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Chair Couple / Media & Internet Couple:
Laurie & Amy
Laurie & Amy have been friends for over 30 years, having met as high school freshmen. They have been together as a committed couple for 25 years after becoming "college sweethearts" in 1982. Balancing newfound love with academics at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, they earned their Bachelor degrees in 1985: Amy in education, which led to management positions in the rehabilitation, consulting, and business arenas; and Laurie in journalism, which led to a 16-year career in public relations and corporate communications. Laurie also earned a Master's degree in journalism and communication from Point Park University in Pittsburgh, where the couple lived with their two cats, Mallory and Sara. They became active in the LGBT community in the late '80s and were members of the Pittsburgh affiliate of the National COUPLES Network.
In 1989, Laurie & Amy formalized their life commitment before 100 friends and relatives at a holy union ceremony through the Metropolitan Community Church. Throughout the '90s, they continued to cultivate their relationship, develop their careers, and grow their many friendships.
Weary of Pennsylvania’s winters and longing to own their own business, Laurie & Amy relocated to Florida in 2001, started a management consulting company called InnSparations, and for 3 years operated an inn and spa in Gulfport. In 2005, they returned to the corporate world
and continue to work together, in side-by-side offices, as medical science editors for a pharmaceutical research company in Palm Harbor. In addition to their day jobs, Laurie, a licensed massage therapist, and Amy, a licensed esthetician, still dabble in spa services part-time. They enjoy ballroom dancing and are active with local greyhound rescue and adoption. Being from Pittsburgh, they are also diehard Steeler fans. The couple lives in St. Petersburg with their cats, Mackenzie and Sebastian, and retired racing greyhound, Sophie.
Laurie & Amy have been members of FGCC since 2003. In addition to their January 2008 election to Chair Couple, they are currently fulfilling the second year of their term as Media & Internet Couple.
| Vice Chair Couple:
Kim & Melissa
Kim & Melissa became friends several years ago after meeting in Florida through mutual friends. Their friendship grew especially strong during a difficult time in their lives
and blossomed into a beautiful, committed, and loving relationship in 2006. Both women love several types of music and attend concerts and live performances in their free time. They share interests in creative writing, art, golf, and traveling as well as playing board and card games with friends. They proudly live with three cats, Macy, Willow, and Louie, and all five are owned by a fluffy, white dog named Sophia.
Originally from Elgin, Illinois, Kim has lived in Florida for
12 years. She is an independent contractor for her own massage therapy business and maintains part-time consultant work for a plastic mold injection company. Prior to her massage therapy career, she was an operations manager in the plastics field for 13 years. She earned a BA in music theory from Sienna Heights College in Adrian, Michigan, in 1996. In the past, she played rhythm guitar and sang lead vocals in local bands in the Chicago area and still enjoys writing music, singing, and playing her guitar from time to time. Kim loves adventure vacations, which often include white water rafting, hiking, camping, and biking. In her free time, she jogs, works on home improvement projects, writes poetry, and enjoys spending time with friends.
Melissa was born in Trenton, Michigan, and lived in Texas, Colorado, Georgia, and Tennessee before moving to Florida 8 years ago. She earned a BA in psychology from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville and a Master’s in social work from the University of South Florida. Professionally, Melissa has over 11 years experience assisting the chronically and severely mentally ill and currently works for a local mental health agency as a crisis counselor. Melissa loves devoting her time to animals, nature, writing poetry, reading, hiking, and home projects.
Kim & Melissa have been members of FGCC since January 2007 and served as the Events Couple last year. They have been the Vice Chair Couple since January 2008.
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Events Couple:
John & Ted
John & Ted met in the fall of 2001 shortly after John had arrived in Florida to accept a transfer from Denver with
his company. Ted had been living here since 1992 after corporate "downsizing" affected his 16-year career with
a major insurance company in the Northeast. Within 6 months, they decided that, at this point in their lives, it seemed a serious committment was in order, and they purchased a home in Clearwater. During the next 4 years, they spent most of their spare time and MONEY remodeling every room in the house, something they both enjoyed but will NEVER do again.
John was born in Indiana but raised in Massachusetts and moved to Colorado during high school. He attended the University of Colorado, graduating with a BA in education. His first teaching contract took him to northern California for 3 years where he attended Stanford and earned a Master's in education. After being furloughed 3 years later due to the up and down need for teachers in the '70s, John returned to Colorado where he held positions in sales and operated his own business for 10 years. John also lived in Tennessee as a "gentleman farmer" during the early '80s.
