OutCenter Leadership
Our Board of Directors
Shannon Lyons
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A firm believer in the importance of systemic change to further equality for the LGBTQ+ community, Lyons brings strong relationships and knowledge of both the local and national landscape to the OutCenter board.
Born and raised in Dowagiac, Michigan, Lyons earned her BFA from The Theatre School at Chicago’s DePaul University, then spent two decades in Seattle before returning to Southwest Michigan in 2018. Since then, she’s poured herself into local development initiatives, including the Stay Dowagiac collective, an organization she co-founded that promotes the city as a destination and supports community and charity endeavors.
Lyons is also on the Board of Directors of Lyons Industries, a family-owned manufacturing business that was named the 2022 Michigan Works! Employer of the Year. A professionally trained pastry chef, Lyons lives in Dowagiac with her wife of 15+ years, Cathy McBride, and their two cats, Elphaba and Boo.
Board Chair
Audrey S. Peeples
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Although she’s been around food her whole life, dedicating her passion for cooking by watching her grandmother cook and helping her grandfather pull weeds in his beautiful garden, to working in a professional capacity in the food industry for decades. Chef Audy has been cooking with love around the country for many years.
Audy brings with her extensive Board experience including the Benton Harbor Arts Association and Benton Harbor Downtown Development Authority. She also leverages a lifetime of connections in Benton Harbor and across Southwest Michigan, and from her years in Chicago.
Audy, as a member of the LGBTQ+ community, also understands the importance of OutCenter Southwest Michigan and the many impacts the organization has had and can continue to have on the lives of LGBTQ+ youth. This is a priority area for Audy in her role as a Board member, along with sharing her extensive fundraising experience and creative ideas for going forward.
Vice Chair
Scott R. Gane
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Scott spends his 9 to 5 (and then some) these days living out all the ABCs behind his name as VP of a security & crisis response firm based in Detroit. He is a parent to two generations of adult children and the other half of #GigiandPapaG, running away to parts south and west whenever he gets the chance to see the big kids who live out of state.
Scott’s allyship with the LGBTQ community began in the late 70’s and 80’s while I was a firefighter, paramedi, and police officer. He witnessed firsthand the inhumanities violently portrayed on the community while just trying to live, literally, as this was the peak of the AIDS epidemic. He saw people who needed help and was there to help them and listen to them while he patched them up. Scott began working with the OutCenter a few years ago when some ne’er-do-wells made threats to the OutCenter and the good people who work there and he’s been doing some “behind the scenes” work ever since. He has also sat on the Board of an international security association and Berrien County Sportsman Club in the past.
Scott was born and raised in southwest Michigan. His wife often says “you can take the boy out of the farm, but you can’t take the farm out of the boy.” Some may know Scott as BajaGringo from when he had a taco truck, others may remember his infamous firehouse chili from when he and his wife owned the Main Street Café (1999-2002) in downtown Benton Harbor. Call him a Renaissance man, but don’t call him late for dinner!
Board Treasurer
Ashley Schulte
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She demonstrates her love for hands-on community impact through volunteering for multiple organizations including serving as Secretary and High School Advisor for the St. Joseph/Benton Harbor Kiwanis Club.
Board Secretary
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Her most recent works include co-writing and producing American Parent which is currently on Roku and has served as producer for John Hancock’s The Looking Glass which was distributed on Netflix. In addition to her work as a filmmaker, Doreen is a life-long educator and is Dean and Professor Emerita at Columbia College Chicago. She and her spouse, RéLynn Hansen, have lived in Lakeside for over thirty years and have been actively involved in community engagement. Doreen holds a graduate degree in film and an undergraduate degree in communications from Northwestern University.
Doreen Bartoni
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After selling his Hyde Park cafe he worked for Theaster Gates’ Rebuild Foundation as Workforce Development Manager.
He currently runs Lakeside Inn and Gordon Beach Inn and is part owner of TapaTaco in Union Pier.
Sam earned his degree in Geology from Wheaton College and served as an Officer in the Corps of Engineers, US Army Reserve and Massachusetts National Guard.
Sam serves on the board in honor of his friend Jen Powell, who left us too soon.
Sam Darrigrand
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In addition to his executive leadership, Michael maintains an active psychotherapy practice, primarily serving LGBTQ+ individuals. His work spans direct clinical care, organizational governance, and public mental health policy, giving him a dual perspective on ethical standards, evidence-based practice, and the real-world impact of mental health interventions.
Licensed in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin, Michael brings multi-state clinical and policy experience to conversations about behavioral health regulation and professional standards. He also serves on the boards of the National Association of Social Workers - Illinois Chapter and the Alliance to End Homelessness.
Michael Mallory
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Throughout her academic journey, Briana's commitment to community engagement shone brightly. She honed her skills as the Events Coordinator at NAMI Michigan, advocating for mental health awareness and support.
Driven by her passion for both communities and marketing, Briana joined Mid-West Family Southwest Michigan, an employee-owned media and marketing company. As the Community Engagement and Project Management Director, she orchestrates and executes impactful local campaigns across Southwest Michigan's radio stations, digital platforms, and local events.
Beyond her professional endeavors, Briana is a fervent music enthusiast and a self-taught pianist of over 16 years. She currently resides in South Haven with her loyal companion, Nani, a Biewer Terrier.
Briana Sallis
Our Staff
Gerik Maverick
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Growing up in a conservative faith community left him with an under-developed understanding of both broader LGBTQ+ issues and his own queer identity. After years of deconstructing, education, and self reflection he refocused his efforts on progressive advocacy and outreach to those who are in communities like the one that he was raised in.
Interim Executive Director
Willow Sipling
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Willow holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology, two master’s degrees in humanities, and has credentials and certifications in ethics, DEI, conflict resolution, productivity, and workplace investigations, and is also a Disciplined Agile Scrum Master and Six Sigma Green Belt. Willow is sociology PhD student and researcher at WMU.