Meet the Executive Board
What do the flags represent?
Gay man Lesbian Transgender Bisexual Pansexual Demi-Pan Pangender Ally Drag Pride
Michael Riffe & Mona Lotz
He/Him She/Her
Founder & President
Festival Entertainment, Vendor, & Volunteer Director
Michael is no stranger to coordinating a Pride festival. He served on the board and was the entertainment director for Youngtown, Ohio's Pride for 5 years prior to being a part of the launch of Pride Ashtabula County and now the founder of Ashtabula Pride. He served 2 years as the board secretary for the LGBTQ+ Coalition of Ashtabula County where he continued to use his lead and organize the Pride of Ashtabula County festivals. His drag persona, Mona Lotz, has been a voice and a recognizable face amongst the Pride attendees, as she host the festivals drag shows. Mona is also the hostess for Drag in the New Year, the organizations largest annual fundraiser. Mona has her own LIVE broadcast on Facebook and YouTube structured to Helping Hurting Hearts every 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month at 7pm EST. Be sure to check it out!
Becke Beeman
She/Her
Founder & Vice President
Festival Family Fun, Volunteer, & Grounds Director
Becke Beeman is honored to be the co-founder and Vice President of Ashtabula Pride Inc. Ashtabula Pride will strive to host a safe and lively festival where all individuals in the LGBTQI+ community and its allies can join together and celebrate who we are openly, proudly, and in harmony. Becke is a wife to Kelly, a mother of three, grandmother of three, fur mama to three rescue chihuahuas, and three cats. She is bubbly and creative and in her spare time teaches Aquadance. Becke loves all things Broadway and secretly wishes that everyone would dance and sing through life!
Debra Pho
She/Her
Secretary Festival Welcome Director
A west coast girl living in a NE world! Met and married her internet sweetheart back in '99, when it was a scandal. Debra spent her teen and young adult years on the stage, then traded everything in for bibs and bottles. Now she and her husband are enjoying their teen and young adult kids and have gone through more than their share of turbulence. They were able to be there for our kids and they'ld like to see others within our community find that same support. "I'm everyone's mom now, free hugs, of course!"
Treasurer Festival Financial Director
Jenean Kile
She/Her
Jenean is a widowed mom of 4 and is very active in the theatre community. She currently runs the drama program at Saint John School while she is in pursuit of her Master's Degree in Theater Education. The opposite of Pride is Shame, and no one should ever have to live in shame!
Executive Member Festival Welcome Director
Emily Jewell
She/Her
Emily is a social worker from Geneva, OH who is very excited to be part of the Ashtabula Pride board committee! She is a bisexual/pansexual woman who is married to a wonderful husband. Emily's husband is an ally and supports her in everything she does. She came out of the closet as a bisexual/pansexual woman later in life, approximately six years ago. It was a terrifying experience, as it is for so many, but she was incredibly lucky to have a loving and supportive environment to come out to. Emily has stayed quiet in the LGBTQ+ community most of her life, never expressing an opinion or speaking the truth out of fear. She recently decided that she no longer wanted to live in fear because it is time to live in LOVE. She has attended Pride for the last two years, and Pride 2024 was her first time volunteering for the festival. It was an amazing experience that she will never forget and it has inspired her to do more. She choose to be a part of the Ashtabula Pride Inc. to continue sharing love and acceptance and to help develop this amazing community into a world of freedom, safety, hope, peace, and love! Nobody should ever live in fear, especially not in her county. A very special thank you to the people who support her and for the amazing friends who gave her the opportunity to become part of Ashtabula Pride! Emily is so excited to share this journey with all of you!
Executive Member Festival Construction Director
Michael Woodin
He/Him
Born and raised in Ashtabula County, Michael joined the army straight out of high school, where he served 8 years as a food service specialist. After 3 years of Active Duty service, Michael transitioned to the National Guard so he could attend the Culinary Institute Of America for baking and pastry. After completing his bachelors degree in restaurant management, he began managing restaurants and hotels. For the past 7 years he has been working for small cruise lines and has fallen in love with Alaska and Uncruise Adventures where he is currently the Senior Hotel Manager, overseeing the hospitality team on board all of the company vessels.
