Board of Directors
The Utah LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors is the main governing body of your Chamber, whose responsibilities include financial authority, long-range planning, and creating a lasting brand and image for the Chamber. BoardofDirectors@UtahLGBTQChamber.org
Shannon White, Chamber Board Chair, he|him
Amalgamation Studio
shannon.white@UtahLGBTQchamber.org
Shannon moved from Indiana to Utah in 2016 after finishing his BFA in painting where he fell in love with large scale events and art projects. After several public art commissions, Shannon worked with local catering companies as an event planner and sales executive.
Now you can now find Shannon working with local queer owned businesses as a catering and events manager. This is also his 3rd year as the events chair for the Utah LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce where he loves creating safe spaces for local Allied and queer owned businesses to connect and thrive.
Shannon is fulfilling his lifelong goal of founding his own company, Amalgamation Studio, a creative consulting firm that plans large scale events and art installations.
Nick Arteaga, SafeZone Utah Board Chair, he|they
Nick is a fat, queer, bi+, nonbinary, neurodiverse polyamorous Chicanx from Southern California. They are a multimedia artist, keynote speaker, human rights activist, transgender rights advocate and total badass. When Nick isn’t working or volunteering his time, he enjoys being outdoors, eating vegan food, and painting homo things.
Cassie Aubrey, Board Secretary, she|her
Realty with Cassie
cassie.aubrey@UtahLGBTQChamber.org
Cassie stands out in the Utah real estate scene with her dedication to her clients’ success in homeownership. Understanding that each real estate transaction is a significant life event, Cassie crafts personalized strategies tailored to her client’s goals, guiding them through the market with ease and confidence.
Deeply valuing community and continuous personal growth, Cassie is an active member of the National Association of Realtors, the Women’s Council of Realtors, and serves on the board of directors for the Utah LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce. These roles enrich her expertise and enable her to provide exceptional service.
Jess BurnsLee, Board Treasurer, she|they
Bish Bash Consulting
Jess holds a PhD in Anthropology and has over 15 years of teaching experience, with 10+ years at the college level, specializing in LGBTQ+ competencies and inclusivity training. They have extensive experience in both academic and nonprofit settings, particularly in training businesses, organizations, and communities on LGBTQ+ issues. Jess is also a founding board member of SafeZone Utah and has been instrumental in the design and delivery of the organization’s curriculum and programming.
Mitski Avalox, Southern Utah Chapter Chair, she|her
mitski.avalox@safezoneutah.org
Bio Coming Soon!
Ed Turner, Board Advisory Fairy, he|him
Highland Street Antiques
ed.turner@utahLGBTQchamber.org
Ed Turner has always lived socially and economically in the LBGTQ+ community and brought his full identity to the world as a person living with HIV since 1982. Ed along with his husband and their dog Riley, are thrilled to be living their best lives in Utah. Ed enjoys travel and believes: ‘If you don’t go, you don’t see!'
Ed moved to Utah in 2017, having retired from a 32-year career at the Supreme Court of the United States as the Deputy Chief of Staff. Shortly after arriving in Utah, he served as the first Chair of the Board of Directors for Flourish Bakery — a non-profit teaching life skills and the art of baking to those recovering from substance use disorders with a history of incarceration.
Ed enjoys skiing (but not putting on ski boots), antiques (prior business owner), fundraising (started at age 10), and  choosing happiness (with a side of snarkiness).
Emily Potts, Membership Chair, she|her
Sugarhouse Coffee
emily.potts@utahLGBTQchamber.org
Emily is an ally business owner committed to providing safe and inclusive space for the queer community. Emily is personally committed to speaking up and being loud for all LGBTQIA+ people. Emily's staff is more than 90% queer and she fights for each one of them to ensure they all have the same rights as she does and feel safe walking down the street.
Sonya Drouguett, Marketing & PR Chair, she|her
sonya.drouguett@UtahLGBTQchamber.org
Sonya Drouguett is an entrepreneurial marketing and commercialization executive with 20+ years of driving award-winning clinical marketing strategies for Fortune 500 and international organizations in the genetic testing, biotechnology, and pharmaceutical industries. She also fouded Pups, her first business venture focused on elevating the experience of grooming, training, and daycare for dogs and their humans.
