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Overview of Host Committee
The Board of Directors of the 2006 Gay Games is comprised of leaders from the Chicago area in government, finance, sports, hospitality, marketing & media, culture, small business, and the corporate and nonprofit sectors. Nearly 2/3 of the Board of Directors have been actively working on the 2006 Gay Games project since 1999, and all have committed to serving through the successful completion of Gay Games VII. Add in dedicated staff, skilled consultants, experienced sports directors, qualified vendors and partners, inspiring artists and performers and the 2006 Gay Games are in excellent hands.
Executive Committee
Suzi Arnold
Co-Chair; Sports Co-Director  Suzi Arnold attended Gay Games II in San Francisco and played softball in Gay Games IV. She also attended Gay Games VI in Sydney. Born in Wisconsin, Suzi has lived in Chicago for more than 13 years. In Milwaukee, Suzi served as Assistant Commissioner of Softball. She was a founding member of the Women's Division of NAGAAA and later served as its Women's Commissioner. In 2001, Suzi was the first woman to be inducted into the NAGAAA Hall of Fame. Since moving to Chicago, Suzi has been active with the Windy City Athletic Association, serving as Assistant Commissioner, Director of Women's Softball and Co-Director of Women's Basketball. Photo by Israel Wright.
Sam Coady
Co-Chair
 Sam Coady has been involved with Chicago Metropolitan Sports Association (CMSA) and Windy City Athletic Association (WCAA) since 1987, directing leagues, tournaments and serving as a WCAA board member. Sam founded Chicago's men’s basketball league and the world’s largest LGBT basketball tournament, the Chicago Hoops Classic (renamed the Coady Roundball Classic in 2004 in his honor.) He has competed in over 80 softball, basketball and tennis tournaments, including 19 straight NAGAAA Softball World Series and the 1994 New York Gay Games. Sam received his MBA fromNorthwestern’s Kellogg Graduate School of Management (MBA) and is Director of Finance at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange working on competitor analysis, mergers and acquisitions. Read Sam's profile in his alumni magazine.
Tracy Baim
Vice Co-Chair; Fundraising Committee Co-Chair; Government Relations Committee Co-Chair
 Tracy Baim is Publisher/Managing Editor at Windy City Media Group (Windy City Times, Nightspots, Identity and Windy City Radio). Tracy is founding Co-Chair of the Chicago Area Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, was recognized as one of Crain's Chicago Business 40-Under-40 leaders, and is an inductee to Chicago's Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame. She is chair of the Fundraising, Government Relations and Technology Committees. She has also been a soccer and softball player for more than 25 years, having toured in Germany in 1980 with one of the first U.S. women's soccer teams to travel abroad, Schwaben. Photo by Israel Wright.
Kevin Boyer
Vice Co-Chair; Marketing Communications Committee Chair
 Kevin Boyer is a communications professional who was Chicago 2006's first male Co-Chair. Four-term co-chair of the Chicago Area Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce and two-term president of the Gerber/Hart Gay and Lesbian Library, Kevin was the lead organizer of the 2003 Federation of Gay Games Annual Meeting. Kevin is a recognized marketing expert and owns Third Coast Marketing, a firm specializing in target marketing to the LGBT community. He has served as Chicago Gay Games marketing chair, media representative and spokesperson since 1999. Born in Salt Lake City, Utah, he has made Chicago his home since 1988.
Kurt Dahl
Treasurer; Finance Committee Co-Chair
 Kurt Dahl, CPA, has a B.A in Accounting and M.B.A. in Finance. Presently Kurt is Vice-President at Harris Trust and Savings Bank and has more than 25 years of banking experience. Kurt is the founder and co-chair of Lion's Pride, Harris's LGBT employee group. He has been Treasurer and a Board member of CGI since 2001. He is also involved with the Equality Illinois Diversity and Education Council and on the finance committee for Out and Equal. He lives in the far suburb of Joliet with his partner Jeff and their two children Andrew and Ashley.
Tarrina Dikes
Secretary
 Tarrina Dikes is an Employee Stock Plan Administrator at Walgreen Company, one of Chicago's most prominent corporations. With significant background in accounting and business operations, Tarrina also serves as the volunteer Executive Director of POW WOW, a youth and adult cultural/poetry non-profit organization based on Chicago's South side. She has served as a fundraiser for The Howard Brown Health Center, Chicago's lesbian and gay community health center, and is an avid bowler.
Dennis Sneyers
Founder
 Dennis M. Sneyers, B.A Upsala College. Relationship Manager – Computershare Investor Services. Manages the shareholder record keeping of 22 companies with over $100 billion in assets. His community service includes serving on the Board of Directors of the Hearts Foundation, an Illinois not-for-profit corporation that raises funds for HIV/AIDS Service organizations as well as Chicago Games Inc. Dennis moved to Chicago in 1996 from New York City where he was a volunteer for Gay Men's Health Crisis. Dennis is considered the founder of Chicago's Gay Games effort, having established the first exploratory committee at the beginning of 1999. Photo by Israel Wright.
