for United Way of the Bay Area. He earned BA degrees in Journalism and Communications from Central Michigan University. Before moving to California he worked six years as a promotional writer for Oldsmobile Division of General Motors Corporation in East Lansing, MI. Dave lives in San Francisco. 

Michele Horn Davis
Corporate Accounts Manager

Born in San Jose, California and raised on the streets of San Francisco, Michele Horn Davis is a true Northern Californian. Michele has been active in the transgender community since 1999 when she and her partner moved to Los Angeles. She helped organize workshops for the Forward Motion conference for FTMs (female to male transgender individuals) in Burbank and from that conference FTM Alliance of Los Angeles was formed, of which she was a founding board member.

While on the board of FTMALA, Michele served on the fund and organizational development committees, and as Treasurer.  She started and ran the support group for LOTs (Love Ones of Trans-persons) group for 8 years providing support for hundreds of partners, parents and allies of FTMs. During that time Michele also planned and executed all of the events and fundraising activities that FTMALA became known for, including the annual Pool Party and Picnic, Holiday Party, Transgender Day of Remembrance and monthly social events.

For 8 years Michele also served on the planning committee for Trans Unity (the first Pride event in the United States created by and for the transgender community). During her time with Trans Unity, she was co-chair, workshop coordinator and program designer. Trans Unity created two awards specifically to recognize her contribution to the event and the community. She received the Chairman’s award in 2006 and 2007 and the Unsung Heroes award on the 10th anniversary of the event in 2009. In 2004, she received the Ohana Award from Asian Pacific Islanders for Human Rights.

Michele has worked as a fund development professional for the past 10 years, lending her expertise in fundraising and event planning to organizations such as Pacific Asia Museum, Metropolitan Community Churches, Openhouse, the Transgender Law Center and API Wellness. Michele lives in San Francisco with her partner, Masen Davis, the executive director of the Transgender Law Center and their beautiful dog, Kali. She is excited to bring her skills and experience to the development team at Out & Equal.

Maria De La O

Book Publicist

April Hawkins
Public Relations Manager

April helps guide Out & Equal in strategic communications and public relations efforts. She also provides several Out & Equal internal departments with expert communications and marketing support. She writes speeches and event scripts for senior staff and the Board of Directors.

April has a Master's degree in Middle Eastern History from Tel Aviv University, and a French language diploma from Paris IV - La Sorbonne. She published Sending Religion to the Corner: Franco-Maghrebis and Islam in France in 2011. She previously worked with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Tel Aviv, and was a translation project manager for several years. April has been published in several newspapers and magazines including Echelon Magazine, Girlfriends and Le Berry Républicain. She speaks French and basic Spanish, Arabic, and Hebrew. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the NorCal National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association.

Danny Katende
Receptionist

Danny Katende joined the Out & Equal staff as an intern in June 2011 and was hired full-time as a Receptionist on January 1, 2012.  He was born and raised in Uganda, East Africa. In March 2011 he relocated and settled in California from Nairobi, Kenya.

Danny began singing at a young age.  In 2001 he began his career in music as a full time Performing and Recording Gospel Singer/Musician.  He obtained a Diploma/Certificate in Music, Dance and Drama at Kampala College of Music in Uganda in 2006.  He also worked as a back-up vocalist for Fr. Anthony Musaala, a Pam Award winner in Uganda for ten years.   Together, they were awarded the Pearl of Africa Music Awards for gospel music in 2006 and 2007.  Danny recorded eight albums with Fr. Anthony and also released his first solo album in 2008.

Danny co-founded the Spectrum Uganda Initiatives, a gay organization advocating for gay rights, HIV prevention and providing counseling for the LGBTI community In Uganda in 2005.  He served as treasurer for the organization and was a gay rights activist, advocating for sexual minorities.

Danny’s passion is to spread love to the world through his soulful music. His hobbies include going to the movies, traveling, hiking, performing, recording and composing songs that achieve his dream and vision.

J. Kevin Jones
Chief Development Officer

Kevin Jones joined Out & Equal Workplace Advocates as Deputy Director in February 2009 after spending nearly 25 years in the corporate world, most recently as a managing director in risk management for Citigroup in New York City (NYC).

During his 11 years at Citi, Kevin developed a passion for LGBT workplace equality issues.  He worked closely with the Office of Workforce Diversity on issues specific to LGBT inclusion, and was the founding co-chair of the company's national and metro NYC employee resource groups (ERGs).

Kevin first developed a relationship with Out & Equal while at Cit. He was instrumental in launching the Metro New York regional affiliate in 2001, served on Out & Equal’s Board of Directors from 2002 to 2006, co-chaired the 2004 Workplace Summit in Tempe, AZ, and co-chaired the Summit's Workshop Committee for five years. 

Outside of his Out & Equal responsibilities, Kevin serves on the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Business Council, and the board of directors of True Child, an action tank of leading experts that promotes gender transformative approaches to reproductive health, gender-based violence, and educational achievement.  Kevin serves on advisory boards including the Stonewall National Museum & Archives and Equal India Alliance. 

Kevin is originally from a small town near Pittsburgh, PA. He holds a juris doctorate, a master’s degree in business administration and a bachelor’s degree from Washington University in St. Louis, MO.   He currently lives in Petaluma, CA where he is an active and proud member of St. John’s Episcopal Church.

Kevin is in a registered domestic partnership (working on marriage) with his partner of over sixteen years, Tony De Sousa.

