2025 Annual Meeting
Welcome to the Pride Bands Alliance 2025 Annual Meeting. The Board of Directors respectfully submits these materials to the Assembly of Delegates ahead of our November Annual Meeting.
Please find below all the information you need to consider for voting during the Annual Meeting to be held Saturday, November 15, 2025, via Zoom. Scroll down to see each item or click one of the buttons below to jump to a specific topic. If you have questions prior to the meeting, please ask the Officers.
Saturday, November 15, 2025
USA: 4 p.m. EST / 3 p.m. CST / 2 p.m. MST / 1 p.m. PST
UK: 9 p.m. GMT / AUS: 8 a.m. AEST Sunday Nov 16
Listed in Eastern Standard Time
| 4:00 PM | Call to Order / Welcome / Roll Call / Mission Statement | Brandon A. Lujan |
| 4:03 PM | President’s Opening Remarks | David Doan |
| 4:05 PM | 2024 Annual Meeting Minutes | Brandon A. Lujan |
| 4:08 PM | Treasurer & Financial Update | Denny Richard |
| 4:13 PM | Presentation of Officer Candidates / Q&A / Vote #1 | Denny Richard & Len Ulibarri |
| 4:25 PM | Strategy & Development Report | Marek Szeszycki |
| 4:30 PM | DEIAB Report | Patrice Mustaafaa |
| 4:35 PM | Communications Report | Brandon A. Lujan |
| 4:40 PM | Vote #1 Results | Denny Richard & Len Ulibarri |
| 4:42 PM | Presentation of Director Candidates / Q&A | Denny Richard & Len Ulibarri |
| 5:00 PM | New Member Applications | Len Ulibarri |
| 5:15 PM | 2027 Conference Q&A | Sam Aquino Pogue |
| 5:30 PM | Vote #2 Director / Membership / Conference | Denny Ricard & Len Ulibarri |
| 5:33 PM | Membership Report | Len Ulibarri |
| 5:38 PM | Conferences Report | Sam Aquino Pogue & Katy Okamoto |
| 5:43 PM | Special Events Report | Courtney von Bergen |
| 5:48 PM | Rose Parade Update | David Doan |
| 5:53 PM | Vote #2 Results | Denny Richard & Len Ulibarri |
| 5:58 PM | Q&A | David Doan |
| 6:03 PM | Closing Remarks | David Doan |
| 6:04 PM | Adjournment | David Doan |
If any names are incorrect please contact the Pride Bands Secretary immediately.
| Atlanta Freedom Bands | Chris Sego | Jason Morley |
| BandTogether | Jerry Ferris | Kevon Hall |
| Central Florida Sounds of Freedom Band & Color Guard | Chris Martin | Nicole Edwards |
| Charlotte Pride Band | Christopher Belarde | Branden Nicholson |
| Cleveland Freedom Band | Bradley Speck | Will Legare |
| Columbus Pride Bands | Clay Parlette | Kevin Vaselakes |
| D.C. Different Drummers | Kyle Ruempler | Tim Schmeling |
| Desert Overture Wind Symphony | Kade Barry | Mark Martinez |
| Desert Winds Freedom Band | Dencil White | Harvey Zuckman |
| Encantada, The Band of Enchantment | Kathy Morris | Laurel Partin |
| Flower City Pride Band | Elizabeth Kirchner | Judy Ames |
| Freedom Trail Band of Boston | Erin Frawley | LA Beitenman |
| Gay Freedom Band of Los Angeles | Alison Jordan | David Gonzalez |
| Gayly Forward | Colin Savoy (1) | N/A |
| Houston Pride Band | Chris Foster | Lisa Mace |
| Lakeside Pride Music Ensembles | Brandon Strawn | Jordan Francisco |
| Mid America Freedom Band | Christian Montes | Jessie Davis |
| Mile High Freedom Bands | Eli Urken | Heather Smyth |
| Minnesota Freedom Band | Betsy Preston (2) | |
| Oak Lawn Band | Jay Scott | Ryan Goodrich |
| Philadelphia Freedom Band | Gene Terry | Ryan Fitzpatrick |
| Pride of Indy Bands | Andrew Bochnicka | Lindy Carlstrom |
| Pride of San Antonio Showband | Andy Cherolis | Rene Echávarri |
| Queen City Freedom Band | Christopher Fisher | Jeff Martin |
| Queer Big Apple Corps | Dana Robbins | Julie Walsh |
| Rainbow City Performing Arts | Brendan Byron | Michael Palacioz |
| Rose City Pride Bands | Derek Lougee | Matt Ellis |
| San Francisco Pride Band | Doug Litwin | Jimmy Santosa |
| South Florida Pride Wind Ensemble | Blake Velde | Rick Vaughan |
| Tampa Bay Pride Band | Bridgette Vidal | Lorrie Foley |
| Triangle Pride Band | Demetrius Adams | Quince Mobley |
2025 Annual Assembly of Delegates Minutes
2025 Officer Candidates
Please review the bios and videos from our Pride Bands Board candidates on the 2025 Annual Meeting page. To speed up the election process during the annual meeting we are asking for question in advance from the delegation. Please submit your questions by the end of day Thursday, November 13, 2025. Questions may be answered during the annual meeting as each candidate will be allowed a short overview of why they are running. Candidates may also be allowed to respond directly to your question via email or during the meeting.
