Our Board
Jeromy Manke
Board President
Jeromy Manke is the President of Build Our Center, Inc., a 501(c)3, non-profit organization, which operates Northern Nevada’s only LGBT community center after raising substantial funds to support its mission.
He has served as Chair of Northern Nevada Pride since it’s launch in 2014, during which time it has tripled attendance to over 7,000 attendees.
He serves as the Diversity and Inclusion Chair and a member of the Young Professionals Committee for the Northern Nevada Human Resources Association (NNHRA), in addition to working with Reno-Tahoe’s Professional Development Committee. Jeromy and his husband, Brian Jensen, opened Jensen & Co. Salon, which houses over thirty salon professionals and recently won Best Salon in Reno for 2016 from the Reno News & Review.
Professionally, Jeromy works as the Human Resources Business Partner for Reliable Management Solutions, a third-party logistics company headquartered in Reno. He helps to influence policy, troubleshoot challenges, and oversee human resource functions for over 500 employees nationwide. Jeromy graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno, College of Business, in 2012.
Zeina Barkawi
Vice President
Zeina is the Senior Vice President and Talent Acquisition Manager at Bank of America.
Zeina has also served on the Big Brother, Big Sisters Board and on the board of Northern Nevada Hopes. Zeina was a producer on Matt Shepherd was a Friend of Mine.
Todd Eikelberger
Treasurer
Todd was born and raised in Reno and is a third generation Nevadan. He went to undergraduate school at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business and then law school in Los Angeles at Loyola Law School.
Following Law School, he worked in the entertainment industry for 7 years. During his time in law school he became involved with the Alliance for Children’s Rights which was an organization that fought to make sure that children who were “in the system” in Los Angeles County had a voice in what they were going through and were able to have adequate legal representation to make sure their rights were looked after.
He also became involved with the Human Rights Campaign, Lawyers for Human Rights and the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center. Because of his involvement in these various organizations he became very passionate about making sure that people’s basic rights were protected, no matter their race, age, sex, sexual orientation or religion.
Josh Grace
Manager, HR Consulting Team & Senior HR Consultant
Josh Grace manages the HR Consulting Team and serves as a Senior HR Consultant with LP Insurance Services, where he specializes in onboarding new clients and delivering value through customized service offerings.
With a strong focus on achieving fast results and streamlining processes, Josh helps clients meet strategic goals that positively impact their workforce and bottom line. Passionate about creating engaging, enjoyable, and attractive workplaces, Josh is dedicated to helping organizations become destinations for top talent.A proud graduate of the University of Nevada, Reno, Josh holds a BS in Management with an emphasis in Human Resources, as well as an MBA. He has also completed certification courses in Advanced Management and Project Management. Josh is an active member of both the Society for Human Resources Management and the Northern Nevada Human Resources Management Association (NNHRMA), where they currently Co-Chair the Special Events Committee and serve as Treasurer.
His past leadership roles include College Relations Chair, Young Professionals Co-Chair, State Council Director of Young Professionals, and over a decade of involvement with the Best Places to Work Committee. Additionally, Josh is a member of the Reno-Tahoe Young Professionals group, where they have served on two committees. They were honored as a finalist in the 20 Under 40 awards in 2018 and received the award in 2019.Beyond their consulting and leadership roles, Josh has also contributed to education as a part-time instructor at Western Nevada College and the University of Nevada, Reno, teaching in the Construction Project Management Program and the Managerial Sciences Department, respectively.
Sarah Mitchell
Board Member
Sarah Mitchell, Ph.D., CLFE, is a professor of Family Science at University of Nevada Reno with an intense passion for helping diverse intersectional individuals and families.
Dr. Mitchell earned her Ph.D. in Human Development and Family Science from the University of Missouri in Columbia. During her time there, she served on the board of The Center Project: Mid-Missouri's first and only LGBTQ+ Community Center for 7 years.
Her qualitative research explores the experiences of individuals with minoritized identities, including LGBTQ+ communities and those with marginalized racial or ethnic backgrounds. She is particularly interested in how intersecting minoritized identities shape experiences within familial settings and broader societal contexts.
Dr. Allen Ratliff
Board Member
Allen Ratliff, PhD, LCSW, is a professor, researcher, clinical social worker, and community organizer with more than two decades of experience working with diverse populations of young people and their families.
Dr. Ratliff earned their Master of Social Work at the University of Illinois at Chicago, and they earned their PhD in Social Welfare at the University of California, Berkeley. Their research focuses on understanding how social systems and policies impact marginalized young people and their families. They study how authority figures commit violence against transgender youth, unhoused youth, and other vulnerable populations.
As a clinical social worker, Dr. Ratliff provides strengths-based, person-centered, trauma-informed therapy with queer and transgender youth and families. In their community organizing work, Dr. Ratliff provides support and insights into the health and social needs of marginalized people, and creates opportunities to build safety and security in vulnerable communities.