Staff
Warren Redman-Gress, AFFA Executive Director
Warren was named the first Executive Director of AFFA in
October of 2001. He is one of the founders of AFFA and has
served on the board since its inception. Warren holds a BA
in History and a Masters in Divinity. He and his partner
moved to South Carolina and established RGA Logistics – US
Customs Brokers. He worked for 5 years as part-time
administrator of a small Episcopal Church; and concurrently,
as program director of a LGBT youth group in Charleston. He
and his partner of 25 years, Jim Redman-Gress, have one son,
Cristopher. Warren is currently a member of ACLU, NAACP,
GLAAD, Family Pride Coalition, NGLTF, HRC, National Notary
Assoc., Charleston Chamber of Commerce and Custom Brokers
Association. He has served on the boards of Incest Survivors
in New York and We Are Family here in Charleston.
ALLIANCE FOR FULL ACCEPTANCE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Jason Guerra, AFFA Board President
Jason is a native of Abingdon VA but landed in Charleston
in 1995 while serving in the United States Air Force. In
1996 he was discharged under the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell,
Don't Pursue" policy. He spent the next four years in
Washington DC and two years in Philadelphia before returning
to Charleston in 2003. In 2008 he left his retail career of
twelve years to return to school full time. He plans on
completing his degree in Political Science at the
College of Charleston in 2012, with a minor in
Communications. Jason looks forward to attending law school
after that. He is currently employed by Patrick Properties
and is a member of HRC, SLDN, GLAAD and the Leadership
Charleston Class of 2009. Jason enjoys house projects,
bowling, working out, cooking, wine and hitting the water on
the boat or Sea-Doo.
Michael Routzahn,
AFFA Board Vice-President
Michael is a native of Middletown, MD. Five years ago
Charleston captivated Michael, and he made the move to its
shoreline. He received a BA in psychology from the College
of Charleston, and was inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa
International Honors Society. Quickly after graduating
college, Michael joined Linda Ketner’s Congressional
campaign where he held the position of finance assistant.
Combining his love for psychology and creativity, he later
Joined Mosaic, his partner’s business, as an coordinator and
designer. He is currently a member of the Human Rights
Campaign, Fetch-a-Cure and the Surfrider Foundation. Michael
is an outdoor and nautical enthusiast.
James Redman-Gress, AFFA Board Treasurer
Jim is responsible for “why don’t we do a billboard?”!!
Originally from Miller Place, NY, he has lived in Charleston
for 14 years. He’s the partner of Warren Redman-Gress and
the father of Cristopher Redman-Gress. He has a BA in Marine
Transportation Economics from SUNY Maritime College and is
President of RGA Logistics, a U.S. Customs Broker firm. He
lists his honors received as: “Warren”! He is a member of
LLDEF, SCGLBG, SLDN, GLAAD, Family Pride Coalition, NGLTF,
HRC, Charleston Chamber of Commerce, Charleston Customs
Brokers Association and has served on the board of We Are
Family.
Cathy Godshall, AFFA Board
Cathy was born in Baltimore MD, but grew up in Columbia
SC. Cathy has a BA in government and international
studies/political science from USC, an MAT in History from
the Citadel and an MA in History (Southern Cultural from the
Citadel/University of Charleston.
Cathy has taught at-risk youth, high school and college
level students, and has worked the Tri-county Literacy
Program. Cathy is currently a corporate trainer, and is on
the staff of Crisis Ministries.
 Barbara
Hunt, AFFA Board Secretary
Barbara Ruth Hunt is a James Island girl, who grew up and
resides there. She goes by Barb or Barbaru as her family and
most friends call her. She attended Winthrop College
majoring in Physical Education. She has worked as a Sr.
Materials Planning Analyst and Systems Support Administrator
for the past 20 years. Barb lives with Allison, her partner
of 20 years, and their five loveable dogs. Barb enjoys
boating, mountain biking, photography, and playing on the
Three Dollar Bills (Charleston’s only GLBT kickball team).
For relaxation, she enjoys gardening, reading, and swimming.
Mike Schwarzott, AFFA Board
Mike was born in Medina, NY, and raised in Lyndonville,
NY a small town on the shores of Lake Ontario, graduating in
1974. After graduation he attended college for one semester
then joined the US Navy. He was stationed in Charleston in
the mid 70’s where he fell in love with the city. After
being caught with another sailor he was discharged for being
gay and he returned to NY where he was employed in 1977 by
the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Batavia, NY. Mike
tried to fit into society and married for 9 years, having a
daughter and son from the marriage. After the marriage ended
with divorce, in 1989 he was promoted and transferred to the
Charleston VA Medical Center as a Food Service Supervisor,
and in 2006 receiving a promotion to Manager Food
Production. Since returning to Charleston in 1989, he became
active in 1994 in the GLBT community, and has been an
activist, jumping in with both feet and never looking back.