David Doan
for President
Marek Szeszycki
for President
Brandon A. Lujan
for Secretary
Jacob Lowry
for Secretary
David Doan
Candidate for President
2-Year Term
David Doan (he/him) is an accomplished healthcare technology and transformation executive, nonprofit leader, and lifelong musician dedicated to advancing equity, inclusion, and community through music.
David has been actively involved with Pride Bands Alliance for over 15 years, having served on its Board for the past 10 years and attended every Pride Bands Annual Conference since 2010. He has also represented Pride Bands and the LGBTQ+ music community on the international stage, performing in three Gay Games.
A proud member of the Gay Freedom Band of Los Angeles (GFBLA), David previously served as its President for six years and spent a decade on its Board, helping to guide the organization’s strategic and artistic growth. Over the years, he has also performed with the Freedom Trail Band of Boston, Lakeside Pride Music Ensembles, and the San Francisco Pride Band, building connections across Pride Bands network.
A versatile musician, David plays the flute, alto saxophone, and bassoon, having received a full scholarship for Music Performance during his undergraduate studies. His musicianship and leadership reflect the same dedication and discipline that define his professional and volunteer life.
Outside of Pride Bands, David serves as Director, Consult Partner at Kyndryl, where he leads strategic transformation initiatives and advises healthcare and technology executives on innovation and digital enablement. Known for his trust-based approach and collaborative leadership style, he’s recognized for creating lasting value for clients, building diverse teams, and developing next-generation leaders.
David holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, a Master of Science in Health Services Administration, a Master of Business Administration, and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Health Services. He also holds multiple professional certifications: Board Certified Medical Affairs Specialist (BCMAS), Product Marketing Certified (PMC-II), Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified Scrum Master (CSM), and Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO).
Beyond his professional career, David has devoted his life to nonprofit service and advocacy. He currently serves as President of Pride Bands Alliance, President of the Project Management Institute – Los Angeles Chapter (PMI-LA), and Co-President of the Ascend Los Angeles Chapter, and is also Co-Chair of the Asian & Pacific Islander Caucus for Public Health (APIC) under the American Public Health Association (APHA). Across all his roles, David advances causes he deeply believes in – health equity, mental health, DEI, sustainability, and social justice.
As the first gay Asian President of Pride Bands Alliance, David continues to champion belonging, visibility, and leadership development within the organization, ensuring it thrives as a global voice for the LGBTQ+ music community for generations to come.
Thank you for your trust, your partnership, and your vote.
David C. Doan, PhD, MBA, RN, BCMAS, PMC-II, PMP, CSM, CSPO
President, Pride Bands Alliance
Marek Szeszycki
Candidate for President
2-Year Term
Marek Szeszycki (he/him) is running for President, bringing a unique blend of executive-level strategic competence and a deep commitment to empowering volunteers while securing the organization’s future. A dedicated member since 2009, he currently plays trumpet with the San Francisco Pride Band.
Identity, Vision, and Flexible Leadership
Pride Bands is Marek’s safe harbor. The community gave him the unwavering support needed to step fully into his truth as a trans man and conquer health challenges. It is from this personal experience that his commitment to the mission is fueled by uplifting and supporting member organizations and fostering LGBTQ+ safe spaces.
He views the Pride Bands Alliance as the tide that lifts all ships, ensuring that member and partner organizations are connected and supported as they sail toward the shared north star of Music, Visibility, and Pride.
