Please meet the members of our hard-working and dedicated staff:
Bill Harrison, Interim CEO
Harrison retired last March from the American Red Cross, Greater Richmond Region, as the Regional Director of Public and Government Affairs. He had served with the Red Cross for fifteen years. Prior to that, he was the first public information officer for the Virginia Department of Health’s Bureau of STD/AIDS. He also worked for several years with the Fan Free Clinic in development and community affairs.Harrison’s affiliations include serving as Board Chair for the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities; Public Relations Society of America, Richmond Chapter; past board chair of the Downtown Neighborhood Association and past board member of the Virginia ACLU.
Bob Phillips, Operations Manager
Bob Phillips has worked in a number of positions with GCCR since 2002. Today he is “second in command” and is responsible for all facilities management as well as the design and marketing of our conference facilities and our 700-person Event Hall. In a volunteer capacity, Bob also directs our charitable gaming fundraising efforts, and is a widely-recognized expert on the development and management of bingo operations.
Bob is a native of Texas and spends an inordinate amount of time talking about the Dallas Cowboys. He lives in the West End with his partner Mark Stanley.
Cindy Bray, Program Director
Cindy Bray grew up in South Boston, VA and came to Richmond via Williamsburg (the College of William and Mary) and Virginia Beach. She lives in Caroline County with her partner of 8 years and pets too numerous to name. She has held many positions through out her career including program management with the department of Parks and Recreation in Virginia Beach and retail management (7-Eleven and Lambda Rising in Norfolk).
As the Outreach Coordinator, she has been an integral force, in setting the direction of the Gay Community Center of Richmond. She was intimately involved in getting the art gallery approved, funded and open. In coordination with Petie Bogen-Garrett, she has helped plan the events surrounding the exhibits and the publicity for the events. She is also involved in planning numerous other events for the Gay Community Center of Richmond’s facilities including the mayoral forum last fall, several concerts, a community vigil for safe schools, and more. She believes passionately that art and music are essential elements in life and that GCCR can be a creative force in Richmond.
She continues to enhance her personal development and to give back to the community. She is currently participating in the Emerging Non-profit Leaders Program, a dynamic eight-month experience for nonprofit leaders in the Richmond area. Participants have the opportunity to deepen their understanding of their leadership capacity and advance their understanding and practice of leading in the nonprofit sector. She was a driving force in starting the Central Virginia Rainbow Partnership, a collaborative effort by LGBT organizations in Central Virginia which seeks to provide a consistent voice for the LGBT community. In recent years, she has been as an active member of Equality Virginia, a founding member of the Gay Women’s Business Network and a member of the planning committees for 2 local bowling tournaments which raise money for the Virginia Breast Cancer Foundation and Fan Free Clinic.
Gregg Johnson, Director of Development and Marketing
Gregg is GCCR’s newest team member and serves as our Director of Development and Marketing. Gregg is responsible for our fund-raising efforts from individual, corporate and foundation donors, and also coordinates our marketing efforts to the community.
Gregg has a long history of involvement with Richmond area non-profits, including his most recent as position as Director of Development for ROSMY. Prior to working for ROSMY, he served a volunteer facilitator for that organization and helped ROSMY organize numerous special events. He has also volunteered for Children Incorporated, the Museum District Association, and a number of political campaigns.
Gregg is a native of Bay Shore, New York, and grew up in Williamsburg, Virginia. He is a graduate of Virginia Tech, and worked for over a decade in retail merchandising for J.C. Penney and This End Up Furniture. He has also done free-lance marketing, graphic design and website design.
Stephanie Smith, Program Assistant
Stephanie.Smith@lgbtrichmond.net
Stephanie grew up in Harrisonburg VA and moved to Richmond in 2005. She lives in Chester VA with her partner of 3 years, now wife of 8 months, 3 teenagers and 3 dogs. Stephanie has held many different positions in her career, including 6 years in Retail Management, and over 20 years in Outside Sales (Microsoft Software and Document Management Solutions).
Once Stephanie arrived in Richmond it marked the beginning of a new and exciting chapter in her life. Shortly after her arrival, she became an active member of MCC Richmond. Since becoming a member, Stephanie has served as a small group leader, participated on the Stewardship Team in which she led and coordinated the yearly Treasures in the Basement Fundraiser, raising thousands of dollars for MCC, assisted with the children and youth ministries, served as a PLACE Connection Coach/Administrator, held a position on the MCC Board of Directors for 2 years and currently serves as the Director of Fundraising at MCC Richmond.
Becoming the Director of Fundraising allowed Stephanie to realize her true passion, Equal Rights for ALL. Her strongest desire is to help the GLBT community feel connected, loved and respected. In 2010, Stephanie started working with Cindy Bray to host Fundraising events at the GCCR. Soon after, The Love Equality Style Weekend, which included Jason and Demarco live in concert, GCCR’s first ever Valentine’s Day Dance, and a trip with the People of Faith for Equality in Virginia to City Hall to apply for Marriage Licenses. During the 3 day weekend over 300 people came together to celebrate Love “Equality Style”. Shortly after, on May 22nd, 2010 (the birthday of the late Harvey Milk) the Equality for All – celebrating Harvey Milk Day was created. In one day, over 200 participants including artisan vendors, musical entertainers, non-profit organizations and many attendees came to share in the festivities. In 2011, the 2nd Annual Equality for All Festival - Remembering Stonewall doubled its attendance and vendor participation.
As an employee of the GCCR, Stephanie is determined to build on the work that she has already started. She looks forward to working with the entire Greater Richmond Community, in an effort to open up the doors to the GCCR for all to have a place to come together, build community, and to feel connected and safe.