Christopher Pries
Nominating, Governance and HR Committee Chair
 Christopher Pries, is a Certified Public Accountant and Certified Internal Auditor. He is currently a Vice President at Jones Lang LaSalle, a global real estate services and investment management company. Christopher has served on the Board of CGI since its inception and was a key organizer of the 2003 Federation if Gay Games (FGG) Annual Meeting. He travels extensively internationally for work and in his capacity as an international relations liaison for CGI. He has attended previous Gay Games, other FGG annual meetings, EuroGames, and other gay sports and cultural festivals. Born in Dallas, Texas, has made Chicago his home since 1991.
At Large Board Members
Ted Cappas
Sports Co-Chair
 Ted is a very active member in Chicago's gay and lesbian sports community, where his involvement includes: flag football, where he was an original member of Chicago's inaugural flag football league, quarterbacking 2 league championships; softball, where Ted has been a player/manager of softball teams that have participated in numerous national tournaments and NAGAAA World Series and basketball, where Ted is an active player and board member of Chicago's basketball league, having played in numerous national tournaments. In addition, Ted currently serves as Tournament Director of Chicago's Coady Roundball Classic, the largest and longest running gay basketball tournament in the world; and Vice President of National Gay Basketball Association ("NGBA"), the governing body of gay and lesbian basketball.
In addition to his duties as Board Member and Co-Chair of Sports, Ted will be running the basketball competiion during Gay Games VII.
Kathy Caldwell
Board Member, Volunteer Security Logistics
 Kathy Caldwell is a native Chicagoan and grew up in the Lakeview area and currently resides in Roscoe Village. She is a Chicago Police Officer and has been in her position for the past eleven years and finds working with the community a rewarding experience. Kathy is very active in the LGBT community and is the treasurer of the Lesbian and Gay Police Association (LGPA-GOAL). She participated as an umpire for the Gay Games VI in Sydney and is involved in the security planning for the Gay Games VII and plans to participate in softball.
Kathy has played a variety of sports including volleyball, softball, bowling, rugby, and cycling. From these activities, Kathy is currently the sports coordinator for the Women’s Police Association, captain of the Women’s Police volleyball and softball teams, member of the Chicago Metropolitan Sports Association and the International Police Mountain Bike Association (IPMBA). Previously, Kathy held the position of President of the Women’s Sport Association Bowling League for seven years.
Academically, Kathy received her A.S. with back round in technical skills, B.A. in Liberal Arts with a minor in Sociology from Northeastern Illinois University and is completing her M.B.A. in Education from DePaul University.
“I am very grateful to be a part in the Gay Games VII and look forward towards everyone having a fabulous experience in Chicago.”
Joseph Cappelletti
Sports Co-Chair
 Joe Cappelletti is a native Chicagoan. He has a BS in Accounting and an MBA in Finance and holds a Certified Public Accountant designation. Joe is a Director of Portfolio Accounting at RREEF and has over 20 years of experience in various financial fields within the real estate industry. Joe was the Secretary of the Chicago Metropolitan Sports Association, one of the largest gay and lesbian sports associations in the country in 2003 and 2004 and participates in several sports within this organization. He was the Co-Director of the 2004 Chicago Metropolitan Sports Association Chi-Town Classic Softball Tournament in Chicago. He was an athlete in the Windy Cindy Athlete Association for many years and participated in numerous softball tournaments over the last 15 years.
Kyle Chang
Chair, Volunteer Committee
 Kyle moved to the Chicagoland area in 1996 is currently the President/CEO for C&C Realty Group, Inc, where he manages the firm’s team of residential agents under their LoftsNHomes.com residential branding. He has been a full-time personal producer since 2002, focusing in commercial real estate. A graduate of California Polytechnic University in Pomona, CA (Management), his previous experience includes work with Hyatt Hotels, Sears & Roebuck and the McDonald’s Corporation. Kyle is actively involved in a variety of community-based organizations. He is the Chair of the Gay Games Chicago Volunteer Committee and serves on various operational committees. He lives in the West Loop neighborhood of Chicago.
Mike Demetria
Board Member
 Mike Demetria has been active in sports league for several years with both the CMSA and WCAA. He joined and has been captain of his volleyball team for a number of years and recently began playing tennis and badminton. He is presently a member of the Board of Directors for The Center on Halsted where he is a member of the development committee. He is a physician at JHS Jr Hospital of Cook County.