Marek’s leadership philosophy is distinguished by a flexible approach that adapts to the specific needs of a team or situation, always putting people first. He is a curious leader who asks, meeting people where they are, and who makes decisions with rationale aligned with organizational values.
Sustaining Operations, Forging the Future
Marek empowers teams to uphold everyday business needs while concurrently executing high-impact strategic initiatives. This approach ensures the Alliance maintains critical operations while building a sustainable and relevant future.
He brings 16 years of experience from his roles as an Experience Design Leader at Gap Inc., Wayfair, and now at Wells Fargo, where he coaches and develops global teams to successfully execute multi-million-dollar cost-saving initiatives and scale visionary business strategies.
He translates this focus directly to the Alliance:
- Empowering Collaboration & Talent Development: Marek leverages his professional expertise to develop volunteer leaders. He has lent his workshop facilitation skills to guide the development of membership events, including conference workshops, ensuring volunteer efforts are high-impact and results-driven.
- Operational Efficiency: As an expert Facilitator, he brings the skills necessary for efficient Board governance, focusing volunteer time most effectively.
During his three years on the Board, Marek has held key roles (Vice President, Director of Strategy and Development, and Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Access, and Belonging (DEIAB)) and has empowered board members and volunteers to deliver foundational, quantifiable results:
- Securing the Future (Financial & Strategic Health): He led the Strategy and Development Committee to initiate a member and donor system to automate and secure long-term financial health, and to launch new revenue streams, including the Equality Vines partnership. He is also leading the organization-wide review of its Mission, Vision, and Values (MVV) to position the Alliance for its 45th anniversary and beyond.
- Visibility & Growth: He enabled this year’s Midwest Clinic exhibition booth team, which will expand the Alliance’s national footprint to more than 18,000 attendees from 50 states and 40 countries. This work prepares the organization to leverage and sustain the expected growth from high-visibility moments like the Tournament of Roses Parade.
- Membership Value: He successfully revived the DEIAB committee that created the DEIAB Playbook and implemented member-led Campfire Chats. He also led the Membership Competitive Analysis, Synthesis, and Plan to inform how to improve value for all organizations, directly addressing challenges like “limited connections between members.”
Marek commits to making Pride Bands Alliance his sole volunteer focus as President. This dedication ensures he will lead in-service, empowering the Board, volunteers, and member organizations to achieve shared success.
(Marek previously served on the Board of Directors for Lakeside Pride Music Ensembles and the Artistic Advisory Committee for the San Francisco Pride Band, championing member feedback. He was also a top fundraiser cyclist for AIDS/LifeCycle. He lives in Oakland, CA, with his spouse Jae and their dog, Airis.)
Brandon A. Lujan
Candidate for Secretary
2-Year Term
Brandon A. Lujan (he/him) is a passionate band geek who joined the Mile High Freedom Bands (MHFB) in 2005 and was quickly elected to the board of directors just a year later. Two years later he attended his first Pride Bands Alliance conference Silver in St. Louis back in 2007 and has been hooked on Pride Bands Alliance ever since. In his time with both MHFB and Pride Bands he has served in the following positions.
- MHFB Secretary: 2006-2008
- MHFB Vice President: 2008-2009
- MHFB President: 2009-2011 and 2016-2021
- Pride Bands Alliance Director: 2019-2024
- MHFB Business Manager: 2021-Present
- Pride Bands Alliance Secretary: 2024-Present
Brandon currently serves as a Secretary on the Pride Band Alliance Board of Directors and leads the Communication Committee and serves on the Strategy and Development Committee. He recently was one of the conference Co-Coordinators of the 2023 Pride Bands Alliance Conference Rocky Mountain Dreams in Denver, Colorado.
Brandon is a rare native of Colorado growing up in the Denver area. Music has always played an important role in his life from his early school days all the way to today. He is a man of many talents and plays several instruments within the MHFB. He plays several different instruments including Horn, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, and Tenor & Bari Saxophone. Most recently he play Bass Clarinet at the Something Wicked conference in South Florida.
In 2015, Brandon met his husband Zephaniah, who is also a member of the MHFB in the Horn section. In his spare time, he loves to cook for family and friends. Brandon is a classically trained chef and in 2012 earned his culinary degree from the Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts in Boulder, Colorado. While you will not see him working in the kitchen any longer, you can still eat his food at most MHFB events.
