New Executive Team Welcomed by New Hope Celebrates

NEW HOPE, Pa. — New Hope Celebrates (NHC) has a new executive board of directors following elections held on July 19. Serving on new executive board of directors are Melissa Patterson, Ryan Segura, Eva Guasconi, and Marjorie Forbes.

“I am so pleased to learn about the election of Melissa Patterson as president and of the entire super-skilled executive team," said NHC Founder Dan Brooks after hearing the results. "This year will mark NHC’s 20th anniversary as an organization, and as NHC’s founder, I couldn’t be happier to see this group lead the organization into its third decade!”

Sharon Fronabarger, former president and special advisor to the NHC Board, added, "I have worked with this team through Pride 2022 and I have every confidence that the new executive board, under the leadership of Melissa Patterson, will continue to evolve the NHC organization and make a meaningful impact on the LGBTQ+ community."

Patterson, who has served as director and vice president of finance for NHC since March 2009, is taking on the leadership position of president of NHC. She has a B.S. in business administration with a concentration in both accounting and finance from Millersville University and an MBA from St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia. Currently, she works as an associate director in clinical finance at Gilead Sciences.

When asked about her new role, Melissa said, “I'm excited and honored to be elected to lead this organization and can’t wait to get to work.”

Segura will now be vice president of events. At NHC he has served as director since February 2020 and vice president of communications since September 2020. Ryan worked as an English educator on the high school and college level for more than ten years before transitioning to an editor at the Wall Street Journal. He now works for Weichert Realtors as a real estate agent.

Forbes joins the executive team as the vice president of governance. She joined the NHC Board in 2021 and served as co-chair for the Pride Fair in May 2022. Marjorie has several years of experience working in the non-profit area, which she is excited to bring to this new role. In the past Marjorie, she was an executive director of a women’s nonprofit to help heal from physical and sexual abuse. She is now the Chief Operating Officer for Union Chill Cannabis and a naturopathic doctor in Lambertville, N.J.

Guasconi is the new vice president of communications. She joined the NHC Board in 2021 and is very proud to be the first transgendered woman to serve on the NHC Board. Eva underwent M to F gender reassignment surgery at Lower Bucks Hospital under Dr. Christine McGinn in 2010 at the age of 22. With 13 years of hospitality experience, Eva is currently part of the concierge team and a bartender at ROOF, located at the beautiful River House at Odette’s.

NHC said it would like to thank all board members, past and present, for their service. As a tax-exempt non-profit organization, their success is dependent on volunteers who are willing to give their time and talents to make a difference in the LGBTQ+ community. The role of vice president of finance was not filled during the elections and NHC will begin a targeted recruitment effort for this role.

New Hope Celebrates (NHC) is a nonprofit organization focused on highlighting the history and cultural nuances of New Hope and Lambertville, N.J., while stimulating the retail, hospitality, and professional community.

NHC is comprised of a board of directors that drives activities and events that serve the diverse LGBTQ+ populace through the creation and promotion of marketing opportunities, educational activities, and cultural events. One such event is the annual, week-long Pride celebration held in May.

Since 2003, NHC has organized events that recognize the strong LGBTQ+ presence in the New Hope area and celebrated the history and culture of our scenic river towns. Funding generated through New Hope Celebrates events is channeled back into the community to support neighbors in collaborative business and cultural initiatives that make New Hope a great place for residents and visitors alike.