Rob Hunden
Board Member
 Rob Hunden is President of Hunden Strategic Partners and offers experience in managing the feasibility and implementation of public-private projects. He has conducted over 100 destination development assignments, specializing in sports, urban entertainment-retail districts, convention center and hotel developments, performing arts and tourism projects. Prior to his role as VP of Johnson Consulting, he worked at Landauer Associates and Grubb & Ellis. His public-sector experience began at the Indianapolis Bond Bank where he worked on the Indiana Convention Center expansion, the RCA Dome renovation, Conseco Fieldhouse, and the Indianapolis Downtown Marriott convention hotel. Mr. Hunden has written articles on economic development and taught Destination Development and Tourism courses at Kendall College in Evanston. He has also been active in special event and nonprofit work, serving as president of the board for Imagination Theater, and has served on the board of Chicago Games, Inc. since 2000.
Eric McCool
Merchandising/Premiums Committee Co-Chair
 Eric McCool has more than 20 years of public relations and marketing experience, including nine years of sports media and community relations with college athletics and minor league baseball. In February, 2004, he stepped out on his own to form Mc2Cool (un)Limited providing art direction, web & graphic design, marketing and special event planning services (Mc2Cool.com). Eric joined the Board of Directors as co-chair of the PR/Marketing Committee towards the end of the original bid process and is honored to be part of Gay Games VII.
Shawn McCormick
Fundraising Committee
 Shawn is a member of the Fundraising Committee. Past non-profit experience includes being a board member and Co-Chair of the Boybutante AIDS Foundation, Inc. in Athens, GA where he helped raise funds for local AIDS support charities. He has lived in Chicago since 2001 and is active in local gay sports playing softball and flag football. Shawn has a MS in Food Science from the University of Georgia and is an Program Leader at Kraft Foods.
Greg McNitt
Co-Chair of the Ceremonies Committee
 Greg McNitt played volleyball in Gay Games V in Amsterdam and was the sports director for the Windy City Athletic Association Volleyball league for more than seven years. He is also the founder and former director of the annual Windy City Blowout Volleyball Tournament. He served on the Windy City Athletic Association Board for more than seven years. Greg has also participated in numerous NAGAAA Softball tournaments and NAGVA Volleyball tournaments. Greg works for an international software company and is a graduate of the University of Chicago's MBA program.
Renae Ogletree
Chair, Government Relations Committee
 Renae is currently the Director of Student Development for the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) in the Office of High School Programs. In this role Renae works with more than 100 high schools throughout the city to implement an academic menu that is integrated with a program framework that includes the social and emotional learning (SEL) needs of youth. Prior to her work with the City of Chicago, Renae was the Executive Director of Chicago Youth Agency Partnership, a citywide collaboration of 92 youth serving organizations and 8 academic institutions. A founder of Chicago Black Lesbians and Gays, she is a member of the City of Chicago's Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame, a recipient of the City of Chicago Human Relations Award as well as numerous other civic awards. Photo by Israel Wright.
Lisa Rock
Board Member; Fundraising Committee
 Lisa Rock is a Practice Administrator for IBM's Business Consulting Services and a member of their LGBT group, EAGLE. Lisa began swimming at age 2 and swam at Eastern Michigan University on scholarship and also with Masters Swimmers in Evanston, IL. Lisa graduated from EMU in 1992 with a Bachelor of Music Therapy degree after completing her clinical internship at Fairview Developmental Center in Costa Mesa, CA. Lisa has been a syndicated columnist with Windy City Media Group's Nightspots since its inception and has had three of her critically acclaimed plays produced in Minnesota, New York City, and Chicago. She has also been singing and acting professionally around the country for over 20 years and can been seen around the Chicagoland area at various cabarets, clubs, and theatres. Lisa is very excited to be a part of Gay Games VII.
David Woody
Culture Committee Co-Chair
 David Woody is the Director of Design and Development for the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry. He received a B.F.A. from the University of Kansas in 1989 and has spent 15 years designing and art directing for companies such as Warner Bros., Universal Studios, Disney, MTV Networks and Nickelodeon. His recent work has focused on master planning and design for international theme park projects in Spain, Holland, Japan and India. Woody participated in the New York and Amsterdam Gay Games, and was involved in the preliminary planning for the Los Angeles bid for the Gay Games in 2006.
Christee Snell
Managing Director; Ex-Officio Board Member
 Christee Snell is an experienced project manager and executive with background in the corporate, small business and nonprofit sector. Well-respected and known in the Chicagoland business community for her role as an advocate for LGBT-owned and supportive companies, she brings a wealth of skills and experience to the Gay Games as its Managing Director. Since 2005, Christee has been the Executive Director of the Chicago-Area Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, having served as its Board President since 2002. The Chamber has been a partner in the Gay Games VII planning process since Chicago was awarded the Games in 2004 and Christee was a member of the Gay Games Board of Directors from 2005 until April of 2006 at which time she was appointed Managing Director.
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