As a corporate executive and a female business owner, Sonya actively supports diversity and career development for women, minorities, and those in the LGBTQ+ community.
Kaitlyn Mahoney, Ambassador Chair, they|she
Under the Umbrella Bookstore
kaitlyn.mahoney@utahLGBTQchamber.org
Kaitlyn Mahoney is the owner of Under the Umbrella Bookstore. They discovered their queer identity primarily through books after making the decision to read more diversely in their mid-20s. Because the publishing industry does not prioritize the stories of queer folks or other marginalized identities, finding these stories was—and continues to be—more difficult than it should be. In January 2021, after years of waiting for someone else to do it, they decided to open a queer-specific bookstore where queer folks of all ages could gather and celebrate their identities in a safe, sober, and accessible space.
Connie Zeller, Events Chair, she|her
Salty Bee Events
connie.zeller@utahLGBTQchamber.org
Connie Zeller is the CEO and Founder of Salty Bee Events. A company that manages the details of what live and online events require for entrepreneurs, coaches & mid-size companies. With over 15-years in the business she has extensive experience helping people let go of doing it all while hosting their own events Connie partners with her clients by developing a plan for growth and profitability!
Ally Hardgrave, Board of Directors, SHE|HER
Carlos Toledo, Board of Directors, HE|HIM
Kinship
carlos.toledo@utahLGBTQchamber.org
Carlos currently serves as the Travel Team Manager at Kinship and the Publication Director for Millcreek City Lifestyle. A graduate of the University of Utah, his professional background includes roles as a Content Analyst at Google, a Social and Digital Manager at 4Life Research, and Head of Marketing and PR for the Discovery Gateway Children’s Museum.
Originally from Brazil, Carlos moved to Utah seven years ago. Outside of his professional life, he is a dedicated music enthusiast and "honorary Bey Hive member" who enjoys cycling and exploring Salt Lake City’s vibrant "hidden gem" food scene. He is passionate about community building and looks forward to supporting the Utah LGBTQ+ Chamber’s mission.
Jacob Buck, Board of Directors, HE|THEY
KRISTIN MIDYETT, BOARD OF DIRECTORS, SHE|HER
MAY BRYANT, BOARD OF DIRECTORS, THEY|THEM
SARIAH BUSBY, BOARD OF DIRECTORS, SHE|HER
Tenille Taggart, BOARD OF DIRECTORS, SHE|HE
Tracey Dean, Board Chair Emeritus, she|her
Tracey Dean Financial
tracey.dean@utahLGBTQchamber.org
Tracey S. Dean is a door opener, community engager, and passionate golfer. She is an insurance and financial advisor by trade but spends significant time championing rights for diversity and inclusion within the LGBTQ+ and other underserved communities in Utah.
Tracey’s journey began after nearly losing her life in a severe car accident. This caused her to take a deep, introspective look at her own path and to make a conscious change to help others. Tracey is proud to be a first-generation college graduate, attaining her bachelor’s degree in Business with a concentration in Finance from Westminster College. Currently, she runs a successful firm, Tracey Dean Financial in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Tracey resides in Millcreek with her partner Sherri and their rescue pup, Moxie. She adores her "bonus" kids and can't stop talking about her new grandbaby, Steele. If you cannot find them at home, look at the nearest golf course or pickleball court!
Chamber Staff
Liz Pitts, President & CEO, she|they
liz.pitts@utahLGBTQchamber.org
Liz is a Salt Lake City native and has for many years been a social justice activist and community volunteer in Utah and elsewhere.  Liz served as the Utah Pride Festival Director in 2017 & 2018. She was also on the founding Board of Project Rainbow Utah and was one of the producing directors of the Redrox Music Festival 2017-2021.
They earned bachelors degrees from the University of Utah in Women's Studies & Political Science and a Masters of Library and Information Science from the University of Washington. Liz is a librarian by trade and worked for many years in enterprise system sales, sales enablement, event management, and training before pivoting to a career in local LGBTQ+ non-profit work.
Liz is a mother to a most amazing non-binary young adult, Chance. She is also an avid skier, loves travel, live theater, all things outdoors, and operates a ski lift in their spare time.