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Board Members

Carl Hubbard: President

Carl joined the LGBT Center of SE Wisconsin Board because he believes in its mission of providing a welcoming, safe and supportive place for LGBTQ+ persons, their families and allies. He also believes that the educational, social, outreach and advocacy work of the Center is critically important and helps to create a more understanding, better informed and more equitable community.

Katie Abbott: Vice President

Katie has been a Racine resident all of her life, but most of her LGBTQ+ and gender advocacy has been in other cities across the state; she continues to work in Milwaukee as an academic adviser. She has a background in working with LGBTQ+ youth, leadership, and cultivating acceptance throughout communities at all levels. With degrees in psychology, english, and leadership, Katie hopes to create positive impacts across our community in a variety of ways, especially through program expansion and meaningful connections.

Brenda Payne: Treasurer

Brenda's relationship with the LGBT Center began in 2018 when she became enamored by the Board's diversity, the staff's talent, and the entire group's desire to serve others. The kindness, compassion and focus of the organization caused Brenda to jump in and eventually join the board, where she serves as the Treasurer. Brenda brings 12 years of risk management, analysis, communication and oversight experience. For the past 10 years, she has worked as an Independent Insurance Agent serving both Illinois agency in Illinois. She also serves as the Director on the board for the Fox Lake Richmond Area Chamber of Commerce in Illinois.

Siegfried Christoph: Secretary

Siegfried’s involvement with the LGBT Center began when he approached its director about someone who was close to him who needed a supportive environment to work through personal issues. During this time, he came to realize that tacit tolerance of the LGBTQ+ community was not meant to be an end in and of itself. Progress toward understanding, affirmation, and advocacy deserved a more active commitment. Moreover, the Center’s mission is very much attuned to the welfare of the larger communities in which we live. In that sense, serving on the board is a welcome opportunity to ‘make a difference’.

Gari Green: Director

Gari has been active at the Center since the beginning. During her time with the Center she has served as secretary, vice president, and now an active director. She has also helped write grants for the Center to ensure we can receive support from various organizations and people. Gari is a trans woman and a retired priest of the Episcopal Church.

Shelley Hickman: Director

Shelley joined the board of the LGBT Center of SE Wisconsin in the Spring of 2019. Having lived in southeastern Wisconsin with her wife Robin since 2003, she is passionate about being part of a community that embraces diversity and takes care of one another. Through the Center, Shelley has experienced profound connection and wants others to share in that experience. In her role on the board, Shelley brings her 20+ years of professional experience in corporate communications and small business ownership to develop sustainable relationships with business leaders throughout the communities we serve.

Shay King: Director

Pronouns: They/Them

Shay kick-started their queer advocacy when they came to the Racine area in 2013 to earn their undergraduate degree. With a minor in Women's and Gender Studies, a lens for gender and queer theory, and zeal for forging a space for nonbinary/genderqueer people, Shay seeks every opportunity they can to advocate for their corners of the LGBTQ+ community. Shay came to the board of the LGBT Center in early 2019, where they help facilitate the transgender/nonconforming support group and use their marketing experience to help the Center reach new members of the community.

Clarice Sevegney: Director

Clarice is a Racine Dominican Sister. In San Francisco in 2000, she started her ministry to the LGBTQ+ community. Upon her return to Racine in 2009, she became a volunteer for the LGBT Center of SE Wisconsin. Her particular interest is walking with transgender persons as they transition. She also meets with the families of transgender persons to help them understand their loved ones.

John Sidoti: Director

Neil Zeltinger: Director

Neil has been a board member since the inception of the center in 2009. He owns his own business in Kenosha. His business is in the restoration and upholstery of furniture. Neil always works in the background to make sure everything that needs to be done, gets done. His masterwork with furniture pieces have been some of the crowning jewels that have been up for auction at Christmas each year. He always finds ways to give back to the community, be it through the LGBT Center or one of many social galas he attends or produces himself. He is very proud in everything the Center has done and continues to do.