2025 Board of Directors

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Chris Ellis is the Chair of MS Capital City Pride. Chris has lived in Jackson for five years with his wife, Stephanie, and their three very cuddly cats. He is the Audience Manager and Developer for Mississippi Free Press and a board member of Our Fondren Neighborhood Association. Chris loves pro wrestling and K-Pop, but his main passion is finding creative and collaborative ways to solve problems at their root cause. Chris looks forward to bringing that passion to life with MS Capital City Pride. 

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 Genetra Nicole Robinson (2025 Chair Elect) is a passionate leader, educator, and advocate dedicated to advancing equity, inclusion, and community empowerment. As Chair-Elect of MS Capital City Pride, she champions safe, affirming spaces for LGBTQ+ individuals, with a special focus on uplifting Black and marginalized voices. With over a decade of experience in education, professional development, and community outreach, Genetra brings visionary leadership and a heart for service to every initiative she leads. Her work is rooted in a commitment to social justice, mental health advocacy, and creating opportunities for emerging leaders. Through her work with MS Capital City Pride and beyond, she continues to inspire change, foster unity, and strengthen the movement for a more inclusive Mississippi. Genetra is a proud, life-long member of New Mt. Zion M. B. Church in Jackson, MS. She is also the proud fur mama to her chihuahua, Chi Chi Nicole.

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 Marreo McDonald, a native of Carthage, MS, joins the 2025 Board of Directors of MS Capital City Pride as the incoming Treasurer. He holds a Master's degree in Professional Accountancy from Jackson State University. With over twelve years of experience in the nonprofit sector, Marreo serves as the Owner and Principal Consultant of Financial Intelligence, a consulting firm specializing in nonprofit accounting, operations, and strategic planning.  Marreo shares: “People think accounting is boring. But if you’ve seen The Accountant with Ben Affleck, you know we’re basically superheroes with calculators. I just use mine to save nonprofits… not to, you know, fight crime.” 

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Lucas Posey is a Co-Founder and Director Emeritus of MS Capital City Pride. He is a graduate of the Mississippi State School of Architecture. They work as a Project Manager at WBA Architecture where they get to use their passions of creative place-making and problem-solving to improve the built environment. They are excited to use their energy to help strengthen the LGBTQ+ community. Lucas has recently been inducted into the Change Collective, an organization that helps connect and elevate emerging leaders. Lucas is also the Marketing Committee Chair for 2024.

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Tyler Griffing is a Co-Founder and Director Emeritus of MS Capital City Pride. He grew up in Byram, MS, and is a graduate of Mississippi College with a degree in Computer Information Systems. Tyler is currently living in Lafayette, LA. He is privileged to be the dog and cat dad of Mason, Dixie, and Rico. He believes that the ultimate goal of creating safe spaces for the LGBTQ+ community means to eventually create a safer Jackson; where the community is able to be their most authentic self without fear of backlash. Tyler is also the Fundraising Committee Chair for 2024.

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 Ashlee Pitts is a Director Emeritus for MS Capital City Pride. Ashlee is an educator currently working as a Data Coach with Amplify Education. She is also a Board member for Grace House, Inc., as well as Jackson Roller Derby. When she thinks of MS Capital City Pride, she is most excited about the opportunity to celebrate diversity and togetherness in the community. Ashlee also served as a founding Board Member for MS Capital City Pride from 2020-2023. 

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Ryan Upshaw is a graduate of the University of Mississippi, and he currently serves as Assistant Dean for Student Life at Millsaps College. In this role, he oversees a variety of student engagement areas including fraternity & sorority life, residence life and student conduct as well as serving as an advisor to several student groups including the Student Body Association. He also leads efforts to support students from diverse backgrounds and to create an inclusive environment on campus. Ryan previous served a term as Secretary of the Board of Directors of MS Capital City Pride.  He also serves on the Board of Directors for the Mississippi Food Network and volunteers with Big House Books. Being from the MS Gulf Coast, he enjoys good music, good art, and good food.

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Merry Barnes is currently serving as the Director of School and Teen Programs at the Mississippi Museum of Art. She previously taught middle school Art in Jackson Public Schools for nine years and has always played a role in creating spaces and opportunities for young people in our state. As a lifelong resident, Merry is devoted to advocating for others and building a better and more united Mississippi.