Brandon was nominated for Secretary of Pride Bands Alliance.
Jacob Lowry
Candidate for Secretary
2-Year Term
Candidate for Director*
1-Year Term
*(if not elected as Secretary)
Jacob Lowry
Greetings,
My name is Jacob Lowry, a ten-year member of the Columbus Pride Bands. In the public sector, I am a Human Resources Manager for the Ohio Department of Development Disabilities. A personal quality I have adopted from this profession is the ability to actively listen to the needs of others, and have difficult conversations. I look forward to the opportunity to bring my skills and knowledge the Pride Bands Alliance Board, as being a member of Columbus Pride Bands has meant so much to me. Fun fact: I met my now husband, Aaron, at a Capital Pride Bands of Columbus rehearsal in 2018 and we have been in love ever since.
Back to business! I served as the Sales Director for fiscal years 2023-2025. During this time, utilizing cost-effective resources, I successfully brought livestream capabilities to the 2024 Pride Bands Alliance conference, “The Heart of it All”. A goal of mine, for serving on the Pride Bands Alliance Board, would be to make livestream capabilities a universal offering for all pride bands. Working with governing bands to review budget allowances and individual technology needs, based on performance venue contractual offerings.
While I would be more than happy to serve on any committee with the Board, my particular interest areas are DEIAB, Conferences or Special Events, and/or Strategy & Development. If you any additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me via phone or email: 419-234-5604, jlowry0518@gmail.com. Thank you, all!
Best Regards,
Jacob Lowry
Columbus Pride Bands
2025 Director Candidates
Please review the bios and videos from our Pride Bands Board candidates on the 2025 Annual Meeting page. To speed up the election process during the annual meeting we are asking for question in advance from the delegation. Please submit your questions by the end of day Thursday, November 13, 2025. Questions may be answered during the annual meeting as each candidate will be allowed a short overview of why they are running. Candidates may also be allowed to respond directly to your question via email or during the meeting.
Courtney von Bergen
for Director
Jacob Lowry
for Director
if not elected as Secretary
Katy Okamoto
for Director
Kevin Taylor
for Director
Patrice Mustaafaa
for Director
Courtney von Bergen
Incumbent Candidate for Director
2-Year Term
Courtney von Bergen (she/her)
Education/Background:
- BS Cell/Molecular Biology, California Polytechnic State University
- Kappa Kappa Psi
- MS Pharmacology, University of Colorado
- Profession: Clinical Trial Manager for global oncology studies
Extra Curriculars:
- Denver Concert Band – bassoon
- Castle Rock Orchestra – percussion
- Denver Feminist Chorus – alto 2
- Colorado Swing Dance Club – board member and instructor
- Englewood Summer Theater Program – orchestra director
Although my formal education has primarily centered around science and healthcare, I have
been fortunate to keep music in my life for over 30 years. Currently I spend my extra curricular
time working with various local community music organizations in addition to running a lindy hop
swing dance scene and directing a city-sponsored music theater program. I live in Denver, CO
with my two cats, enjoy the outdoors, and travel as much as possible.
Since joining Pride Bands Alliance, I have worked on the Rebranding Committee, 40th
Anniversary Committee, and Development Committee. I am currently serving as the Special
Events Committee Director where I’ve supported preparations for the 2025 US Presidential
Inauguration Parade (canceled), WorldPride DC 2025, and the first ever color guard only
exhibition event at the Sin City Classic in collaboration with Pride Cheerleading Association.
Currently the Special Events Committee is working to grow Sin City Classic Color Guard
participation, provide international exchange opportunities at Gay Games Valencia, and create
the largest queer marching unit ever at the Tournament of Roses parade.
If re-elected to a third term on the Pride Bands board, I intend to continue working to make the
organization’s name more visible to the community-at-large, to grow Pride Bands by adding new
member organizations, and to promote LGBTQAI+ music. I have a specific passion for
investigating new ways to to build collaborations with partner organizations such as Pride
Cheerleading Association and GALA Choruses, and to reach a wider audience both
domestically and internationally.
Katy Okamoto
Incumbent Candidate for Director
2-Year Term
Katy Okamoto pronouns: any
Kevin Taylor
Incumbent Candidate for Director
2-Year Term
Kevin Taylor
I would like your vote to be re-elected to the Pride Bands Board of Directors. I am currently a member of the Membership and Special Events Committees. I look forward to continuing to give back to an organization that has been such an important part of my life.