Marlin McPeters
Executive Member Festival Raffle Director
He/Him
Coming Soon
Meet the Advisory Board
Kelly Beeman
Board Member
Festival Vendor Chair
She/Her
Kelly's hope for being a part of Ashtabula Pride is to help have a safe place where all LGBTQ++ individuals and their allies can come together and celebrate. A place where we can be ourselves without the worry of not being accepted. She's proud to be part of something so new to Ashtabula County. "To her, it shows how far we have come and yet how far we have to go. Kelly is glad to be part of this journey and the great things to come!
Breanna Cole
Board Member
Festival Grounds Chair
She/Her
Breanna "Bre" is an Ashtabula County resident born and raised. She came out in 2021 as a Pansexual and ever since she has tried to connect with the LGBTQIA+ Community in our County. Brehas done this by going to previous pride events and attending drag shows at The Cove. She is also a student at Kent State at Ashtabula, and has noticed lot of LGBTQIA+ students on the campus and felt a calling. In the summer of 2022, she restarted the KSUA Allies club and became its President. As a group the have hosted events such as the “Gayme” day and had a booth at the 2023 Ashtabula Pride. Living in this county can feel very isolating especially as someone in the gay community therefore Bre looks forward to working with this committee and meeting many more LGBTQIA members!
Nicholas Cusano
Board Member
Festival Volunteer Chair
He/Him
Nicholas is excited to work with Ashtabula Pride to help create a sense of safety, and belonging in our beautiful Ashtabula community. For the past 15 years, Nicholas has provided mental health treatment, and evidence based support groups to the youth in Ashtabula County, and has a strong passion for prevention services. Nicholas continues to find ways to give back the community that raised him, and is eager to join the mission of Ashtabula Pride.
Cameron Dragon
Board Member
Festival Family Fun Chair
He/Him
COMING SOON
Board Member
Festival Entertainment Chair
Aaron Drews
He/Him
BIO COMING SOON
Board Member
Festival Stage Manager
Shannan Farmer
She/Her
Shannan is an ally of the first order. She is Ashtabula county born and raised, and work to support survivors of sexual violence. Shannan believes in her community and believes that all people need to have representation and a safe space to be exactly who they are meant to be
Board Member
Festival Vendor Chair
Ashley Hutzell
She/Her
Angel Kish
Board Member
Festival Vendor Chair
She/Her
Ashley is an ally to the community and will do what she can to help everyone around her, She is the Fantastic cousin of Mona Lotz and is the Production Manager for Lotz of Tea. She is married to Chris ❤️ has a beautiful daughter Isabella and 3 fur children Finley, Scout,and Binkz. Ashley loves Art, Music, Gaming, and all things StarWars.
Angel is a strong Ally who is always in the corner for anyone in need of help! Not only is she Mona Lotz's assistant but she is an assistant to anyone in need. She is dedicated to her work and brings love and laughter to those around her. She and her husband Rob, have two children, Logan and Lexi, a dog Maggie, and a flock of chickens named after Drag Queens and the Golden Girls.
Sara Stowers
Board Member
Festival Entertaiment Chair
She/Her
Sara started volunteering for Pride not knowing the need it would fulfill within her. Sara has always been a strong ally, but not until Ashtabula Pride did she feel the benefit of HAVING allies instead of just being the ally. Sara was born and raised in Conneaut, OH and returned home after earning collegiate and post graduate degrees. She is married to Josh and together they have a doggo, Hank the Tank, who spends his days visiting the nursing home where Sara works. Sara currently works as an advocate for LGBTQIA+ and other minority group representation in geriatric care and services in Ashtabula County. Sara also volunteers with local community theaters and as a volunteer guardian with Catholic Charities.
Autumn Vigil
Board Member
Festival Volunteer Chair
She/Her
Autumn is a long time supporter as an ally to Ashtabula's LGBTQ+ community since volunteering in 2020 at the pride festival at the farm. She started volunteering because she saw how happy and free families and children were to be just to be able to be themselves in public and the harsh reality of their daily struggles to just live and love. Autumn has a bisexual child and one is questioning. By her side is always her ally and caring husband, Chris. "Our Creator gave us two hands. Use them. Do good with them. Take care of your community with them".
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Hall of Legends
A page dedicated to local legends who made a change and
paved the way for the LGBTQ+ community of Ashtabula County.
