Board of Directors
Honorable Gary A. Wilson, President
Gary.wilson@embracewny.org
Gary A. Wilson, Esq. holds a B.S. and M.S. from Cornell University in Urban and Regional Planning as well as a J.D. from the University at Buffalo. Gary has been an attorney in Buffalo for over 12 years. He began his legal career working for the Buffalo Public Schools joining their legal team as Assistant Legal Counsel for the Buffalo Board of Education. Upon leaving the school district, and after a brief employ with the University at Buffalo, Gary joined the Erie County Department of Labor Relations as Deputy Commissioner and then transitioned to Commissioner until 2021. He served as the Principal Law Clerk to the Hon. John Licata in the 8th Judicial District. Judge Wilson was elected as the first openly gay Buffalo City Court Judge serving all residents of the City of Buffalo. Gary brings a large background in public service specifically with organizations aimed at advancing LGBTQ+ rights and looks forward to continuing that work with embrace Western New York.
Bryan Ball, Vice President
Bryan.ball@embracewny.org
David M. Comstock, Treasurer
David.comstock@embracewny.org
David is an Assistant Vice President, Junior Scrum Master, and the current President of the Pride resource group for M&T Bank. A graduate of Erie Community College, he holds an Associates of Science in emergency management and graduated in 2022 from SUNY Empire State College with a Bachelor of Science in business, management, and economics with a concentration in human resources. David is an active volunteer and supports WNY through a variety of board and committee positions. As an advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion he works to build relationships and partnerships across networks and advocates for the LGBTQ+ community in the workplace and WNY community. David is a two-time scholarship recipient from embrace Western New York.
Sophie Gallivan, Secretary
SOPHIE.GALLIVAN@EMBRACEWNY.ORG
Sophie is a recent Buffalo State graduate, where she majored in psychology and minored in Africana studies. Currently, she works in the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion department at M&T bank, where she helps to create programming that fosters an environment where all are physically and psychologically safe. When Sophie isn’t working or enjoying time with friends and family, she is the fundraising chair on South Buffalo Rugby’s e-board and also plays volleyball a couple times a week.
Harry Carter
Harry.carter@embracewny.org
Harry has always enjoyed the enriching and fulfilling experience of working in a team environment with professionals and others of diverse cultural backgrounds. Harry is a results-oriented administrator, motivated community educator and classroom teacher offering over 30 years of professional experience. He helped to develop, implement and facilitate student support groups, teacher training and parent/community workshops.
Harry has worked extensively with children from kindergarten to the collegiate level. He developed and implemented a required Drugs & Sports course for all students participating in a team sport, sports medicine or athletic training at Canisius College. Additionally he has worked with recovering adults through Jobs Training Partnership Act (JTPA) formerly Project Up-Grade. His experience as a vocational counselor with Project Up-Grade provided him an opportunity to collaborate with employers, unions and business leaders.
As an administrator and Drug Prevention Specialist Harry supervised, trained and scheduled a staff of Prevention Educators, Student Assistance/Prevention Counselors and agency support staff. As the Director of Programs he was involved with all aspects of agency management including: grant writing, development and implementation of agency mission and goals, as well as budget and personnel policies. Harry administered, reviewed and reported on grants with the Buffalo Public Schools, BOCES Non-Public Schools Consortium, the Erie County Department of Mental Health and the United Way of Buffalo. Under his supervision Harry’s teams created innovative support programs for youth, educators, employees and their families throughout Erie County.
On his creative side Harry enjoys drawing, painting, pottery and photography. He also worked as a jewelry designer for a company specializing in unique one of a kind designs before retiring.
Harry has served on the Buffalo Brunch Committee for the last several years as a committee member and co-chair before becoming a board member. He now looks forward to assisting embrace Western New York to meet the needs of the LGBTQ+ community.
John Stoddard
john.stoddard@embracewny.org
John is a Western New York native, who grew up right along the Erie Canal in Middleport, NY. He attended Niagara University and graduated with his Bachelors in Computer Science with a minor is Sociology. John works as a Software Engineer at M&T Bank. In his role, he builds new banking products in the financial tech space, in hopes of better serving under represented communities. At work, he is also the Professional Development Chair for the Pride WNY Resource Group with a goal to empower coworkers to embrace their LGBTQ+ identity and learn how to bring their full self to their career. John is a strong believer that technology is the solution to establishing equity by broadcasting resources, opportunities, and information to a wider, more diverse audience.
Katie Boyd
KATIE.BOYD@EMBRACEWNY.ORG
Katie Boyd’s passion in life is lifting others up to be the best version of themselves. She owns her own coaching business and her career journey has brought her to various organizations as a Learning & Development professional. She loves giving back to the WNY community through volunteering and fundraising, as well as assisting others with their fundraising efforts.
In her free time, Katie can be found spending time with her husband, Joe, and their rescue pup, Ellie, hosting gatherings of friends and family, cooking, and traveling.
Josie Raphaelito
Josie Raphaelito is a passionate advocate for tribal public health. She has 16 years of experience building relationships with tribal nations and citizens through community engagement strategies and tools to elevate those perspectives of local strengths and challenges into local, regional and national discussions for change. She moved to Buffalo in 2017 with her wife to continue working with and for Indigenous communities. Josie is the Assistant Director of the Department of Indigenous Cancer Health at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center. This new department aims to honor the values of Indigenous Knowledge, sovereignty, and respect for the environment through community-driven partnerships, collaborative research, and education to reduce the impact of cancer on Indigenous communities, regionally, nationally, and internationally.A graduate of George Washington University, she holds a Master in Public Health. Mrs. Raphaelito is German and Swedish, born for the Meadow People Clan, her maternal grandfather is German, her paternal grandfather’s clan is of the Salt Water Clan, this is how she is Diné, Navajo. She was raised in Pine Hill, New Mexico, on the Ramah Navajo Reservation.
Connor Lloyd
Connor is a Certified Public Accountant with over seven years of experience in public accounting, corporate financial reporting, and consulting. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Finance and an MBA with Accounting concentration from Canisius University. Currently, Connor is a supervisor in Freed Maxick CPAs, PC’s consulting practice, specializing in the nonprofit and higher education industries.
Beyond his professional work, Connor is passionately engaged in community service. He previously served on the finance committee for Gay For Good, a nationwide organization that connects LGBTQ+ individuals with volunteer opportunities in their local communities through chapters across the country. Locally, he has been actively involved in fundraising and volunteering with Kevin Guest House through the Giving Hearts young professionals program. Connor is excited to bring his expertise and passion for community engagement to support the mission of EmbraceWNY and the local LGBTQ+ community.
Isaac Domingue
Isaac Domingue holds a B.S. from Arizona State University and an MBA from Grand Canyon University. He became a Buffalonian four years ago after he and his partner moved from their home in Denver, CO. In Denver, Isaac unknowingly established his career in the Hospitality industry and it was there his love for business and his passion for people turned into the obsession that guides his work to this day.
Isaac is Co-Owner of Hombre y Lobo Tacos and Tequila, a pillar in the Queer community and for the second year now, the host of Buffalo’s only free weekly drag brunch. Isaac proactively works to create positive change in the community through his involvement in organizations that give support to child-welfare and development, animal welfare, and the support and professional development of members in the LGBTQ+ community. Most recently, Isaac served on the Board of Directors for The Elmwood Village Association (NY), as the Young Professionals Board Chair- Gabriel’s Angels (AZ), an organization providing healing pet therapy to at-risk children, as well as Special Consultant for the AZ SPCA (AZ animal shelter). Isaac and his husband have a pit-bull named Andre, and they love to hike, camp, travel, and take road trips.