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Carol Gnade has been named the Utah Pride Center's permanent executive director, the center's board said Monday.
Gnade, 69, who ran the Utah chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union for 14 years, came out of retirement in November to help guide the center after its director abruptly resigned. She committed to helping out for three months, but after 10 weeks, wanted to stay, said Michael Aguilar, the board chairman.
"When she first started she was a little bit hesitant … there was a lot of negative energy around the center," Aguilar said, noting that the departure of Marian Edmonds-Allen came amid allegations of financial instability and programming challenges.
Since then, Aguilar said, Gnade and the board have worked to refocus the center's mission and added key staff, including a development director and a Pride Festival director, to move the organization toward greater stability.
"Carol is really all about building community," he said, "and bringing trust back to the center."
Working with Gnade, the board has adopted new mission and vision statements. It also is in the process of drafting a strategic plan, Aguilar said, that will better focus center programming and foster greater community collaboration.
"Our hope is really to become the core for the LGBT, community in Utah," he added, "and refer people to the other organizations that already do great work in our community."
The board also announced Monday the appointment of Development Director Monica Owen, Pride Festival Director Valerie Walker, and six new board members, including, Alan Walker, Lynn Suksdorf, Tim Johns, Chad Morrett, Debby Berdan and Mona Stevens.