Ted was also born in Indiana but raised in Cincinnati, Ohio. He attended the University of Cincinnati, graduating with a BA in business administration in 1976. Ted's career in the insurance business took him to various cities in the Midwest and finally the Northeast. Ted has been with the United States Postal Service here in Florida for the past 13 years, most recently working as a window clerk at the main office in St. Pete on Central Avenue.
Both Ted & John are avid travelers, although Ted needs to catch up with John, who has visited every continent on Earth more than once (except Antarctica). In addition, they love FOOD, (Ted cooks, John eats), their two "children" (a dachshund and a whippet), the beach, and reading. In June 2006 while at St. Pete Pride, they stopped by the FGCC booth and took home an informational brochure. The rest is history, as they say.
Ted & John have been the Events Couple since January 2008.
| Member Services Couple:
Nichole & Elizabeth
Nichole & Elizabeth met in the summer of 1995 while both were working for Publix Supermarkets and attending The Florida State University in Tallahassee. They became friends over the next few months. Nichole earned her BS degree in human resources management by the end of that year and remained in Tallahassee to further her career with Publix Supermarkets, while Elizabeth continued her study of elementary education. It was in the beginning of 1996 that Nichole and Elizabeth became “Nichole & Elizabeth.”
Elizabeth earned her BS degree in 1997 and had to move back home to Bradenton for a teaching position. Nichole had recently been promoted to a management position with Publix, so she stayed in Tallahassee. After 6 months of a long-distance relationship and disillusionment with the education system, Elizabeth moved back to Tallahassee and worked full-time with Publix. By 1998, both longed for home and family and moved back to St. Pete.
Nichole & Elizabeth had their commitment ceremony on Pass-A-Grill beach on May 29, 2004 in front of their closest friends and families. Today, they live in St. Petersburg with their two dogs, Kaylee (mini-dachshund) and Muffin (shih tzu), and two cats, Renegade and Bandit. They enjoy a strong and close relationship with their families and are especially proud to be the godparents of their first niece, Campbell (on Nichole’s side) while eagerly awaiting the arrival of their new nephew (on Elizabeth’s side). Being alumni of FSU is also a point of pride for them; they have been season ticket holders for FSU football for 9 years and attend every home game as their schedules permit.
As for their professional lives, it’s been strong and steady for Elizabeth once she left the world of education. She’s been with Publix Supermarkets for 17 years total and is currently a store manager in Seminole. Nichole left Publix in 2003 after 14 years to focus on continuing her career in human resources. She is currently a human resources generalist with EmCare, Inc. in Clearwater.
They have been members of FGCC since August 2007 and have enjoyed getting to know the wonderful and eclectic people that make up such a worthwhile group. As members of HRC and Equality Florida, Nichole & Elizabeth are becoming more active in LGBT concerns. They enjoy physical activity and taking vacations that allow them to get out and enjoy nature, whether hiking, kayaking, white water rafting (or being thrown from one), they enjoy it all. They love experiencing new adventures and new places.
Nichole & Elizabeth have been the Member Services Couple since January 2008.
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Finance Couple:
Marta & Linda
Marta & Linda met in 2004 while bowling at Ten Pin Lanes. It did not take long for them to find that they complemented each other and enjoyed similar interests. They have been together for 3 years and share their home with a 14-year-old miniature Schnauzer, a 17-year-old cat, and 7 cockatiels. They both enjoy the outdoors and like camping, traveling, working with stained glass, glass fusing, and constructing monstrosities in the backyard that resemble pergolas.
Linda is a Florida native. She graduated with an AS degree in Radiologic Technology in 1984 from St. Petersburg College. She started working as an X-ray technologist and has been an MRI tech for almost 20 years. Linda currently works at a clinic in Largo.
Marta was born in Puerto Rico. She obtained her Bachelor's degree in social work from the University of South Florida in 1985 and has been working in the mental health and substance abuse field for the past 23 years. She is a licensed mental health counselor and a certified addiction professional. In 1993, she went to Colorado and obtained her Master's degree from Naropa University, a Buddhist-inspired college. She returned to Florida in 1997 and currently works as a therapist for a community mental health center. She is also in private practice.
Marta & Linda have been the Finance Couple since January 2008.
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