Taryn Nielsen, Graphic Designer
What did you do before coming to GSBA?
I moved to Washington in 2015 from Salt Lake City, where I was born and raised. I’ve worked in publishing and advertising and I’m excited to put my artistic talents to use for GSBA.
What are you favorite things about living in the Puget Sound region?
As a PNW newbie (and a mountain-lover), I’m smart to have picked a new home so close to beautiful water AND majestic mountains.
What are you most excited about in your new role?
GSBA hosts so many fun events and I can’t wait to get creative with design elements to support and emphasize the great work we do.
With all the resources in the world, what would you like to create for GSBA?
Is there a restriction on how big a banner can be at CenturyLink Field? I’d love to challenge the dimensions of a large-format printer and make an enormous GSBA tifo for a Sounders game.
What is your favorite vacation destination or experience you’ve had?
My father worked for Delta Airlines when I was in high school, and at 17-years of age, the day before spring break, a friend and I wanted to travel as cheaply as possible. I got us some inexpensive airfare, she called her college-age cousin attending Hawaii
Pacific University, and the next day we were on Waikiki Beach. I’ve never enjoyed a spontaneous trip more and it’s probably because Matsumoto Shave Ice was on the menu every day!
Carlos Chavez, Program & Events Manager
What did you do before coming to GSBA?
For the past 15 years, I worked in multiple capacities for the Metropolitan Community Churches which is the world’s largest LGBT Christian denomination. I had the opportunity to meet and work with wonderful people from all around the world and learn about different cultures and traditions which have enriched my life in so many ways.
You’ve been here for nearly a decade. What keeps you in Seattle?
I love the weather believe it or not. I grew up in Los Angeles where the weather varies
from warm to really-hot, living here where we experience all four seasons and no
real extreme temperatures, except for the occasional snowmageddon, is really refreshing. We get to see plants and trees renew themselves every year and I see this as a reminder from Mother Nature, that we too are part of this cycle which makes us stronger and more colorful each year.
What are you most excited about in your new role?
Everyone at GSBA has been strongly committed to the values of the organization. Meeting new colleagues, making new connections and new friends as we come together to collaborate on projects is what I am really excited about and looking
forward to.
What kinds of new event programming would you like to start at GSBA?
In the 9 years that I’ve lived in Seattle, I have seen how the racial diversity has been steadily increasing in the city. I would love to create programs that reach out to these growing communities so that they can take advantage of the huge business network GSBA has to offer.
What is your favorite vacation destination or experience you’ve had?
I love visiting Latin America. It doesn’t matter which country, there is something about the warmth and hospitality of the people in Latin America that simply feels good to me. My family immigrated to the United States from Peru when I was 8 years old and as much as I am an American culturally, I am also very aware that my roots are very Peruvian.
