Kassi Talbot | President

Kassi Talbot (she/her/hers) is a doctoral candidate for Educational Leadership at San Francisco State University. She has been a co-learner/educator for the past six years. She teaches Middle School Social Studies and High School Spanish in Pescadero. Kassandra holds a M.A. in Education, Equity and Social Justice; concentration in antiracist teaching and transformative practices in the rural context. Her ultimate goals include using her position in the community to catalyze transformations in the current school system into one that serves all students equitably. She hopes community members and former students will come back to the coastside community to continue the fight, lead and support future generations. Kassandra is a Red Cross First Aid Instructor, Trauma Informed Instructor and local radio host for KPDO 89.3.

When she is not working on projects for the youth, Kassandra enjoys spending the day with her partner and dogs, cooking, watching a good anime series and surfing.

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Lauren Smith-Wells | Member

Lauren Smith-Wells has spent the past 15 years building startups from the ground up, and brings to the Board expertise in strategy, operations, and finance. She is currently the VP of Operations and Strategy at Crafty Counter, an award-winning, plant-based egg company. She lives in Pacifica where she is also a member of the Pacifica Economic Development Committee, and helped formalize its city-wide Pride celebration in 2023. She holds a B.A. in International Relations from Claremont McKenna College and a Masters in International Business from Tufts University.

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Kelly Kramer | Treasurer

Kelly Kramer has had a successful career in information technology for over 30 years. Starting as an IT leader in major law firms, the majority of her career has been at the global consulting firm McKinsey and Company, advancing to Director in Technology and Digital Services Leadership and Excellence.

Kelly is also a licensed Resource Parent in San Mateo County, California. As a child advocate, she has provided emergency care for children suddenly brought into protective custody, working with county agencies and the family court system. She has extensive knowledge and experience in childhood trauma, attachment disorders and medically fragile infants.

She lives with her Covid companion, Brody, a rescued 5-year-old German Shephard, and is a hot yoga enthusiast who enjoys biking and hiking the coastal trails.

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Brandon Ferrell | Member

As a licensed California tax preparer with nearly two decades of experience, I am proud to support CoastPride’s mission of creating safe and welcoming spaces for everyone. My journey to this point has been shaped by personal challenges—since I was a child, I’ve lived in a world of confusion and have experienced isolation, including being shunned for religious reasons. As a young adult, loneliness was a familiar companion.

Over time, I’ve learned more about myself, including how being on the autism spectrum influenced the way I communicate and perceive the world. I realized that the confusion I experienced could have been alleviated by the right influence—someone who could teach and guide me toward understanding.

Now, with nearly 20 years of experience fostering clarity and connection in my professional life, I am passionate about helping others by offering a safe space where they can explore their experiences, feel accepted, and grow. By fostering understanding and teaching people to navigate their challenges, I believe we can build stronger, more compassionate communities.

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Dana TherActivist Johnson | Member

Dana TherActivist Johnson, MSW, is a transgender non-binary community activist, author, documentary filmmaker, DEI&B consultant and professional-development trainer. Dana received a master’s degree in social work, a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, and has a variety of professional certifications. Dana’s an author and filmmaker of the memoir, TherActivist: They/ Them/ Theirs, a narrative embracing Identity, Intersectionality, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. The TherActivist embodies a “therapeutic activism” approach, while servicing and empowering BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ communities.

Dana serves as a LGBTQ Commissioner and PRIDE Initiative co-chair for the County of San Mateo. They’re a peer-support worker for the Q-Corner, a LGBTQ+ peer wellness center of County of Santa Clara. Dana has 17 years’ experience counseling and working with justice-involved youth. They have co-coordinated the San Mateo County Pride Celebration since 2016 and has been on the coordinating committee since its existence in 2012. They’re the emcee of San Mateo County Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) program. Dana’s also a Fellow of Equality of California Institute Leadership Academy, and inaugural member of San Mateo County Leadership CORPS Council.

Dana’s motivated in assisting in the implementation of inclusive policies and protocols; and passionate about providing LGBTQIA+ equity services, social justice services, and activism to marginalized communities. When Dana’s not busy servicing the community they spend time engaging in self-care modalities.

