Matthew Becher Board Member

Matthew is an enthusiastic believer in the power of the written word, fine art, and social advocacy. He has pursued multiple passions throughout his life, and is always looking for opportunities where he can channel his many interests into projects that make a difference in the world.

 

The LEAGUE Foundation is one of projects and passions.  Matthew is currently a Sr. Communications Manager at Xandr and previously served as the Fundraising Director for LEAGUE at AT&T.

 

John Klenert Board Member

 

Margaret Burd Board Member

President & CEO of Magpie Software Services Corp, Denver, CO.  Margaret Burd founded Magpie Software, a software development services company, in 2001. She was previously Director of Engineering at Lucent Technologies Bell Labs, leading development for mobile internet and other telecommunications applications. While at Bell Labs she was an inventor on two patents. She has a Master’s degree in Computer Science from the University of Kansas and a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Missouri State University. Margaret was a founding member of LEAGUE at AT&T in Denver and served as a LEAGUE National Co-chair. She was a founder of EQUAL at Lucent where she served in a variety of leadership roles. In 1994, Margaret and her life partner of 33 years, Dr. Rebecca Brinkman helped found the ATL Foundation, which provides assistance to lesbians in need of financial help as a result of ill health. They continue to serve on ATL’s Board of Directors. Margaret was a National Gay & Lesbian Task Force board member for many years. As a founder and current board member of Coolest Women We Know (CWWK) and Profit Matters, Margaret helps provide networking opportunities for senior women in high tech companies and business plan review and other help to women starting businesses. Margaret also serves on the boards of three small companies.

 

Ernie Renteria Board Member

Ernie has been actively involved locally and nationally in the LGBT community for over 30 years, having served in various Employee Organizations in leadership positions such as: President and Vice President of the local Austin LEAGUE at AT&T Chapter (previously Spectrum), Vice President Membership for the Austin HACEMOS Chapter, Committee Chair for the Austin HACEMO Scholarship Committee and VP-Membership for the Austin PWSWB (now Women of AT&T). Other local experience includes: Austin LGBTQ community, Officer and Board member of ALLGO (Austin Latino Lesbian & Gay Organization). He has been employed with SWBT/SBC/AT&T for over 35 years and is currently based in Austin, Texas, and retired as a Lead Channel Manager in Consumer Wireline & Direct Marketing Department for the Home Solutions Business Unit. Ernie is single and enjoys traveling, cooking, reading, mentoring and my 2 boys (dogs) Colt & Martini.

 

Adrian Coleman Board Member

 

 

 

Joel Stango Board Member

Joel Stango is a founding LEAGUE Foundation member and was elected as LEAGUE Foundation  Treasurer in 2014, serving in this role until July of 2018.  He is currently employed as a Service Executive with the AT&T Signature Client Group and has supported AT&T sales efforts since 1990.  After serving on their capital campaign committee which raised over $3 million, Joel was appointed to the board of the Delaware Humane Association in 2014 and currently leads the DHA development committee.   Since October 2011, Joel has served on the board of Brandywine Gateway Neighbors (formerly INF) which provides urban planning, development and housing renewal to Wilmington’s Eastside.  He is also a past president and current board member of the Midtown Brandywine Neighborhood Association working on streetscape efforts for the Wilmington neighborhood.  Joel has worked with the capital committee of Easter Seals of Delaware and has participated with the annual Volleyball event for more than 10 years.  He also, serves on the Transportation Committee of the Wilmington Renaissance Corporation.

 

Deirdre Coleman Board Member

Deirdre is a dedicated network & analysis support specialist for AT&T’s Technology & Operations (ATO) Network cloud and Infrastructure Ops. She is an active bargained employee and engaging transformational leader who is solutions-driven and generates positive direction through ambiguity. Deirdre’s 19 year journey with AT&T, has led to many exciting opportunities and areas of growth.  In her second term as the first African American out employee to lead AT&T’s LGBTQA employee resource group in DFW, she is a true advocate for the personal and professional development of others while advocating for equality both in and out of the workplace. Over her career, Deirdre has been actively involved with organizations that align with her passions and values and her leadership has been leveraged to drive various initiatives across the metroplex.  She previously served on LEAGUE at AT&T’s national board as the Union liaison director, connecting to the thousands of bargained-for employees across AT&T’s domestic operations.