He has been active in LGLA, AFFA, HRC, MCC, Open Door
Christian Church, The Progressive Network, SCEC, founding
member and VP of the SC Stonewall Democrats chapter. He was
also the chairperson of bringing the Aids memorial Quilt to
Charleston, Charleston remembers-Display of the AIDS
Memorial Quilt, as part of Piccolo Spoleto Festival in 1997
Before moving to Charleston he was the president of the
local union, AFGE-AFL-CIO at the Batavia, NY VA Hospital for
6 years. Human rights and equality is in his blood and a
large part of who he is. He is a grandfather to six
grandsons and one granddaughter.
 Sue
Weller, AFFA Board Past President
Sue Weller was born in Vietnam and was quickly shipped to
the US to be raised in Red Bank, NJ. She relocated to the
Charleston area Jan.2005 to seek fame and fortune. She holds
a B.A. in Fine Arts from Montclair State University, NJ and
a Masters in Non Profit Management from Pratt Institute,
NYC. Sue’s civic involvement in the GLBT community include
serving as president of her college GLBT group, volunteering
on the HELPLINE for GAAMC (Gay Activist Alliance of Morris
County), cycling in the 2000 Boston/NYC AIDS Ride, and
producing a lesbian art show for Leslie Lohman Gay Art
Foundation in NYC.
C. Douglas Warner, AFFA Board
Doug Warner is a graduate of Presbyterian College with a
BS degree in business administration and a master’s of
business administration from The Citadel. He began his
development career in the Charleston region in 1989 as
Manager of Economic Development for the Trident Economic
Development Authority. He has served as the Executive
Director for the SC World Trade Center-Charleston, Deputy
Director for the Charleston Area Convention & Visitors
Bureau, Executive Director for the Roper Foundation,
Business Development Director for Hill Construction
Corporation prior to starting his own development company.
Doug served in the United States Army Reserves and was
deployed to the Persian Gulf during the first Gulf War. He
was selected to represent the United States Army as the Army
Jr. Officer to NATO for 1993. He was the Reserve Officer’s
Association National Jr. Officer of the Year Finalist in
1992, 1995 & 1996. He was also the S. C. Reserve Officer’s
Association, Jr. Officer of the Year for 1992 and 1996.
He currently serves on the Medical University of South
Carolina’s Children’s Hospital Board and is chair of the
Development Committee. A active member of Grace Episcopal
Church, Presbyterian College Board of Trustees & Alumni
Association Board, S. C. State Ports Authority Advisory
Board Member, Charitable Society of Charleston-Founding
Member, Past President and Treasure, Log Cabin Republican
National Board of Trustees.
Doug is also a South Carolina licensed Auctioneer and has
raised more than $8 million during the past several years
for non-profits organization throughout the Southeastern
United States. He holds a SC Auctioneers license and
provides this service pro-bono to the benefit of non-profit
organizations.
Elaine Jackson, AFFA Board
Born and raised in Lawrenceville, GA, Elaine
graduated from the University of Georgia in 1983 with an
A.B. in Criminal Justice. Elaine worked as a legal
assistant for SunTrust Banks in Atlanta for eleven
years.
Elaine has called Charleston "home" since 1995 and
attended the Medical Univ. of SC to obtain a Master of
Rehabilitation Sciences in Physical Therapy in 2001.
Elaine currently lives on James Island, with her partner
Susie Prueter, and her cat, Cinnamon. Elaine enjoys
hiking, photography, cooking and paddling her canoe
through the tidal creeks and rivers of the Lowcountry.
Johnna Murray, AFFA Board
Johnna grew up in
Murrells Inlet, SC
and shortly thereafter left to achieve a B.S. in Public
Relations at Columbia College
and subsequently, a Masters Degree in Business
Communications from Winthrop University.
Johnna has worked in the nonprofit and government
arena for approximately 15 years managing grants
development, special events and volunteer coordination.
Currently, she works with
Charleston
County government in the
Grants Administration Department assisting in special
projects ranging from workforce development to community
development and managing the Grants Development
Division.
She is particularly interested in strengthening the
community by providing technical assistance and capacity
building tools to grass root organizations.
She is a steadfast believer in the
Chinese Proverb: Give a (wo)man
a fish and you feed him/her for a day. Teach a (wo)man
to fish and you feed him/her for a lifetime.
Finally, Johnna is alumnae of Leadership
Charleston 2007 and the Nonprofit Leadership Institute
located at Francis Marion University.
Jenny Badman, AFFA Board
Jenny Badman is a New Jersey native who came to
Charleston five years ago with everything she owned jammed
into a Volkswagen Golf. Jenny is a writer, marketer,
advertising, pr girl, storyteller and poet. She co-produced
a play based on her book of poetry, Rants, for Piccolo
Spoleto several years ago. Currently, she is a freelance
writer working on an array of projects with Charleston
creatives like Blue Ion and Step Ahead Inc. She also writes
a column on GLBT issues for The Charleston City Paper. A
graduate of Drew University in Madison, NJ, Jenny also did
graduate work at Johns Hopkins University for Creative
Writing. When she's not writing, Jenny's spending time with
friends or working on her soft shoe number.