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Beth Pielert | Member

Beth Basa Pielert’s career spans 26 years in the film and gaming industry as a writer/producer/director and editor. Pielert’s first film, Kiss My Cleats, premiered at the Frameline Film Festival 23 and she has been an active juror of documentary submissions ever since.

Pielert formed Good Film Works in 2001 while writing and directing Out of the Poison Tree for PBS, a documentary that explores truth and reconciliation for survivors of the Cambodian Genocide. Some of her credits include award-winning films such as The Corporation, winner of 24 international Awards, including the Sundance Audience Award, and Claiming the Title: Gay Olympics on Trial, winner of the Alternative Spirit Award and Best Documentary at the Palm Springs ShortFest.

For five years Pielert was the Video Director at EA|Visceral Games, directing behind-the-scenes documentaries and marketing trailers for Dead Space 2 and 3, Army of Two and Battlefield Hardline.

Pielert is currently co-directing and producing Echoes of Our Past: A Salmon Story with the indigenous-led Children of the Setting Sun Productions. Echoes is a collaboration with Vision Maker Media and will air on PBS in 2024.

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Margarita Saucedo | Member

Margarita has more than 10 years of experience in healthcare operations, project management, and information systems and technology. In her current role, she collaborates closely with cross-functional teams to optimize processes and implement innovative solutions. She is committed to the health and well-being of her community and to supporting CoastPride’s mission to create a kind and welcoming coastside.

Margarita lives on the border of Daly City and Pacifica with her wife, young child, and two cats. She holds a BS in biology and primatology and maintains a passion for the natural sciences. She also enjoys reading, hiking along the coast, and seeing her child’s silly and caring personality develop.

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Aimee Shapiro | Member

Aimee Shapiro is the Executive Director of the San Mateo County Office of Arts and Culture. In her role she supports the strong network of nonprofit arts organizations across the County, increasing access to the arts for all residents. Her background is in arts management, museum education, public programming, and equitable access to the arts.

Originally from Queens, Aimee has called the Bay Area home for almost 20 years, living on the Coast for over 10. She lives with her family in Montara where she enjoys hiking, surfing, dogs, and being a parent to a middle-schooler.

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Jenny Walter | Member Emeritus

Jenny Walter is a founding member and former board president of CoastPride, serving Pescadero through Pacifica. She was the first co-chair of the San Mateo County LGBTQ Commission and during her five-year service, the Commission conducted a county-wide needs assessment of LGBTQ+ residents and promoted the establishment of the San Mateo County Pride Center. As CoastPride Board Emeritus, she is actively working to bring allcove, an integrated mental health model for young people, ages 12–25, to the coastside. She served as a task force member on the Coastside Recovery Initiative and community stakeholder on the Half Moon Bay Streetscape Master Plan. She served as counsel to the California Tribal Court-State Court Forum at the Judicial Council. Before that she was directing attorney of Legal Advocates for Children and Youth in San Jose and staff attorney at Legal Services for Children in San Francisco. She presently serves as a tribal appellate judge for the Northern California Tribal Court Coalition and law partner at Hedger & Walter, LLP, which is committed to helping tribal courts and nonprofits achieve their vision to serve their communities. Jenny graduated with a degree in linguistics from UC Berkeley in 1982 and a J.D. from the University of San Francisco School of Law. She was inducted into the San Mateo County Women’s Hall of Fame in 2024. She lives with her wife in Half Moon Bay, California, where they raised their daughter, and have two dogs, one chicken, one canary, and one mini-pig.

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Cameron Zeller | Operations Director

Cameron lives in El Granada with their partner, Demi. They enjoy making music, spending time with family around the Bay Area, and being outside. Cameron has been working in construction and project management for the wastewater sector for 10 years. In 2021, they had the opportunity to begin working part-time at CoastPride, supporting all of the amazing work done by the all-volunteer board. They are now the Operations Director at CoastPride, helping to deepen the foundation of the organization’s existing programs and expand services based on the needs of the coastside LGBTQ+ community.

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