Pride Bands Alliance
- 1990- First conference in Denver
- 1993- Organizer of Dallas conference
- 1996- Planning Committee San Antonio Conference
- 2000-2006- Pride Bands Board of Directors
- 2017- Planning Committee of Houston conference
- 2017 to present- Pride Bands Board of Directors
- 2021- Planning Committee of the Houston conference
Local Bands
- 1989-2001- Member of the Oak Lawn Band. I was on the board for most of my time there with several terms as president, and several as Treasurer
- 2001-present- Member of the Houston Pride Band. I was on the board for about twelve years where I served multiple terms as president. I have also headed the Concert Planning Committee and served as Section Leader
Personal
- Born and have lived in Texas my entire life
- Organizer of SaxWorx, the Houston Pride Band’s saxophone ensemble
- Principal Travel Functional Consultant for SAP Concur
- Member of the Burning Band at the annual Burning Man festival
- Avid professional soccer fan and amateur soccer player
Patrice Mustaafaa
Incumbent Candidate for Director
2-Year Term
I have, with great passion and love, been serving and volunteering in the Pride Bands Alliance community for 11 years. Five of these years as a Pride Bands Alliance Board Director. I identify as a Gay American Muslim of African Descent, Bi-Racial and Lesbian. My pronouns are She/her/hers. As a flautist, I have used my instrument to infuse color with my rainbow-colored flute collection. I am running for re-election has I want to continue representing and doing the work to grow and nurture our community. To create safe spaces through all the challenging times we face. I want to help champion the growth of our member bands and expand our visibility in the world.
I have shared across multiple member bands, the journey and mission of helping to promote LGBTQ+ visibility, music and pride.
San Francisco Pride Band
- Band-Aide Volunteer
- Volunteer Musician – Flautist
- Symphonic Band
- Marching Band
- Pep Band
- Dance -along-Nutcracker
- Pride Month
- Board of Directors
- Member-at-Large
- Director of Development
- Member DEI Committee
Lakeside Pride Music Ensembles
- Band-Aide Volunteer
- Volunteer Musician – Flautist
- Symphonic Band
- Marching Band
- Pride Month
- Board of Directors
- Member-at-Large
- Director of Member Resources
- Member DEI Committee
- Member LGBA Conference 2022
- Member Affinity Groups
- Social Justice Book Club
- BIPOC
Queer Big Apple Core
- Band-Aide Volunteer
- Volunteer Musician – Flautist
- Marching Band
- Pride Month
Pride Bands Alliance
- 2015 Indianapolis, IN – Member, Delegate
- 2016 Palm Springs, CA – Member, Delegate
- 2017 Houston, TX – Member, Delegate – cancelled due to hurricane
- 2018 Kansas City, MO – Member, Delegate
- 2019 Orlando, FL – Member, Delegate
- 2020 Portland, OR – Member, Board Director – cancelled due to Covid
- 2021 Houston, TX – Member, Board Director
- 2022 Chicago, IL – Member, Board Director
- 2023 Denver, CO – Member, Board Director
- 2024 Columbus, OH – Member, Board Director
- 2025 Ft. Lauderdale, FL – Member, Board Director
I am single, living in Chicago’s Northside, Rogers’ Park. I play and volunteer with Lakeside Pride Music Ensembles. I volunteer with their board as a Pride Bands Alliance Liaison. I have worked in the professional realm as an executive assistant for over 25 years, mostly with investment banks. I have lived in 11 states and 27 cities to date. I have always been very visibly involved and vocal about social justice and visibility for our queer family. I have contributed to multiple DEI workshops and trainings, as well as affinity groups. I intend to stay on the DEI committee and continue the work toward equality and inclusivity for every human being.
2027 Conference Proposal
Please review these the bid proposal from our friends from Rainbow City Performing Arts in Seattle, Washington. These video below serves the formal presentation to the Assembly of Delegates. A question and answer period will be held during the Annual Meeting for any concerns from Delegates. To expedite that Q&A period, please submit the questions using the link to the right. Questions are due End of Day by Thursday, November 13th, 2025.
2025 Committee Reports
Please review these reports from our Pride Bands Alliance committees. These documents serve as formal reports to the Assembly of Delegates. A question and answer period will be held during the Annual Meeting for any concerns from Delegates. To expedite that Q&A period, please email the committees directly.