Barbara Tuttle, AFFA Board
Barbara Tuttle grew up in Clemson, SC, graduated from
Clemson University, and her blood continues to run orange.
She has lived in Charleston for the past 25 years and cannot
imagine living away from the coast. After working as a
recreational therapist in the mental health field and with
senior citizens for some years, she made the switch to the
business world. She has been a manager with The Sportsman’s
Shop, a local sporting goods store, since 1997. She and her
partner of 22 years, Teresa, attended the very first
business meeting of AFFA and have been members ever since.
Although they have no children of their own, they have been
active participants of the AFFA Parenting Group and serve as
unofficial aunts to several of the children. Barbara is an
avid reader and also loves to travel to places she has read
about.
Susie Prueter, AFFA Past President
Susie was born in Arlington Heights, Illinois, but her
family moved when she was young and she calls Little Rock,
Arkansas, home. She has been in Charleston for five years.
Before arriving in Charleston to work in the Production
Office with Spoleto Festival, USA, she worked as a Company
Manager for Broadway shows and touring companies. Susie has
a BA in Speech and Theatre from Louisiana Tech University
and a MFA in Arts Administration from the University of
Alabama. She is currently a member of the Center for Women,
Association of Theatrical Press Agents and Managers (ATPAM),
and International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees.
She has served as a labor negotiator and has done training
and development for ATPAM. She’s won academic scholarships
and honors, athletic honors and leadership awards.
ALLIANCE FOR FULL ACCEPTANCE LEADERSHIP GROUP
Rebecca Epstein, Leadership Group
Rebecca is a Charleston native and earned her
undergraduate degree from the University of South Carolina.
While at USC, she played soccer for the Lady Gamecocks. She
is currently in her third year at Charleston School of Law
and has absolutely no idea what type of law she is going to
practice after graduation. She is one of the founders of
Charleston Law's Alliance for Equality, and is currently
involved in getting the Young Professionals Gay-Straight
Alliance up and running in Charleston. Rebecca enjoys
cooking, playing soccer, interior design, music and playing
with her dog Karma.
Jen Bennett, Leadership Group
Jen received her BA in Sociology and Women's Studies from
the University of North Carolina, Asheville in 2003 and her
MA in Sociology from the University of Colorado in 2005.
After leaving graduate school, Jen and her father
became business partners and currently own and operate
Tidwell's Art Gallery and Frame Shop, where they showcase
their photography of beautiful Charleston.
Jen also exhibits photography of queer nude bodies at
The Chart, a local family friendly hangout. Jen hopes in the
near future to pursue another graduate level degree in
counseling so she can help address some of the psychological
needs of the LGBTQ community.
When the work day is done, Jen enjoys spoiling her
nieces, renovating her North Charleston home, cuddling with
her Boston Terrier, and really loves to dance, dance, dance.
Tamara Bolding,
Leadership Group
Tamara was born and raised in Columbia,
South Carolina. As an Army brat, she lived a few years in
Germany too. Completing course work at both Piedmont
Technical College in Greenwood and Midlands Technical
College in Columbia, she earned an Associate Degree in
Business Management. She has served 20 years in state
government having worked for the Employment Security
Commission and The Citadel Military College of South
Carolina. Loving Charleston living since 1992, she has made
guest feel at home during her employment in the hospitality
field for the last 10 years. She is currently enrolled at
The Citadel, pursuing her degree in Business Administration.
She is also planning her civil partnership registration in
the United Kingdom with her partner of 5 years, Julia. Here
and ‘across the pond’ they continue to share their story of
the difficulties faced by gay bi-national couples. Tamara
has been a volunteer for LowCountry AIDS Services since 2003
and she has been a member of AFFA since 2002
Laura Cousineau, Leadership
Group
Laura works as a medical librarian at
MUSC, specializing in evidence-base medicine and practice.
She moved to Charleston in June of 2002 from Durham, North
Carolina, where she was the head of the Lilly Library at
Duke University. Laura has served as committee chair and on
the boards of many professional and community organizations
such as We Are Family, the Junior League of Durham & Orange
Counties, the Volunteer Center of Greater Durham, and the
Durham Coalition for Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancy, and
clerk of the Circular Congregational Church. She loves to
cook, is learning to knit, speaks French moderately well,
does Tae Bo to keep in shape, and believes passionately in
equal rights for LGBTQQ.
Ed Cousineau, Leadership Group
Ed Cousineau has been a Proud PFLAG Dad
for the last eight of his nearly 63 years of life. He is an
administrative dean in the College of Medicine at MUSC. He
describes himself as a "roaming" catholic and is
over-involved in the open and affirming Circular
Congregational Church where spouse Laura Cousineau is a
member. Don't ask him about model trains unless you've got
time to burn or want to know arcane trivia about Durham, NC
in 1955!
Rick Fowler, Leadership
Group
Tobin Williamson, Leadership
Group
|
