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
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
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
Jess BurnsLee, Ph.D., holds a PhD in Anthropology and brings more than 15 years of teaching experience, including over a decade at the college level. Their work focuses on LGBTQ+ competencies, inclusivity training, and the intersection of identity, culture, and community. Jess has extensive experience working with businesses, nonprofits, and community organizations to build more inclusive and effective environments.
Jess is the Founder and Board Chair Emeritus of SafeZone Utah, where they helped design and deliver the organization’s curriculum, workshops, and community programming. Through this work, Jess has played a key role in advancing LGBTQ+ education and supporting organizations in creating cultures of belonging, equity, and respect.
Mitski Avalox, Southern Utah Chapter Chair, she|her
mitski.avalox@safezoneutah.org
Bio Coming Soon!
Ed Turner, Board Advisory Fairy, he|him
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 Co-Chair, she|her
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.
Ally Hardgrave, Membership Co-Chair, she|her
ally.hardgrave@utahLGBTQchamber.org
Ally Hardgrave is a Utah-based creative strategist with 12+ years of experience in agency-side digital marketing and advertising. She now partners with small and mid-size brands to align strategy, storytelling, and execution through consulting and content production.
Sonya Droguett, Marketing & PR Chair, she|her
sonya.droguett@UtahLGBTQchamber.org
Sonya Droguett 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 founded 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
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
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!
MAY BRYANT, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF REALNESS, THEY|THEM
may.bryant@utahLGBTQchamber.org
May has been an active member of Utah’s business, advocacy, and political community since moving to Utah in 2012, and has been engaged with the Utah LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce since 2021. May works as a professional development consultant, helping local nonprofits strengthen and sustain their fundraising efforts. May is also an advocate who engages with Utah legislators to advance policies that protect and empower LGBTQ+ Utahns.  Nationally, they work as a Development professional for the Working Families Party, an organization building political power for the multiracial working class.
May’s nonprofit career began at the Utah Pride Center, where they discovered passion for community-centered work. They have also served as Director of Development for Volunteers of America, Utah, and as Director of Major Giving at UAF Legacy Health (formerly Utah AIDS Foundation).
Before their nonprofit career, they were deeply involved in local Democratic politics with The Stonewall Democrats caucus and as State Secretary of the Utah Democratic Party -- the first openly nonbinary person elected to party leadership!
May is a devoted cat parent and unapologetic fantasy/sci-fi nerd. They lived on the Pacific, Atlantic, and Gulf coasts -- from Southern California to Savannah, Georgia, to Biloxi, Mississippi -- but Utah has truly become home. May’s superpowers include crafting a perfect cup of coffee and getting way too emotionally invested in fictional universes.
Jacob Buck, Board of Directors, HE|THEY
jacob.buck@utahLGBTQchamber.org
Jacob is currently involved in building a tech platform that will help lgbtqia+ individuals and allies find safe and affirming spaces to give back. He also recently signed a contract with Outloud sports to be their city manager here in Salt Lake City! Jacob is also the founder of Stonewall Sports SLC and actively volunteers on a slew of Queer community events.
Jacob loves to dance, play sports, and go to many events. He enjoys the queens, dolls, and kings at local drag shows. They also enjoy exploring new places, people, and food. What’s your favorite appetizer?
Emily Lauren, Board of Directors, ANY PRONOUNS
emily.lauren@utahLGBTQchamber.org
Emily Lauren is a creative strategist, marketing specialist and founder of the creative platform Beauty & Rage. With over a decade of experience in beauty, branding and visual storytelling, she helps businesses and artists develop authentic, impactful identities. Much of Emily’s work focuses on supporting entrepreneurs, creatives and organizations within marginalized and underrepresented communities through strategic storytelling and brand development.Â
She also is an Art Teacher, educating children how to unlock their creative voice through art. In addition, through a trauma informed yoga certification, she leads empowering sessions for women at a community center and separately, she guides transformative practices for individuals in addiction recovery at Fellowship Sober Hall.
Emily is driven by the belief that creativity and community have the power to transform how we see ourselves and how we care for one another.
KRISTIN MIDYETT, BOARD OF DIRECTORS, SHE|HER
kristin.midyett@utahLGBTQchamber.org
Kristin Midyett has been out and visible as a member of the queer community since she was an adolescent. She has a long history of engaging in social justice, activism,  advocacy leading to policy change, community building,  service, mentorship of others,  and program development. Professionally she has worked as a crime scene investigator and Licensed Clinical Social Worker.
Kristin has been self employed since 2014 initially starting a private behavioral health practice serving the queer and other marginalized communities and later starting a second business to support her peers in removing barriers to self-employment.
In her free time she plays competitive tennis, social pickleball and enjoys cooking for her friends and family. She is also an avid traveler, nature lover, and hot springs enthusiast.
SARIAH BUSBY, BOARD OF DIRECTORS, SHE|HER
sariah.busby@utahLGBTQchamber.org
Sariah Busby, is a queer woman, poet, and six-time certified life coach, devoted to helping others find belonging in the tender space between who they were and who they are becoming.  Her work centers on guiding women and LGBTQ+ folks through life’s sacred transitions - because she has walked that path herself.
Advocating for visibility and equity in Utah’s queer community is how Sariah gives back the safety she once went searching for. From supporting young Trans family members to participating in local queer and women-owned businesses and networks, Sariah shows up to create spaces where people are free to be themselves, and where equity isn’t just a concept - it’s lived, every day.
Melissa Pistorius, BOARD OF DIRECTORS, SHE|HER
melissa.pistorius@utahLGBTQchamber.org
Tenille Taggart, BOARD OF DIRECTORS, SHE|HE
tenille.taggart@utahLGBTQchamber.org
Tenille is consistently involved in advancing equity and inclusion initiatives that promote representation of women, LGBTQ+, and minority communities in local leadership. She has worked to strengthen financial literacy and stability among small businesses and families through tailored financial guidance.
Tenille co-authored the first longitudinal study on transgender youth and gender-affirming hormones and is committed to continuing to fight for Trans Rights.
He is also a powerful influencer - Through her communications platforms, which reach more than 40,000 followers, she promotes local content and spotlights queer-owned community businesses.
Tenille loves animals and is very active with ensuring that sheltered puppies find good homes. Dancing, ATV’ing, and great down to earth fun are some of his life passions.
Tracey Dean, Board Chair Emeritus, she|her
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.