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Christina Spann is a native of Columbus, MS and moved to Jackson after the passing of her father. Christina has a passion for people and making the spaces she lives in better. Christina continues to be a champion for mental health and the wellbeing of youth. Christina is a strong advocate for Jackson, MS, and is involved in different organizations to improve the city while also celebrating its achievements. In her spare time, Christina operates a pet sitting service, volunteers with Junior League of Jackson, serves with the McClean Fletcher Center, and does stand-up comedy.

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Danny Tovar has been actively involved with MS Capital City Pride for the last several years as Co-Chair Elect of the "It's Pride Y'all" Committee in 2022 and as Co-Chair of the Committee in 2023. He is a Project Design Manager with a professional background in Interior Design. He prides himself in being a designer always, in all ways! He is engaged to a wonderful man and is a doggie dad of two sweet pups. Originally from Los Angeles, he moved to the South to pursue his higher education at Tuskegee University and later at SCAD - Atlanta. He fell in love with the rich culture of the South, specifically the LGBTQ+ inclusivity in Atlanta, and once he moved to Jackson, he has committed to help provide the LGBTQ+ community safe spaces to be loved and accepted! He is also the Programming Committee Chair for 2024.

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 Stan Nichols has been actively involved with MS Capital City Pride for the several years as Co-Chair Elect of the “It’s Pride Ya’ll” Committee in 2022 and as Co-Chair of the Committee in 2023.  Originally from Belzoni MS, Stan is a 1983 graduate of Mississippi College with a degree in Music Education and Voice.  After teaching band for nine years, Stan left education to pursue a career in furniture sales and sales management.  After living in Charlotte, NC, for many years, Stan moved back to MS in 2010 to be closer to family. He is currently the manager of the Jack Myers House. Stan has a deep love for MS Capital City Pride and its mission and is excited to be a part of an organization that does so much for the community that he loves.  

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A life-long resident of Jackson, MS, Marqueta currently serves as the Chief Operating Officer, for the Women’s Foundation of Mississippi. As a passionate advocate for equality for all people, she has over 10 years of experience in nonprofit programming.  A proud alumna of Jackson State University, she received her master’s degree from Belhaven University in 2021. She spent much of her career working in Human Resources and Operations Management where her passion for people and advocacy grew. 

Being a member of the Board of Directors of MS Capital City Pride will allow Marqueta to serve alongside friends she considers family. This organization is so important, and she is proud to serve, learn, advocate and teach others about its mission and how they can also do the same. She feels this work is rewarding, impactful and necessary and she is proud to serve as a voice for the LBGTQ+ community. Marqueta is also a proud member of Zeta Phi Bet Sorority, Inc. She is a wife and the mother of three amazing children. 

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Kathy, originally born and raised in Florida, is a transplant to MS. She has been the executive director of The Good Samaritan Center since 1999. In that capacity, she works to make sure struggling families in the greater Jackson area, as well as Jones County, receive year-round services including case management, info and referral counseling, advocacy, clothing, and food. The organization has also grown to include HUB for the Hungry where food is rescued and given to food-insecure families.

Kathy has sat on a number of non-profit boards for charities that deal with homelessness, hunger relief, diversity and inclusion, ultra and trail running, triathlons, women and craft beer, and neighborhood development. She is a graduate of Leadership Greater Jackson and has a business degree from Belhaven University. She is the oldest of five children and loves her family very much.  Kathy’s hobbies include craft beer and cocktails, travel, being outside (whether hiking in the mountains or swimming at the beach), cooking for others, and live music. She joined the Mississippi Capital City Pride in 2020 as a Pride planning committee member and has been on the Pride Festival planning team ever since. Her extensive knowledge and leadership of planning fundraising races throughout the Capital City led her to coordinate MS Capital City Pride’s annual Rainbow Run 5k, which includes a run, walk, and a children’s fun run. This is her first year as a member of the MS Capital City Pride Board. Kathy wants to be a positive presence that is always uplifting, insightful, supportive, and encouraging. She looks for opportunities for those around her to serve.  Helping people is what fills her heart. Creating safe places for all queer individuals and their allies, especially youth, has become a huge passion for her.