Nancy Mace
Director of Community Empowerment

Nancy Mace joined the Out & Equal team with more than twenty-five years of experience helping corporations and nonprofits grow and develop. She has held executive-level roles in human resources at Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream, Marine Terminals Corporation and Barclays Global Investors. She has extensive experience in training design and facilitation, program design and management, cultural engagement, talent management and leadership development. She has worked in-house and as an independent consultant for a variety of organizations, including BlackRock, Coca-Cola, HP, Clorox, Oracle, Swedish Institute of Management and SF Aids Walk. Nancy has created and led multiple leadership universities, and designed and facilitated programs in conflict resolution, strategic planning, and performance consulting, and many other subjects. Nancy has combined her love of travel with her career on several global assignments.

As the Director of Community Empowerment with Out & Equal, Nancy draws on her vast experience and personal passion to support, engage, resource and coach the networks of committed volunteers who are bringing Out & Equal’s mission of ending workplace discrimination for the LGBT community to life. Her role centers on rewarding collaborations with our Regional Affiliates, Employee Resource and Affinity Groups and LGBT partner organizations.

Nancy served on the Board of Directors for ten plus years at the YMCA in San Francisco’s Tenderloin neighborhood. She first connected with Out & Equal when becoming certified as an LGBT diversity trainer. It was from there that she began working with employee resource groups and leadership in strategic planning and team effectiveness.

A longtime and committed ally to the LGBT community, Nancy loves travelling to new places and embarking on myriad adventures.  She holds a BA in Sociology and Organizational Development from the University of California, Davis.  She lives and laughs daily with her partner, Andy, and their spunky rescue dog, Biscuit, in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Brianna Nelson
Communications Associate

Brianna joined Out & Equal in August 2012 as an intern, to assist with communications in preparation for the Out & Equal Workplace Summit and became a full-time member of the team in March 2013. Prior, she interned in the publishing industry with Sterling Lord Literistic, Inc. and August Home Publishing. She has also spent the last six years tutoring writing and making the café rounds as a barista wherever she’s lived. Once upon a time, she founded the Gay Straight Alliance at her small town, Midwestern high school and has been passionate about and active in LGBTQ advocacy since. In May 2012, she received her BA in English and Film Studies from Bryn Mawr College with cum laude honors.

Dan Seda
Clerical Events Assistant

Daniel Lawrence Smith
Senior Development Manager, Individual Giving & Grants

Tony Talbot
Chief Financial Officer

Q Wilson
Senior Program Associate

Q joined the Out & Equal Workplace Advocates staff in September 2010 as Senior Program Associate.

Born and raised in Columbia, SC, Q attended the University of South Carolina. While there he earned a bachelor's degree in Journalism and Mass Communications with an emphasis in Public Relations and a minor in Business Administration.

While attending USC, Q served two terms as President of the Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian Alliance and as Student Liaison for the South Carolina Gay and Lesbian Pride Movement. Later moving on to serve as a board member and earning SCGLPM's Volunteer of the Year Award as well as the University’s Changing the Face of Diversity Award.

Q spent the previous five years, based out of Charlotte, NC, working in content management for a streaming media company and developing a passion for public speaking. Always ready to embark on a new adventure, he relocated to San Francisco to join Out & Equal's team.

Teddy Witherington
Chief Marketing Officer

Teddy joined the team at Out and Equal at the end of June, 2012.

Teddy was born in London, England on April 13, 1962 and following graduation from college spent 10 years working as a lawyer in the City of London specializing in private client and non-profit law.

In 1991, Teddy joined the London LGBT March and Festival, and was its executive Director until July 1997. During that period, the London event grew from a local one attracting 40,000 people to become Europe’s largest annual free music festival, attracting 280,000 to London’s Clapham Common in June 1997. Under his leadership, London became the venue of the first-ever EuroPride Festival in 1992.

Following an extensive worldwide search, the San Francisco LGBT Pride Parade and Celebration hired Teddy in August1997 as its first-ever Executive Director. In his nine years as Executive Director of San Francisco Pride approximately $900,000 was granted back to over 100 community groups and charities and the event transformed into a multi-cultural festival. Teddy then served as Executive Director of San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus from 2006 – 2012. During his tenure the capacity of the organization more than doubled and the Chorus embarked upon the ground-breaking California Freedom Tour in the wake of Prop 8.

Teddy‘s other accomplishments include being the co-founder of the European Pride Organizers Association in 1993 (which he led as President for its first four years), being one of the founding directors of the London Pride Arts Festival and serving on the Finance Committee of the International Lesbian & Gay Association. In 1997, Teddy was an honorary Marshal in the Santa Fe Gay Pride Parade and in 1999, he was awarded the honor of being the Grand Marshal of the very first Reno Gay Pride Parade. In 2000, he received the “Man of the Year” award from CAPI (Consolidated Association of Pride). In June 2000 Teddy was elected to the Board of the San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau, which he served on for three years.

From 1997 – 2000 Teddy was Co-President of InterPride, the international association of gay pride coordinators. He stepped down as President in October 2000, was re-elected in 2002 and served for a further year. San Francisco Mayor, Willie Brown acknowledged Teddy’s accomplishments by proclaiming March 6, 2002 as Teddy Witherington Day in San Francisco. In June 2008, Teddy became the very first recipient of The Teddy Witherington Award presented to him at San Francisco City Hall by Mayor Gavin Newsom for his outstanding service to the Pride movement.

Teddy’s culinary skills are renowned and he is a contributor to San Francisco Bay Times. He is also an avid tennis player. Teddy and his partner Rob live at home in San Francisco.