Board of Directors
Christy Kennedy Messina, President
Christy is a former human resources professional with substantial experience in event planning, fundraising, strategic planning, and process improvement. She chaired Family Equality NY’s most successful gala in the organization’s history, raising over one and a half million dollars for LGBTQ+ families, and is part of the Family Equality Generations Video project.
Stan C. Kimer, Treasurer
Stan is long-time active lay leader within the Metropolitan Community Churches and the North Carolina Council of Churches. In addition to his ministries within the Christian community, Kimer served as IBM’s corporate global GLBT (Gay Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender) diversity program manager. His company, Total Engagement Consulting by Kimer, Inc., provides consulting services and training in LGBT diversity and career road-mapping and development.
Phyllis Aldrich, Clerk
Phyllis Aldrich is an experienced educator who teaches humanities in a town just north of Boston and cares deeply about her students and her colleagues. This mother of two children enjoys every moment of time spent with them. Phyllis is an avid reader and also enjoys running and hiking. She is, in addition, the mother of a gay son and is incredibly pleased to be involved with Gay Sons and Mothers.
Patricia Arredondo, PhD
Patricia is a psychologist and educator focusing on cultural issues and intersecting identities. She is president of the Arredondo Advisory Group, Faculty Fellow with Fielding Graduate University, and her books reflect research interests in diversity-driven initiatives, Latinx mental health, women’s leadership, and multicultural guidelines for professional development.
Alan Locher
Alan G. Locher is an experienced publicist with expertise in media relations, talent relations, and sales in the television, film, and tourism industries. Alan is recognized as a creative force known for cultivating and maintaining strong relationships, for creating unique experiences and opportunities, pitching and securing media coverage, and developing content. He is the founder and CEO of The Locher Room.
Oren Sherman
Oren is a prolific and influential artist/designer working in brand identity, interior design, and architecture. He is a graduate and current professor of the Rhode Island School of Design, specializing in entrepreneurship, and a senior designer at Elkus Manfredi Architecture in Boston.
Mark Von der Heide
Mark Von der Heide spent years at Walt Disney and Netflix in post-production as a liaison to the creative team for TV & film. After writing comic book shorts for Bob's Burgers, he produced his first documentary, "Pieces of Us," about LGBTQ hate crime survivors, and he remains passionate about telling LBGTQ stories that deepen the understanding of our shared humanity. “Love,” he says, “can truly erase hate when we all work together.”
Brian Teague
Brian Teague is a nonprofit development and fundraising strategist in the Greater Boston area. He currently serves as senior director of advancement at Bay Cove Human Services, one of the region’s largest human services nonprofits, where he leads all fundraising, marketing, and donor engagement strategy. Beyond his professional roles, Brian has demonstrated sustained leadership across the nonprofit and LGBTQIA+ communities.
Joe Zagame
Joe Zagame LCSW-R, CGP, leads myTherapyNYC, a New York City–based practice devoted to inclusive, relational psychotherapy for individuals, couples, and groups. As a member of the LGBTQ+ community and father of two, Joe brings both deep professional expertise and lived experience to his work, creating spaces of trust, connection, and affirmation for clients and their families.