Jeffrey Platt is one of the founding members of embraceWNY and has served on the Buffalo Brunch organizing committee since 2002 (chair or co-chair since 2003).  Jeff is a previous board member of AIDS Family Services and the Girl Scout Council of Buffalo & Erie County (currently serving as a National Delegate for the Girl Scouts of WNY).  In addition, Jeff has been an organizer for the Festival of Trees Committee for the Women’s and Children’s Hospital Foundation and is currently a Board officer and Financial Secretary for Kenilworth United Church of Christ.  Jeff’s 26 years of employment at D’Youville College has allowed him to participate in several community service projects throughout the West Side of Buffalo.

James Rolls graduated from Canisius College and Notre Dame Law School.  He has been a practicing attorney since 1970 and specializes in real estate, tax and all tax-related matters, wills and estates, general business matters as well as employment discrimination.  A founding member of embraceWNY Jim is currently active in several area non-profits including CEPA Gallery (President), BUA Theatre (Vice President), AIDS Community Services (Co-Chair), Pride Center of WNY (President), and in the past has been Vice-President of the YMCA Board of Directors and on the Board for ESPA (Empire State Pride Agenda).  In addition, Jim is a lecturer with the Erie County Bar Association.

Judy Dumitru loves working with students as an Academic Advisor at D’Youville College, where she has participated in many West Side community service projects, including Habitat for Humanity.  In addition to being a founding member of embraceWNY and serving on the Buffalo Brunch Committee for several years Judy has worked with other local non-profits including as Chair of the Growth Task Force at Cleveland Heights Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), bringing the congregation through a positive process to become Open and Affirming; and as an ad hoc fundraising member of the Centennial Fund Committee for the Dunkirk Conference Center.  Judy has been a long-time member of the Western New York Peace Center, supports public radio through her membership to WBFO, and is a Partner with the Human Rights Campaign.

Brian Mietlicki is a founding member of embraceWNY and also serves on the Buffalo Brunch Committee.  Brian is dedicated to equality and opportunity issues in the workplace.  He co-chairs GLOBE, the LGBT employee resource group, at HSBC Bank where he works in the Corporate Learning & Development unit.  For the past three years, he has attended the National Out & Equal Summit, the pre-eminent national organization devoted to LGBT equality in the workplace.  Additionally, Brian lends his support to the following: Human Rights Campaign; Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper; AIDS Community Services of WNY, Inc.; Family Justice Center of Erie Co. Inc.; The National Federation for Just Communities of WNY; The American Heart Association; and Buffalo Heart Walk.

Douglas P. Charles is a retired teacher/librarian with over 36 years of experience in the public school system.  Although retired, he keeps current on the latest trends in his field by volunteering in the Hamburg Central Schools one day each week.  A member of Pilgrim–St. Luke’s United Church of Christ, Doug first served on the Board of Trustees and then became Church Moderator (president of the congregation) for 3 years.  He presently serves as a Pastoral Partner for the church.  Doug is a founding member of embrace WNY, serves on the Buffalo Brunch Committee and is also active in both OutSpoken For Equality, and Stonewall Democrats. 

Dinah Gamin is a retired Physical Education teacher and coach after teaching for 32 years. In the past, she has held many positions in the Teachers Union, Condominium Association Boards, Clarence Presbyterian Church, and State and local Physical Education Associations. Dinah is actively involved in the community in the following ways:  founding member of embrace WNY; member of the Buffalo Brunch Committee; Buffalo Ambassador for the Buffalo Convention and Visitors Bureau; Treasurer of the Western Zone State Physical Education and Health Association; Board of Director for Heart of the City Neighborhoods; Member of the Kleinhan’s Community Association; yearly participation in the annual Buffalo Garden Walk; and, Secretary for the West Seneca Retired Teachers Association.

Lynn James has been an Occupational Therapist for over 35 years and is a nationally certified counselor. Her career has literally spanned the east coast where she has worked in a number of settings and was involved in local, state, and national organizations. She has contributed her expertise in OT and organizational ability to state conferences as coordinator of exhibits as well as providing lectures and workshops through the years. Lynn has also provided community workshops in useful self-help topics and was the director of an OTA program for 5 years. Currently she works part-time at the VA.  Lynn is a founding member of embraceWNY, serves on the Buffalo Brunch Committee and is a volunteer for the Buffalo Convention Center.

Dr. Steve Niemiec, a Doctor of Chiropractic and Wellness Coach graduated from Sherman College and owns and operates Balanced Living Chiropractic Wellness, a multi-doctor chiropractic wellness practice.  Dr. Steve is also an adjunct faculty instructor for the University of Buffalo teaching undergraduates and future doctors of chiropractic. He is a founding member of embraceWNY, serves on the Buffalo Brunch Committee and is also actively involved with and serves on the boards of several community and professional organizations.

Lynn Tranchell has been a Computer Science specialist for almost 30 years and owns Clear Ahead, named after a sailboat racing term.  In addition, Lynn works at Moog. Lynn was a founding member of embraceWNY and her many activities include Unity Church; Unity Association Diversity Awareness team; Buffalo United Artists board member; founding parent of COLAGE of WNY; Pride in the Pulpit; and The Buffalo Brunch committee. She is a docent at the Darwin Martin House and Graycliff, serves on Graycliff’s education committee, and is an Empire State Pride Agenda marriage ambassador. Lynn also has an extensive email list to keep others up-to-date on community events.

Richard Nashwinter currently owns and manages an interior design business.  He has been actively involved in several groups in the Buffalo area including the choir at St. Joseph’s Cathedral, the American Red Cross Buffalo Chapter, and Gilda’s Club.  Rich has been an active member of the Buffalo Brunch committee since 2003 and recently joined the embraceWNY executive board.