MEET THE STAFF

Candice Nichols
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Candice Nichols is a native of Las Vegas and has a grown daughter and son. Two years ago, she became a Grandmother for the first time. For the past 17 years she has worked in non-profits in Southern Nevada. She was the Director of Public Affairs at Planned Parenthood of Southern Nevada (3 years), and Director of Prevention Education for 11.5 years at Aid for AIDS of Nevada (AFAN). She took the position of Executive Director for The Center in December of 2004. Her background has been primarily program development and she looks forward to the new challenges that directing The Center will bring.

Joshua Montgomery
HIV Prevention Coordinator/
Vegas Mpowerment Coordinator
Joshua Montgomery is a native San Diegan. Since getting clean and sober on July 14, 1997, Joshua has been active in various recovery programs and service work to help those who struggle with addiction. In 1998 Joshua met his life partner Tom Wilson and began his academic studies the same year at San Diego Community College with his focus on becoming a counselor. Joshua and his partner Tom had a Holy Union one year from the date they met which was June 12, 1998 and shared their experience with 150 friends and family including their mothers giving them away. Joshua and Tom moved to Las Vegas in June 2003 and a couple months later he began working for The Gay & Lesbian Community Center. Joshua ran the youth group, coordinated the Vegas Mpowerment Project and counseled those who needed support during the day. He continued his education attending various conferences around the country dealing with HIV/AIDS. In his spare time, Joshua pursued one of his passions in life and became Mr. Las Vegas 2006 where he later competed for International Mr. Leather in Chicago. Joshua left the Center in 2007 and continued his education at UNLV working on his degree in Social Work. In 2008 Joshua and Tom renewed their vows on their 10th anniversary with an amazing reception that followed. Joshua returned to The Center December 1, 2009 as the HIV Prevention Coordinator.

Melissa Goodwin
YOUTH AND VOLUNTEER SERVICES DIRECTOR
Melissa "Mel" Goodwin was born and raised in Las Vegas. She is currently an undergraduate student at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in the School of Social Work. Melissa has worked in the non-profit sector for four years and holds a Certificate in Non-Profit Management. Before joining The Center, she worked at the Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth where she specialized in fundraising and grants management. She is the recent past Chairperson for the Nevada Governor's Youth Advisory Council and currently sits on the Continuum of Care Evaluation Working Group through the Office of the Regional Homeless Coordinator. In her free time, Melissa enjoys baking, taking frequent trips to Disneyland and spending time with her partner Aidyn and their Italian Greyhound London. Her long-term goal is to obtain a Ph.D in Social Work and advocate for transgender rights at the national level.

Arlene Cooper
OFFICE MANAGER
Arlene has been a resident of Las Vegas since 1992, via Tennessee, Florida and California, and was elected to the Board of Directors in 2005. After spending 21 years in hotel management, Arlene became involved in the HIV/AIDS community with ReachOut, a daycare center for children infected and affected with HIV/AIDS, Golden Rainbow and Saint Therese Center. In addition, Arlene became a licensed foster parent to a 10 year old HIV-positve boy and volunteers for Special Olympics and the Democratic Headquarters. She has one very special, loving son, Ryan.