Staff and Board of Directors
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Erik Gullickson is thrilled to be in his fifth season as AD of Bridging Voices! Erik brings with him a rich background in performing and teaching arts. A native of Fairbanks, Alaska, Erik has been working as a teaching artist his entire adult life. He earned a B.M. in Voice Performance from the University of Idaho (1994), and a M.M. in Voice and Opera from Temple University (2001) where he was a full Teaching Assistant. Erik has been performer, stage director, stage manager, music director, and chorus master, working on more than 100 shows across the country. Erik has also maintained a private studio since 1994, and his students have found success at major universities, national tours, and prime-time television (Glee).
Erik moved to New York after completing his Bachelor’s degree, and living and working on the East coast for eighteen years. He has sung with ensembles and as soloist in many concert halls and historic churches including Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, Philadelphia’s Academy of Music, Christ Church Philadelphia, Plymouth Congregational Church, and Sutton Place Synagogue.
Erik’s students and casts have ranged in age from five to seventy-five, and he has worked with both youth and adult theater groups. Locally, Erik worked as a Staff Singer at Trinity Cathedral from 2013-2015, performed with Reader’s Theatre Repertory, and has been a singing member of the Portland Gay Men’s Chorus since 2011.
BOARD CHAIR
Cheryl Jones has worked more than 16 years in the Human Resources/Staffing Industry. A senior leader with a strong business background recognized for creative solutions to streamline processes, most recently as IT Director for a global staffing firm, she began her career as a social worker in Louisiana, transitioning to staffing when she moved to Portland in 2000. The transition from social work into staffing enabled her to help people in Portland expand their skill sets and find work.
She has been a champion for her company’s global Win 4 Youth program, raising money for various children’s organizations across the globe, and volunteers locally as a Court Appointed Advocate (CASA) for Clackamas County. As a CASA she helps local children in foster care by working with the child, parents, guardians, social workers, and therapists to advocate for the best interests of abused and neglected children in the court system.
Cheryl’s involvement with Bridging Voices began when she joined the GALA 2016 team as liaison to GALA Choruses, spearheading organization and arrangements that ultimately led to 26 singers and six chaperones traveling to Denver as for a life-changing week of seeming nonstop performance and practice. It’s proved to be a natural fit; Cheryl has found inspiration and purpose contributing to the growth of this young organization where LGBTQ and Allied youth share a safe, nurturing space to sing and have fun!
BOARD VICE-CHAIR
Gary Carroll is Field Director for the Cascade Pacific Council, Boy Scouts of America, and brings years of experience in the Arts and Public Service to Bridging Voices. His current responsibilities include managing all of the Scouting programs in Multnomah and Clackamas counties. In addition, he is responsible for creating Scouting and outdoor opportunities for youth of color in the entire Portland Metro area. During his tenure, he has taken youth and adult volunteers camping on Mt. Hood, to an outdoor adventure course on the Oregon Coast, horseback riding, and to a nationally recognized Scout camp in West Virginia. Gary has been a part of numerous service projects including refurbishing homeless shelters, clearing invasive plants, blood drives, and food collection for families during the Holiday season.
Gary has been actively involved in Scouting since grade school. He earned the rank of Life Scout and served on the summer camp staff at Goshen Scout Reservation for fifteen years. As a professional, he has consistently been one of the most successful unit serving executives. One of the programs he created has been adopted throughout the organization, a mentoring program focused on growing entry-level professionals to their fullest potential.
Gary also holds a Master of Music degree in Clarinet Performance from George Mason University. When he is not working with the Boy Scouts, he volunteers his time and talent to make music with the Rose City Gay Freedom Band, the Jewish Community Orchestra, and Lake Oswego Millennium Concert Band. Since arriving in Portland he has been committed to serving this community and its people and shares this passion and enthusiasm with all he meets.
SECRETARY
Rev. Nathan Meckley is Senior Pastor of Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) of Portland. A gifted preacher, teacher, and professionally trained musician, Nathan has been active in MCC ministry since 1983. Upon achieving the Master of Divinity degree from Claremont School of Theology in 2003, he was ordained as an MCC Clergyperson and served diverse congregations in California and Florida before moving to Portland in 2008. He served as adjunct faculty at the Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, and taught courses, workshops and seminars in numerous settings. Nathan also studied classical singing, earning a Bachelor of Music degree from Westminster Choir College, and a Master of Music degree from the University of Southern California, Los Angeles. Nathan’s musical background, long-term experience with LGBTQA communities, and his commitment to the well-being of LGBTQA youth and adults, all converge in his strong commitment to growing and strengthening Bridging Voices.
TREASURER
Mark Clift is the former managing partner of McDonald Jacobs, a local accounting firm. McDonald Jacobs serves businesses, individuals and over 120 not-for-profit agencies. Mark joined the firm in 1999 to assist and lead the tax practice and became the managing partner of the firm in 2008.
Mark moved to Portland and started his public accounting career in 1991 and soon joined the board of Our House of Portland. He has also served on the board of Friends of the Performing Arts Center, the American Advertising Museum, Big Brothers Big Sisters, the Portland Advertising Federation, and the Cascade Aids Project. Mark is currently a board member of the Portland Gay Men’s Chorus as well as Bridging Voices.
