GLAAD yesterday announced Dave Montez (pictured) as the organization’s new Chief of
Staff. Montez will be working closely with GLAAD President Herndon
Graddick on the organization’s development, operations and programs
departments which work for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT)
equality. He will be based in the New York office and is scheduled to
start work with the organization in January 2013.
“Dave’s strong relationship with advocates in the LGBT equality
movement along with his experience building bridges between the LGBT and
Latino communities will strengthen GLAAD’s culture-changing work,” said
GLAAD President Herndon Graddick. “He will be integral in continuing to
create a new GLAAD where our dedicated staff builds national impact
through campaigns that raise the visibility of LGBT people and issues as
well as hold anti-LGBT activists accountable.”
Montez most recently served as senior program officer at the Gill
Foundation, one of the nation’s leading funders of LGBT advocacy
efforts. He oversaw the foundation’s Latino Initiative, which is
designed to build lasting alliances between LGBT people and Latinos. He
also worked with the Director of Allies and Institutions with the goal
of building broad support for LGBT equality. Previously, Montez managed a
portfolio of grants to state-based LGBT organizations working to
achieve policy change at the state and local level.
“Dave has been an outstanding leader for the Gill Foundation. We’re
excited that his talent and commitment will continue to benefit the LGBT
movement in his new role,” said Tim Sweeney, President and CEO of the
Gill Foundation. “Dave has a unique ability to build coalitions where
diverse communities recognize their shared values and common goals. He
also understands the important role that research plays in learning how
to communicate more effectively.”
Before joining the Gill Foundation, he was a research development
officer at the University of Colorado, Denver, where he researched and
reviewed funding opportunities, grant proposals, and funding contracts
for faculty members. He also worked for the Latino/a Research &
Policy Center as the events and publications coordinator, where he
planned, coordinated, and implemented all center-sponsored events.
Montez speaks Spanish and holds a BA in journalism/public relations
from Metropolitan State University of Denver. He is a gubernatorial
appointee to the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD) in
the Denver Metro Area, which oversees an average of $40 million in grant
funding annually. He is also a graduate of Leadership Denver, where he
helped raise money and resources to remodel Urban Peak, a youth homeless
shelter in Denver.
"I'm really excited to join the GLAAD family,” said Montez. “I've long
respected GLAAD as an organization and Herndon as a leader. GLAAD has
an incredibly talented leadership team, and I look forward to working
with these colleagues to achieve full equality for all LGBT people."
The move has been applauded by leaders of LGBT and Allied
organizations. Read their statements after the jump.