The LGBT Center of Raleigh Appoints Seven New Board Members

The LGBT Center of Raleigh announces the appointment of 7 of new members to the Board of Directors for 2022-2023. We are pleased to introduce you to our board members:

Coleman Simons

Coleman was born and raised in New Jersey and after living in a few states, he settled in North Carolina, where he has lived since 2000 with his four children.  He resides in Cary. 

As an Enterprise Coach for AmerisourceBergen, Coleman drives organizational change management with his extensive experience in continuous improvement, strategic planning, and building high-performing teams. He looks forward to leveraging his experience in these areas to aid in the oversight of the LGBT Center.

Though Coleman has only been “out” since 2018, he is a life-long supporter of the LGBTQIA+ community. Coleman's Autism diagnosis around the same time helped him understand his lifelong struggle to "fit in" and the critical need for acceptance and value for all experiences and perspectives. He shares a vision of social equality and looks forward to providing his support to move our communities towards that vision. Coleman hopes to create safe, accepting spaces and support networks for the community.

He looks forward to hearing from the community and serving them to the best of his capacity.

Hunter McNair

Hunter McNair is a Raleigh native, and the proud owner and founder of the out-and-proud residential real estate team, Hunt Houses NC. His team’s core values have always included supporting LGBTQ+ charities and education — both at home as a sponsor for Out!Raleigh Pride and across the country. Hunter created and hosts biannually the inspiring “Rainbow Mastermind” with hundreds of LGBTQ+ real estate agents across the country, and has actively worked to create safe spaces for members of the LGBTQ+ community everywhere. He is joined in business with his husband, Justin McNair.

Hunter has a passion for professional development for the community and the community's youth, as well as diversity, equity, and inclusion within the community. With a love of working with people, Hunter's priorities in life revolve around building relationships and bridges with everyone, always leading with love and compassion. At home and socially, Hunter is a social butterfly and self-proclaimed comedian, he loves sitting with his two cats while singing and playing piano, or traveling to compete in ballroom dancing. 

Johnathaan Pannell

Johnathaan Pannell is the President & CEO of District Partnerships, a global consulting firm that helps organizations thrive through Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Human Resources & Executive Search Consulting. Johnathaan is a passionate Human Capital Leader experienced in leading and empowering diverse teams in accomplishing SMART goals while managing complex issues and comprehensive project operations. He has the ability to successfully direct Human Capital operations using Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to improve organizational effectiveness, talent acquisition, and business outcomes. Experienced in developing Human Capital policies and procedures that ensure organizational effectiveness and bottom-line results. Johnathaan's commitment to DEI & HR has afforded him the opportunity to be honored as 1 of the Top 30 professionals under 30 in 2017 by Radio One. Johnathaan received his BA in Education from Grand Canyon University, lives in Charlotte, NC with his dog Milo and enjoys cycling. 

Jordan M. Ford

Jordan was born and raised in Southeastern North Carolina but has called Raleigh his home for the past eighteen years.  After moving to Raleigh and graduating from North Carolina State University, Jordan attended North Carolina Central University School of Law in Durham.  Jordan began his legal career as a judicial clerk for the Honorable Wanda G. Bryant at the North Carolina Court of Appeals.  He then spent five years as an Assistant District Attorney with the Johnston County District Attorney’s Office in Smithfield, NC. 

Over the last decade, Jordan has served as a career prosecutor in various roles.  For the past four years, Jordan has been a member of the Financial Crimes Unit at the NC Conference of District Attorneys.  In his current role as the Chief Financial Crimes Prosecutor, Jordan is responsible for the development and implementation of the Financial Crimes Initiative throughout the state of North Carolina.  Jordan manages a talented team of attorneys and administrative professionals as they direct and oversee the statewide prosecution of a variety of white-collar offenses including embezzlement, public corruption, fraud, and elder exploitation.   

Outside of the courtroom, Jordan is the Founder and Co-Owner of CrossFit SERVE and SERVE Wellness located in Downtown Raleigh.  Although he wears many hats at SERVE, he is most passionate about engaging with his SERVE family and helping people feel comfortable in their own skin.  When he is not at SERVE or in the courtroom, Jordan enjoys teaching his dog Mango new tricks and cheering on the Wolfpack (especially when they face those blue schools nearby).  Jordan is excited to join the Board of Directors at the LGBT Center of Raleigh and ready to get to work!     

Jose Harvey

J. Harvey is the CEO of Urban Pothos LLC, a boutique houseplant company. He graduated from The American University with a Master of Arts in International Relations and from NC State University with a Master of Arts in Nonprofit Agricultural Development. He has previously served on the Board of Directors for Third Millennium Alliance & contributed to the development of the NC State Agroecology Education Farm. He has also supported the greater Raleigh community through the organization of events and fundraising for the LGBT Community, woman’s health and rights, childhood education, and agricultural causes.

Katherine Croft

 No Bio for now.

Stan Kimer

Stan C. Kimer is recognized as an industry consultant and speaker with unique skills in workplace and marketplace diversity, and employee career development using his innovative career mapping methodology.  Prior to starting Total Engagement Consulting by Kimer in November 2010, Stan worked for the IBM Corporation for 31 years in a variety of staff, management and executive roles in Sales, Finance, Marketing, Sales Operations and Human Resources (Diversity).  Stan received his MBA from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business and BS in Management Science from Georgia Tech, and in his spare time trains as a competitive adult figure skater.

Stan has also been very active within the community and in the past has served on the Board of Raleigh’s LGBT Chamber of Commerce (now called Harmony), on the Board of Raleigh Sister Cities, on the City of Raleigh’s Human Relations Commission, and as President of the North Carolina Council of Churches.  He current serves as the President of Other Sheep, a global ministry promoting LGBTQ inclusion in mainline churches in traditionally oppressive countries, and on the board of the LGBT Center of Raleigh.

About LGBT Center of Raleigh

The Center is a 501(c3) entity that was established in 2008.  The LGBT Center envisions of a world in which LGBTQ+ people are thriving, equal and valued members of society.   For more information about of programming and events please visit our website: https://www.lgbtcenterofraleigh.com/