He enjoys outdoor activities such as hiking and biking. But music has been at the center of his interests and passion. He sings in the Portland Gay Men’s Chorus as well as other small music groups and plays the flute and piano.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Oscar Clark, Vice President, Community and Health Services, FamilyCare Health Plans.
Margot Martin is the current Director of Development Operations and Annual Giving at Planned Parenthood Columbia Willamette. She moved to Portland at the end of 2014 from Pittsburgh, PA where she had a robust career in non-profits focused on women’s and LGBTQ rights. She holds a BA from the University of Pittsburgh and has been a human rights advocate for as long as she can remember. Growing up in Pittsburgh, she spent 15 years as a student with the Pittsburgh Ballet Theater and participated in a number of musicals. She has experience in choreography and a love for the performing arts that she is excited to share with the youth of Bridging Voices!
Terran Williams is a Senior Program Manager at a higher education-centered software company, Technolutions. Prior to this, he served for eleven years at Reed College as an Associate Dean of Admission. A first-generation college graduate with a BA in English, Terran is passionate about reducing barriers to education for underserved populations. He has shared his work on helping transgender and gender-diverse students navigate the transition to college with audiences at national admission conferences. You might run into Terran singing baritone with the Portland Gay Men’s Chorus, putting in hours with the Urban Farm Collective, or helping to teach introductory self-defense classes at One With Heart. He makes a point of being visible as a trans adult in forums where LGBTQ youth and their families may be looking for resources, support, or just high fives.
ADVISORY BOARD
Kelly Gutierrez has been joyfully involved with the non-profit sector for ten years, specifically engaging in the homeless community. Currently Program Manager (since 2013) for Fan of the Feather, a transitional program for homeless Veterans in San Marcos, CA, Kelly was part of the team working with homeless families for North County Solutions for Change in Vista, CA from 2006-2012. Active with Project Homeless Connect, for the past six years Kelly has helped to provide free basic medical, dental, and other valuable supportive services for over 800 homeless individuals through this annual community outreach event in San Diego County.
Kelly’s experience extends to all areas of running a non-profit organization. A primary focus is seeking out opportunities for community support through outreach and events, recruiting, training and coordinating volunteers. Kelly has also been on the planning committees for annual fundraising Galas raising over $3,000,000, with guest speakers including Condoleezza Rice and Rudy Giuliani.
Kelly is proud to be a part of Bridging Voices and looks forward to its amazing future!
Jennifer Pearson is the mother of three children. Her youngest, William, came out as gay when he was 12. An active member of the LDS Church, Jennifer had neither experience nor understanding of the lives of those who are gay. Searching for groups to help her as the mother of a gay child, she discovered Bridging Voices. Immediately impressed by the impact it had on her son, she has been an ardent advocate ever since. She is a member of several LGBTQ social support groups for LDS, including the Mama Dragons and “I will walk with you.”
Kim Pearson is Jennifer’s husband and William’s dad. He has been on the same journey as his wife. Kim is a CPA, member of the Tax Executive Institute, and Director of Taxes at XPO Logistics (formerly Con-way) – one of the largest transportation and logistics providers in the world. Kim serves on the board of his local high school parent organization and is active in the LDS Church.
Kiersten Shaw has been a member of the Bridging Voices Board for four years. A Human Resources professional, Kiersten has been with Nike, Inc. for eleven years, currently serving as a Human Resources Manager supporting North America Direct to Consumers at the World Headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon. Prior to Nike, Kiersten was HR Generalist at Target and Safeway, specializing in sexual harassment and discrimination investigations.
A huge sports fan and animal lover, Kiersten is also on the Board of the Ronald McDonald House Charities. She is affiliated with other local nonprofits including Oregon Primate Rescue, Magical Wheelchair, Oregon Zoo Foundation, Oregon Humane Society and Project Pooch. Kiersten is also an Executive Trustee on her family’s foundation. Her best days are spent with Damon, her husband of 20 years, their daughter Daylee (one of Bridging Voices’ founding members), and their dogs. Kiersten and her family are committed to the success of Bridging Voices, and hope you are too!
Reid Vanderburgh is a retired therapist based in Portland, Oregon. During the course of his career, he has worked with over 450 people asking, “How do I want to live my life?” in the context of gender identity. Reid received an M.A. in Counseling Psychology (specialization Transpersonal Psychology) from John F. Kennedy University’s Graduate School for Holistic Studies in 2001. He is a member of the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (formerly Harry Benjamin International Gender Dysphoria Association), and the International Foundation for Gender Education.
An active member of the Portland Gay Men’s Chorus, Reid is also on the board of PFLAG Portland, and in recent years has provided workshops on trans inclusivity for various GALA choruses and conferences. Reid teaches Continuing Education classes (accredited by Portland State University) on issues pertaining to LGBTQ identity and issues around various aspects of the transition process. In addition to two journal articles and numerous book chapters, Reid has authored two books: Transition and Beyond: Observations on Gender Identity, and Journeys of Transformation: Stories from Across the Acronym.