James Giessler

Executive Director

​

James Giessler has been working in the nonprofit sector for more than a quarter of a century. Trained by the fundraising professionals at The Fundraising School at the Indiana University Center on Philanthropy, James launched his nonprofit career in Indianapolis in 1993 before moving to the Greater Boston area in 2008.

Over the years, James has been an event planner and director of development for an HIV/AIDS organization, a development writer and director of corporate and foundation relations for a comprehensive university, executive director of a cancer support organization, president and chief development officer for an innovative start-up nonprofit working in the ALS sector, and most recently executive director of a private foundation supporting the performing arts.

An avid walker/hiker, James enjoys getting outside with his four-legged daughter, Tessa (who loves to keep him company in the office while he’s working). James also boasts a wonderful family including two daughters, a son and daughter-in-law, and twin grandsons (all of the two-legged variety). He is delighted, proud, and deeply honored to have the opportunity to serve NAGLY and advance its mission on behalf of GLBTQ+ youth.

Steve Harrington

Executive Director

​

Steve Harrington began his association with NAGLY in 2009, joining the

Board of Directors as an At-Large member. Soon after he became

chairperson of the Auction Committee and maintained that position through

September 2013, along the way adding the title of Vice President.  In July

2014, Steve began his stint as Executive Director, replacing long-time ED

Coco Alinsug, a position he is honored to hold.

A long-time participant in the LGBTQ+ community, Steve has performed with

the Boston Gay Men's Chorus and Denver Gay Men's Chorus; founder and

co-director of the Colorado Athletic Exchange; founding member of the

SoccerRockies; one of only nine people to complete in Gay Games I through

X; inductee in the Boston Gay Basketball League Hall of Fame and National

Gay Basketball Hall of Fame, and recognized as a Hero Among Us by the

Boston Celtics for his work with gay youth and gay sports; columnist for Guide

Magazine, Denver; recipient of the Joan Parker Lifetime Award by North

Shore Pride; is a published author and recognized artist. He also spent 10

years working for JSI Fundraising Systems, designing, training, and testing

fundraising software for non-profits across the country. Earning a B.A. from

Bowdoin College, Steve and his husband, Jeff, live in Lynn with their basset

hound, Gracie, and celebrated more than 30 years together in November. His

retirement is planned for December, 2020.

Tony Leone

Director of Community Services & Engagement

​

Director of

N-TALE

​

Tony is the Director of Community Services & Engagement and the Director of N-TALE: Training & Leadership  Education.  He currently resides in Salem, but he grew up in Peabody and graduated from Peabody High School in 2011.  Tony  pursued an undergraduate degree at Salem State University, first in criminology and then in Juvenile Psychology.  He plans to receive a Master's Degree in Psychology within the next few years.  Along with being part of the management team at NAGLY, Tony is also a Therapeutic Support Specialist with Children Friend and Family Services, which is a partner of Justice Resource Institute (JRI).

Whitney M.

Outpatient Clinician

​

Wmam@jriorg

Whitney joined the NAGLY family in 2019 to bridge the gap between Justice Resource Institute/Children's Friend and Family Services and NAGLY. She is  our Outpatient Clinician, here to help provide mental health resources and assisting with any mental health-related concerns that staff and youth have.  She holds a Master's Degree in Mental Health Counseling from Salem State University and believes that we do not have to struggle in silence. 

​

When she's not working, Whitney likes spending time with her cat and has a quirky hobby of dressing him in costumes!  Her most favorite is when he's dressed as a penguin.

Todd Patton

Social Media Director

​

Webmaster

​

Manager, Pride Place Market 

​

Todd joined NAGLY as a volunteer in 2015, and eventually settled in the positions of Social Media Director and Webmaster.  He holds a Master of Arts in Education from Clark University, a Bachelor of Arts in History from Framingham State University, and a Professional Teaching License from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.  Todd has over 20 years of experience teaching at the middle and high school levels and considerable experience working with preschool and elementary school students.  

Todd lives in Peabody with his husband and their cat.  Todd is a huge history buff (with British history being his favorite), an avid anglophile, and a travel blogger.

Syd S.

Peer Leader

​

Syd is a Peer Leader who primarily helps moderate NAGLY's Transcendence group. He joined NAGLY through a photojournalism project he did during his second semester after transferring to Salem State University in 2019.  He's currently studying psychology and photography and has plans of becoming an art therapist in the future.  In between working at his job as a residential assistant at college and his positions at NAGLY and North Shore Pride, Syd enjoys practicing electric bass, painting, and DIY-ing thrifted clothes.