Desert Charities - Oct-Nov-Dec 2023

Page 54 Desert Charities News – www .desertcharities.com • www.dcnnews.com October/November/December 2023 www.pam@pwtaxandaccounting.com www.pwtaxandaccounting.com The Board of Directors of the LGBTQ Community Center of the Desert is delighted to announce the return of Mike Thompson as our Executive Director and CEO. Many Coachella Valley locals know Mike from his previous successful tenure with The Center from 2014 – 2021. Mike returns to his previous post after a successful stint as Chief Impact Officer at CenterLink, an international network of LGBTQ Community Centers. His abilities as a strategic thinker and know-how for transforming policy into actionable, quantitative campaigns have carried him through a consistent string of lucrative engagements. Current and interim CEO, Don Zuidema states: “I have had the great honor of serving as Interim CEO of this amazing organization during the last several months while the search committee took on the important task of finding a permanent CEO. I could not be happier to welcome Mike Thompson back into this role. I know I join the staff and the Board of Directors in welcoming Mike back and for this exciting new chapter for The Center.” Mike is a tribal citizen of the Cherokee Nation, a graduate of The University of Oklahoma, and has a coaching certification from Hendricks Institute. He also holds a nonprofit board consulting certification from BoardSource and serves on the faculty of the Billions Institute where he is also a leadership coach. Mike has received numerous Community Leadership Awards and in 2019 was named one of “50 People Who Impact the Quality of Life in the Coachella Valley”. www.thecentercv.org “One of the main goals for both Thomas and the Board is to create the most important arts organization in the Coachella Valley by introducing local artists,” said publicity chair, Suzanne Fromkin. “By promoting art sales, each artist will get the message that their art is meaningful and important.” The Artists Council, located at 72567 Highway 111 Palm Desert, CA 92260, is now in its third year as an independent organization promoting the art and artists of the Coachella Valley and beyond through its missions such as elevating artists through exhibitions, professional development, and community engagement. It does so by offering a robust program of exhibitions, art and business-of-art classes, workshops, lectures, critiques, salons, book clubs, and social TOM BURNS New Executive Director of Artists Council at the Galen Art Center By DeAnn Lubell Photo Credit: Photos provided by Artists Council With a history of more than 20 years working with nonprofit organizations, including Old Town Artisan Studios in La Quinta, Thomas Burns seems the perfect fit for the nonprofit Artists Council at the Galen Art Center in Palm Desert. Thomas founded and directed the Carmel International Film Festival. He also led the branding process for startups to Fortune 500 domestic and international companies. Continued on page 56 The LGBTQ Community Center of The Desert Appoints Mike Thompson as New CEO