Our Team
Christie James - Pridefest Oakland Co-Chair
Radio personality and event host Christie James has been rocking a radio mic since 2004. Christie, a military, and radio vet can be heard daily as the host of one of the country's only all-female morning shows "Morning Drive With ChristieLive" on 80s+ @ 103.7 FM in San Francisco. You can also hear Christie playing dance anthems on PRIDE Radio nightly on the iHeart Radio app. If you're in the mood for Hip-Hop and Throwbacks, check her out on V101.1 in Sacramento and JAMN 107.5 in Portland.
Christie is also a standout community member, donating time to support causes that are near and dear to her heart. As a member of the LGBTQ community, Christie produced the women's stage for San Francisco Pride for 7 years, Oakland Pride for 5 years, and is currently on the board of Oakland PrideFest. She is ingrained in her community. When she isn't working you can find her....working!!!! Blame it on the Virgo tendencies. On her off time she can be found DJing aboard Olivia cruise lines, and weddings and community events.
Sean Sullivan - Pridefest Oakland Co-Chair
Sean Sullivan is the only person in Oakland to entitle two emergency homeless shelters in the City of Oakland. He has been an advocate on LGBTQ issues during his entire 20 years in Oakland.
Sean is currently the co-owner of Bar & Restaurant Expo's LGBTQ Venue of the Year 2020-2021, The Port Bar. When Oakland Pride announced they were unable to produce a live event in 2021, Sullivan created Pridefest Oakland which safely brought together thousands of queer bay area residents to celebrate LGBTQ Pride with Grammy Award winning singer Mya.
Sean is proud to work with other OUTstanding LGBT leaders to continue Pridefest for the community as a new annual celebration.
Val Klein - Pridefest Oakland Treasurer
Val Klein, VP of Marketing + Activation, iHeartMedia San Francisco and PRIDE Radio.
Val is a media and marketing professional with over two decades of experience in the Bay Area. Her work with iHeartMedia includes being the sponsor liaison with the San Francisco Pride, Oakland Pride and Silicon Valley Pride. She was also Executive Producer for the award-winning webcast and broadcast video production of the San Francisco Pride Parade from 2006 - 2013. Val has been a proud resident of Oakland (Laurel, Montclair) since 1999.
Jessie Spivey - Pridefest Oakland Secretary
Jessie Ray Spivey is a Sacramento native and transplant to Oakland, who spent his previous years in public service and volunteering in the community. Jessie serves as Operations Manager at The Oakland LGBTQ Center and Co-Facilitator of Black Connect, a support group for Queer Black cis and trans masculine men. He is also the creator and founder of The Doudad, a full circle birth Doula practice that amplifies the voices of men in birthwork.
Richard Fuentes - Pridefest Oakland Board Member
A public service professional with over 15 years’ experience with deep and broad relationships throughout local and state government agencies, elected officials, businesses, foundations and non-profits. As an LGBTQ Latino, I am passionate about finding equitable solutions to the Bay Area’s most challenging issues.
I work at San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District and serve on the board of Pridefest Oakland. I have received numerous awards including San Francisco Business Times, Business of Pride OutStanding Voices 2019; Mass Transit Magazine, Top 40 Under 40 and San Francisco Business Times, 40 Under 40.
Valentino Carrillo - Pridefest Oakland Board Member
Valentino Carrillo also known as Valentino Presents is a well known Promoter and Club Owner in Northern California. He currently owns La Frontera Mexican Restaurant in the Fruitvale District as well as Que Rico Nightclub in Downtown Oakland, CA where he employs over 50 people between the two. Valentino has produced and managed stages at several prides including Oakland Pride, San Francisco Pride, Pride Night Great America and Rainbow Festival in Sacramento, CA. Prior to opening his own venue he was the Marketing and Operations Director for Club 21 and Club BNB until he resigned in 2019 to set out and produce events at other venues throughout Northern California.
Lauren Wilson - Pridefest Oakland Board Member
Lauren Wilson has been actively engaged in LGBTQ organizing, policy development, and community-building for over a decade in both Washington, DC and the Bay Area. In her day job, Lauren leads government and public affairs for Pacific Gas & Electric Company in San Francisco, building relationships and partnering with Bay Area government, business, and community leaders. She is a graduate of UC Berkeley and has a master's degree in Public Policy from Georgetown University. Lauren lives with her spouse, kiddo, and dog in Oakland.
In addition to serving on the Pridefest Board, Lauren is a member of the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce's Policy Committee and a member of the LGBTQ Victory Fund's Victory Campaign Board, a national group of community leaders who work to elect more openly LGBTQ individuals to public office.