Our Staff
Meet the people that bring CenterLink's Mission to life.
Denise Spivak
DEPUTY DIRECTOR
denise@lgbtcenters.org
954-765-6024
Denise Spivak joined CenterLink after working in the private sector for over twenty years. She has extensive experience in team management, talent acquisition and program development. Prior to joining CenterLink, Denise was a corporate executive recruiter. Her background also includes on-air and production roles in the broadcast industry and senior retail management positions with Fortune 500 companies.
Denise was born and raised in the Washington, D.C. area. Starting in the early ‘90s she was part of the Sophie’s Parlor Radio Collective, the longest-running women’s music radio show in the country. She also served as a stage manager, producer and sound crew member for numerous Pride events and Women’s Music festivals, and was a production assistant for “A Simple Matter of Justice”, the video of the 1993 March on Washington. She currently serves on a number of local non-profit boards and committees focused in the LGBT arena. Denise is a graduate of Gettysburg College where she received her B.A. in Psychology.
Adriana Orozco
CONTROLLER
adriana@lgbtcenters.org
954-765-6024
Adriana Orozco is the Controller for CenterLink. She joined the team with more than 15 years of public and private accounting experience in providing quality accounting and tax services. Her focus is streamlining procedures, analyze financials and help secure other boring financial stuff.
Adriana has experience in all facets of accounting including audit preparation, payroll and bookkeeping. She earned her Bachelor degree in Accounting from Florida Atlantic University. Adriana brings over 5 years of nonprofit experience in the LGBT community and is very passionate about providing excellence in the movement.
Regina R. Washington DrPH
DIRECTOR OF LGBT HEALTHLINK & DEVELOPMENT OFFICER
regina@lgbtcenters.org
954-765-6024
Dr. Washington is the Director of Program Operations for LGBT HealthLink working toward eliminating health disparities within the LGBT communities as it relates to tobacco cessation and cancer control. She has over 15 years of experience in community, governmental, academic institutional leadership, combined, related to strategic planning, program/policy development, implementation, and evaluation. Her presentations, projects, and writings have been focused on health disparities, health education, and health policy, specifically related to tobacco cessation and cancer control. Her public health practice focuses on geographic, social, behavioral factors associated with cancer health disparities among low socioeconomic status, minority racial/ethnic, and other disadvantaged populations.
Dr. Washington is also a nonprofit strategic consultant specializing in organizational strategic mapping, identifying and engaging partners, program design, provider-patient communication, health equity, tobacco cessation, and cancer health disparities.
Dr. Washington obtained her bachelor’s degree in biology from Berea College, master’s degree in education from Eastern Kentucky University, Doctor of Public Health from the University of Kentucky, completed a CERTA fellowship with the National Cancer Institute, and is one of the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill Public Health Leadership Scholars. She has achieved numerous leadership and service awards.
Deborah Levine
DIRECTOR OF LGBT YOUTHLINK
deborah@lgbtcenters.org
954-283-9888
Deborah S. Levine is the Director of LGBT YouthLink. Deborah has spent virtually her entire career in the nonprofit world. Immediately prior to her work with CenterLink, Deborah spent a decade working at Planned Parenthood Federation of America as the Director of Online Health Education. Prior to her stint at the national Planned Parenthood, Deborah worked at the local Connecticut Planned Parenthood providing professional development for youth serving professionals. Earlier in her career, she taught high school history at Boston area public schools. Deborah obtained her bachelor degree in cultural anthropology and minor in women’s studies as well as her master degree in social work from the University of Pennsylvania. She earned her master of arts in teaching from Simmons College in Boston.
Deborah was born and raised in the Hudson Valley of New York. After college and graduate school in Philadelphia, she moved to Jamaica Plain, MA for a decade and then to Brooklyn, NY for nearly a decade. She now makes her home in Oak Park, IL.
