Ruben J. Gonzales to be Executive Director of LGBTQ Victory Institute;
Seth Schermer to be Executive Vice President and Chief Development Officer;
Sean Meloy to be Vice President of Political Programs; and
Elliot Imse to be Vice President of Communications
Washington, DC – LGBTQ Victory Fund and LGBTQ Victory Institute announced new roles for four members of its senior leadership team as the organizations prepare to expand programs and services for LGBTQ candidates, elected officials and other public leaders. Ruben J. Gonzales will become the Executive Director of LGBTQ Victory Institute, Seth Schermer Executive Vice President and Chief Development Officer of LGBTQ Victory Fund and LGBTQ Victory Institute, Sean Meloy Vice President of Political Programs at LGBTQ Victory Fund, and Elliot Imse Vice President of Communications at LGBTQ Victory Fund and LGBTQ Victory Institute.
The senior leadership team also includes Mayor Annise Parker, President & CEO of LGBTQ Victory Fund and LGBTQ Victory Institute, and Andrea Hernandez, Chief Financial Officer for the organizations. Victory Fund is a 527 political organization that works to elect LGBTQ people to public office. Its sister organization Victory Institute is a 501c3 non-profit that builds, trains and supports a pipeline of LGBTQ leaders in the U.S. and around the world.
Prior to his new role, Gonzales served as Vice President of LGBTQ Victory Institute, overseeing its global and domestic trainings and programs. He also served as Vice President of Philanthropy at the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute and Chief Development Officer at United Cerebral Palsy, where he led the organization’s fundraising, marketing and communications efforts. He also served as Deputy Vice President for Resource Development at the National Council of La Raza (now UnidosUS), the largest Latinx civil rights and advocacy organization in the U.S. He has a bachelor’s degree in political science and government from Santa Clara University.
Shermer previously served as Vice President of Development for LGBTQ Victory Fund and LGBTQ Victory Institute, leading the organizations’ fundraising efforts. Previously, he worked as Vice President of Philanthropy for the U.S. Soccer Foundation, where he oversaw the organization’s fundraising, marketing and communications programs. He also served as Senior Director of The Optical Society Foundation. Schermer has a bachelor’s degree in government and politics from University of Maryland College Park.
Meloy previously served as Senior Political Director at LGBTQ Victory Fund, leading political programs and endorsements for the organization. Before joining Victory Fund, he was Director of LGBT Engagement at the Democratic National Committee, ensuring the 2016 Democratic National Convention had the largest and most diverse group of LGBTQ delegates in history. Meloy also ran two congressional races and worked at several non-profits following service on Capitol Hill for Congressman Mike Doyle (PA-14). He has a bachelor’s degree in secondary social studies in political science from Pennsylvania State University.
Imse previously served as Senior Director of Communications at LGBTQ Victory Fund and LGBTQ Victory Institute, leading the organizations’ external communications efforts and digital fundraising programs. Prior to that, he served as Director of Policy and Communications at the District of Columbia Office of Human Rights, leading the agency’s efforts to reduce discrimination through policy and campaigns. He has a master’s degree in public policy from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government and a bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communications from the University of Wisconsin – Madison.
All four begin their new roles as the organization moves toward implementing a new five-year strategic plan, which will dramatically grow the number of LGBTQ leaders served through its programs and candidate service offerings. The goals and strategies for the new strategic plan will be released publicly in April.
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LGBTQ Victory Fund
LGBTQ Victory Fund works to change the face and voice of America’s politics and achieve equality for LGBTQ Americans by increasing the number of openly LGBTQ elected officials at all levels of government.
LGBTQ Victory Institute
LGBTQ Victory Institute works to achieve and sustain global equality through leadership development, training, and convening to increase the number, expand the diversity, and ensure the success of openly LGBTQ elected and appointed officials at all levels of government.
