MEET OUR TEAM

Our team members are committed to building a community where LGBTQIA+ people thrive and can achieve limitless possibilities!

phil c.
Executive Director & Founder
(they/them)

Originally hailing from the New York City region, phil began their career in the music industry working for Warner Bros. Records in the Sales and Marketing division. In 2009, they pivoted their career by starting their own marketing and branding agency, BAM! in Nashville, TN. In what was intended as a means to an end, Phil transformed their agency into one that expanded by over 130% annually. Over its 12-year trajectory, the agency grew from serving three small business clients to over 100 multinational clients.

In 2020, after their “life bus” crashed and the clean-up began, phil’s path was made clear, and they decided that a new journey was necessary for the next chapter. phil has been actively involved in the Nashville community for fifteen years and has actively served on several different boards and commissions, where they were often requested to engage in leadership opportunities.

In 2021, phil led the founding of inclusion tennessee, utilizing the research from the Community Visioning Project in which they served as a co-researcher. In 2023, phil transitioned from board president to the organization’s first full-time Executive Director. phil is also the first non-binary/genderqueer executive director of an LGBTQIA+ organization in the State of Tennessee.

Prior to inclusion tennessee, phil had the honor of serving as President of the Historic Buena Vista Community Association, a Member at Large of the Davidson Country Foster Care Review Board, Secretary of the Board for Nashville Emerging Leaders, Community Affairs Director and President (2017-18) of Nashville Pride and also Member at Large of the PENCIL Board.

phil has also participated in a variety of leadership and educational programs including Nashville Emerging Leaders (2016), the MBA-Mini Program at Belmont University (Class of 2017), and the New Leaders Council - Nashville Chapter (Class of 2018). They have been featured in several magazines and newspapers including the Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Nashville Business Journal (40 under 40 in 2018), and many other regional publications and television shows. They have also spoken at several conferences and events in business, community, and political arenas.

In their free time, phil enjoys reading, cooking, and traveling. phil and their partner Stuart live in Nashville with their dogs, Billie Jean King and Ousier Boudreaux.

phil was recently featured on Rooted Recovery Stories with Patrick Custer. Learn more about their story in the video below.

“Currently in our nation Americans of all colors feel bereft of a sense of ‘belonging’ to either a place or a community. Yet most people still long for community and that yearning is a place of possibility, the place where we might begin as a nation to think and dream anew about the building of beloved community”

— bell hooks

Brittney G.
Finance Manager
(she/her)

Dedicated financial expert and ardent advocate for the LGBTQIA+ community, Brittney seamlessly weaves a tapestry of financial acumen and passion for equality. With a robust background spanning 14 years in Finance and Accounting, Brittney has not only mastered the intricate art of numbers but has also emerged as a stalwart leader in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights.

Driven by an unwavering commitment to enhancing the lives of the multi-faceted LGBTQIA+ communities, she believes in creating spaces where everyone feels a sense of belonging. Their journey in championing LGBTQ+ rights spans over a decade, marked by a relentless pursuit of justice, inclusion, and understanding.

Kashif G.
Program Coordinator
(he/him)

Kashif is program coordinator with inclusion tennessee, focusing on our event production and logistics. He is a frequent contributor to Nashville Scene, chapter16, theological librarianship, and other literary outlets. Kashif has also appeared on C-Span, Queerology, and Nashville’s WPLN.

Bridging the arts and education, he can be found introducing films and hosting panel discussions. Beyond his work with inclusion tennessee, he is currently at work on a novel about an interracial couple living in East Tennessee.

Al M.
Program Coordinator
(they/them)

Al grew up in Southeastern Wisconsin, where their formative years were enriched by a unique stint in an alternative school dedicated to environmental education and experiential learning. Driven by that learning experience, they left to the University of Vermont in Burlington, seeking to immerse themselves in diverse learning experiences. At UVM, Al pursued their passion for environmental science, graduating with a BS degree alongside a minor in ecological agriculture.

During their undergraduate years, Al's path took an unexpected turn as they found themselves in the world of winemaking and vineyard management. As an assistant winemaker and vineyard manager, they thrived on a queer and woman-dominated team, challenging industry norms and forging their own unique path.

In 2020, Al's journey led them to Nashville where they continued to pursue their passion within the beverage industry. However, there was a pull towards social impact work as a trans person in the South, which eventually led them to pivot in a new direction.

Today, Al is the founder and operator of Queer Spokes, a community-focused initiative aimed at empowering queer individuals through bicycle maintenance education and group rides. With inclusion tennessee, Al serves as Program Coordinator for our Studio Fifty (Older Adult) and mpwrmnt (Gather & Wellness) program.

Shawn R.
Youth Programs Specialist
(they/them)

Shawn R., M.E.d., M.Div is a Nashville-based learner, educator, designer and cultural organizer interested in the power of art, place, space, history, play, and technology as means of developing political consciousness.

Shawn graduated from Peabody College with an M.Ed. in Learning and Design, and from Vanderbilt Divinity with an M.Div in interreligious encounter. They currently serve as a project specialist for the National LGBT Cancer Network, supporting training and technical assistance initiatives across the nation.

In their former employment, they served as the long-time coordinator of Vanderbilt Program for LGBTQ Health’s Trans Buddy program, working to train and coordinate peer advocates for transgender patients throughout the hospital, and offering resource navigation services.

Finn S-P.
Transgender & Gender Expansive Justice Specialist
(they/them)

Finn is originally from Durham, North Carolina, and moved to Nashville for graduate school in 2022. They attended Meredith College for their Bachelor’s degree in Biology and Public Health and completed their Master’s in Medicine, Health, and Society at Vanderbilt University. While in their master’s program, Finn conducted research on mental healthcare utilization and mental health outcomes in transgender and gender non-conforming university-enrolled students. They also gave multiple presentations on community and gender-affirming care to a variety of audiences throughout their master’s education.

Finn and their dog, Bentley, are a certified therapy dog team and enjoy volunteering with local organizations to support the Nashville community. They regularly volunteer with the Oasis Center in Nashville and greatly enjoy working with the youth there.

Outside of their professional life, Finn enjoys rock climbing and reading. They are currently reading books that provide the representation that they craved in their youth. Finn has also been a barista for five years and enjoys creating fun and unique beverage recipes.

They are excited to work with inclusion tennessee to support and engage with their community.