Ana Machado, MPH
SENIOR MANAGER, STRATEGIC PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT
ana@lgbtcenters.org
954-765-6024
Ana Machado is the Senior Manager for Strategic Program Development, and is responsible for ensuring team efforts support the larger program and organizational goals for CenterLink and its member network. Ana is in charge of the development for all initiatives across CenterLink and its programs including strategic planning, program creation, program budget, program delivery, evaluation metrics, and reporting for program success. In addition, as Senior Manager Ana works toward the implementation and administration of projects designed to educate and prepare local LGBT centers to respond to the needs the community, and focus on driving long-term objectives and strategy for CenterLink, while building strong relationships with cross-functional teams; breaking down and solving complex problems.
Ana has a Master's degree in Public Health Management and Policy as well as a background in Program Administration, Public Health Research, and a BA in Marketing. Ana's career has been characterized by a strong commitment to advocacy and social justice. Throughout her work, Ana has systematically included the perspectives and needs of communities that otherwise would be disenfranchised from important processes. She is bilingual in English and Spanish and brings over 10 years of nonprofit experience as an advocate for victims of interpersonal violence. Her work has specialized in advancing programing geared toward prevention and outreach of racial minorities, LGBT communities, women, and people of color.
Donna Solomon-Carter
COMMUNICATIONS AND OUTREACH MANAGER
donna@lgbtcenters.org
954-765-6024
Donna Solomon-Carter found her home with LGBT HealthLink at CenterLink after years in and out of the non-profit arena. She has held a variety of positions in bookkeeping and finance, and worked with Senior and Women's Programming at The Pride Center in Wilton Manors, FL.
She is a co-creator of The Lesbian Lounge, the first live broadcast internet radio show originally broadcasting on MyLesbianRadio.com, still an ongoing successful podcast. Adding to her work in communications, the program allowed many opportunities for hosting Pride and Women's Music events in the US and UK.
Originally from Massachusetts, Donna has lived in South Florida for over 30 years and is proud to be a member of the vibrant LGBT communities and the great work and support surrounding her.
Julia Landis
EXECUTIVE OFFICE MANAGER
julia@lgbtcenters.org
954-765-6024
Julia Landis joined the CenterLink team after working in the private sector for over 25 years. She has extensive experience both in retail and call-center management most recently working in social paper i.e. creating, printing and assembling invitations for every event imaginable. Prior to joining CenterLink Julia was a store manager in a neighborhood invitation store. Previously she spent over 9 years working for a major telecommunications company as both a manager and on-line representative in a customer service call center. Julia is a former board member and current volunteer for Women In Network, Broward county's lesbian social and networking organization handling membership and heading up WIN's new Extreme Couponing program. Julia is a graduate of the University of South Alabama where she received her B.S. in Business Management.
Tanya Tassi
POLICY MANAGER
Tanya Tassi works as the Policy Manager for CenterLink's Center Action Network. She enables LGBTQ community centers and their constituents to act as effective and powerful champions; protecting social services, health care, programming, and funding within the LGBTQ community.
Prior to joining CenterLink, Tanya worked for the Los Angeles LGBT Center in Senior Services. She served as Residential Services Coordinator at Triangle Square - the nation's first and largest LGBTQ low income senior housing facility. She was instrumental in developing and expanding their programming and advocacy services. Tanya began volunteering with Wisconsin AIDS Resource Center at the age of 17, and continued to volunteer during her career, first at Nashville AIDS Project and then at PFlag of Temecula, CA. She is the founder and director of the Los Angeles Senior Mobilization Squad; a group of older adult advocates who are dedicated to protecting and expanding the rights of the LGBTQ community. Tanya received her Gerontology certification from the University of Southern California's Leonard Davis School of Gerontology and her Administration of Justice degree from East Los Angeles College. She is currently pursuing a Master's Degree in Public Policy.
Terry Stone
DIRECTOR OF CENTER ACTION NETWORK
Terry Stone is the Director of Center Action Network, the advocacy program of CenterLink. He has a strong background in grassroots organizing, along with experience in organizational development and board governance, strategic planning, fundraising, organizational management, mergers, and accounting. Previously Terry was CEO at CenterLink where he spent 11 years providing training, coaching, and support for a network of 200 LGBT community centers across the US and Canada to help improve their organizational and service delivery capacity and increase access to public resources in support of their programs. During his tenure, CenterLink was recognized by the White House as a Champion of Change. Terry holds a BBA in accounting from Texas Tech University and is a BoardSource Certified Governance Trainer.
