NICOLE LIVSEY

President  -  She/Her/Hers

Nicole Livsey is a Social Worker and loving EVERY minute of it!  If you cannot find her at work, Nicole is out walking the dog with her wife of 6 years, cleaning/organizing, or volunteering within a plethora of community agencies around town. Nicole has a passion for volunteering in the community and within Peoria Proud. She is driven to assist someone in need, which is why she feels blessed to be paid to do something she loves: helping people. Nicole serves as a Commissioner for the City of Peoria's Fair Employment and Housing Commission. While not from Peoria, Nicole says Peoria feels like home.    

TREVOR NEFF

VP of Business - He/Him/His

Trevor Neff (Miss Flo NoMo') is a former Miss Gay Peoria USofA, Miss Gay Bloomington USofA and a first alternate to Miss Gay Illinois USofA.  When Trevor isn’t entertaining audiences with his comedic twist to songs as Miss Flo his main passions are local theatre and non for profit work.  By day he works for Neighborhood House of Peoria and by night he is performing, directing, or doing make up for local theatres.  Trevor developed his drag persona Miss Flo NoMo’ while doing work in his local community theatre. Trevor found a way to use Miss Flo to focus on advocacy and fundraising for his LGBTQIA+ community.  Most recently Miss Flo won a nationwide contest to raise funds for The Dru Project through virtual fundraising.  

NATHAN NEILSON

VP of Communications - He/Him/His

Nathan recently moved to Peoria after completing his B.S. in biology at The Ohio State University  (Go Bucks!!). Here in Peoria, he is currently a third year medical student. Nathan loves to involve himself with LGBTQ community outreach, and currently works as a leader of the medical school's LGBTQ+ Student Alliance. He holds a strong belief that promoting social equality for all people directly improves health outcomes, and therefore social justice work is inherently tied to the medical field. Nathan's other passions include lifting weights, running, grabbing drinks with friends, and jamming out to the latest Ariana Grande music.

JOSH NORDMAN

Board Secretary - He/Him/His

Josh is a third year medical student at the University of Illinois who came to Peoria a few years from Chicago. After graduating from Loyola, he worked at the Howard Brown Health Clinic, and he is interested in becoming an infectious disease doctor and working with medically under-served communities. In his free time, he enjoys reading things that aren't textbooks, working out, and eating carbs in his bed while watching Netflix. 

GENE PATTERSON

Treasurer - They/Them/Theirs

Bio to be posted soon!!

LARS AVIS

Board Member - He/Him/His

Lars Avis recently graduated as an English student at Illinois Central College while residing in Peoria, IL. He is driven to help people and, as a transgender man, is particularly passionate about issues affecting the LGBTQ community. He enjoys writing poetry, performing music, and hiking.

JOSH LEE

Board Member - He/Him/His

Rev. Josh Lee serves as the Co-Pastor of an Interdenominational Church in Peoria, while also serving as the Vice-President of the Central Ilinois Interfaith Alliance. He graduated from Garrett Theological Seminary with his Masters of Divinity in May 2019 and obtained his Bachelors from Moody Bible Institute in May 2013. Both of these experiences have exposed him to a wide spectrum of theological and social thought. Josh is passionate about bridging the divide between the LGBTQIA+ community and faith communities. He oversees a coalition of affirming faith communities in the greater Peoria area and works with churches in becoming more open and affirming. 

CASSIE LUCCHESI

Board Member - She/Her/Hers

Cassie Lucchesi moved to Peoria over a decade ago from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Since moving here, Peoria has become her home. She came out and has since been involved in the LGBTQ+ community. Cassie works in social services as an educator, primarily teaching high school students in the Tri-County area about healthy relationships and domestic violence. She believes that through community we build strong interpersonal relationships and is excited to serve as a member of Peoria Proud to help strengthen those relationships. When she's not working, Cassie enjoys spending time with her future wife, fabulous friends, handsome dog or entertaining people at her place. She loves to cook and bake and believes that good food brings good people together! 

SHEILA JAMES

Board Member

Bio and photo to be posted soon!!