 

Deirdre is an alumni of Dallas Baptist University with a degree in Psychology and she also holds a Masters of Science degree in Industrial Organizational Psychology from Capella University.  She is currently pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in I/O Psychology with an emphasis in Organizational Performance.

 

Deirdre stands on the importance of feeling empowered as an LGBTQ woman of color through career, community and social opportunities with no restrictions, but with presence. Living on the surface of her identity is not an option, but embracing it means everything.

 

Rick Wilson Board Member

RICK J. WILSON DIRECTOR DIVERSITY & INCLUSION - HUMAN RESOURCES, AT&T Rick is responsible for AT&T’s global corporate diversity segment strategy – supporting a wide range of diverse communities including women, people with disabilities, and the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer community. His team drives initiatives that elevate AT&T's impact on its diverse communities, workforce, suppliers and consumers.

Rick hails from and started his professional career in Cleveland. Since then, he has continued to elevate into more expansive roles, ranging from both strategic and large scale operational leadership positions ethics/EEO compliance, mergers & acquisition integration, talent acquisition, corporate strategy and global HR policy.

Rick’s commitment to inclusion, social justice, human rights and equality is rooted in education. As a graduate of John Carroll University, Rick has been involved or held leadership positions in a number of philanthropic organizations, including AIDS Taskforce of Greater Cleveland, Dallas Pets Alive, Back on My Feet - DFW, Junior Achievement, and Prism Health. He currently serves on the board of directors at Resource Center and North Texas Business Leadership Network (NTXBLN), an affiliate of USBLN.

Rick holds a bachelor's degree in communications from John Carroll University and a master's degree in labor relations and human resources from Cleveland State University.

 

Joe Gauss Board Member

Joe is a Clinical Coordinator working in the Telemetry / Stroke Nursing Unit at Northshore University HealthSystem – Skokie Hospital in Skokie, Illinois. Joe previously had a long-time career at AT&T and was LEAGUE at AT&T Co-President 1998-2000.  Joe is also part of The Brotherhood of Saint Gregory, a Christian Community of The Episcopal Church.  Joe is active in Brotherhood and Parish Ministries.  He was elected Secretary of the Foundation in July of 2018.

 

Patricia Wojnas Board Member

Pat was the second generation in her family to work for AT&T. Her career began in 1984 as a programmer trainee and had the great fortune for her first assignment to be in NYC at Corporate Headquarters. Two years later an opportunity at AT&T Federal Systems meant a transfer to Washington, DC. It was here that Pat was introduced to LEAGUE at AT&T. While at AT&T and later NCR , she advocated for the diversity programs at her office location. Pat was an active member of the Potomac Executive Network, a LGBT business networking group in Washington, DC, where she served on several committees and held terms as both President and Chairperson. She is now with Oracle America as a Business Analyst focused on federal sales opportunities. Pat lived in Washington, DC for almost 30 years. Recently she re-located to Annapolis, MD where she takes advantage of the Chesapeake Bay boating and fishing. During the summer months Pat volunteers at the Annapolis Maritime Museum. She welcomed the opportunity to re-engage with League and is honored to be on the LEAGUE Foundation.

 

Eric Gutshall Board Member

 Eric is the Executive Director of the State Public School Building Authority and the Pennsylvania Higher Educational Facilities Authority. Previously, he served as Secretary of Intergovernmental Affairs for Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf and held roles in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and the United States Congress. In addition, he was the Democratic Nominee for Dauphin County Controller in 2015 and led the Capital Region Stonewall Democrats PAC. Eric holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Central Pennsylvania College and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Pennsylvania. He currently resides in Center City Philadelphia.