Meet the Board
President – Connie Stolp
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Connie has over thirty years of experience in the field of vision rehabilitation therapy. She worked in direct service and leadership positions at non-profit, state and federal agencies. Prior to retirement, Connie was employed at the Department of Veteran Affairs as a Certified Rehabilitation Therapist where she assisted in the provision of training and resources enabling veterans with low vision and blindness to live safe, productive and independent lives.
Connie has lived in Seminole County for seventeen years. She received her master’s degree in Education at Florida State University.
Her focus, throughout her lifetime, has been to live in a way that reflects her values of equality, inclusion and justice.
Vice-President – Luther “Luke” Dowe
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Luther “Luke” Dowe (He/Him/His)
Originally from upstate New York, Luke went into the Navy directly after high school. After serving his country, he attained his commercial pilot license and real estate license. In 2013, he moved to Florida permanently to start his family and become a successful real estate investor. Luther and his husband settled in Seminole County with their three children.
Luke has served on several boards, including A Day to Be Gay Foundation and the Liberty Youth Center. Luke also owned the largest alternative nightclub outside of New York City. He offered a safe place for the LGBTQ community of upstate New York to gather and feel welcome.
More recently Luke ran for Florida State Representative and has become motivated to speak out against biased politicians that are hell-bent on disenfranchising the LGBTQ+ community and advocate for the equal treatment of all Floridians.
Secretary – Sue Jenik
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Sue is a nearly native Central Floridian currently working in career 2.0 as a Professional Services Consultant at a local software company. Prior to that, she worked for 20 years in human resources management before taking a mid-career gap year to teach English in Vietnam and explore Southeast Asia. Sue went to Winter Park High School and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of Central Florida so that was her first time living somewhere else since childhood! Aside from travel, Sue loves movies and TV (especially Sci-Fi!), eating around town at fabulous independent restaurants, and she interminably tries to learn Spanish.
Passionate about service and having a deeply held core value that all humans have the same rights, and should be granted equitable access to opportunities, Sue has been serving the community as a volunteer and Board member of various professional and community organizations throughout her life, including the Greater Orlando Society for Human Resources Management (Technology Chair), Sanford Rotary Club (Events Chair), and the Seminole County Democratic Party (Credentials Chair).
These experiences have lent Sue a wealth of knowledge and skills in Project Management, Leadership, and Communications which she proudly brings to support the Rainbow SemDems’ mission.
Treasurer – Claudia Thomas
She/Her/Hers
After graduating from the University of Arizona and spending 30+ years working as an HR Professional and Systems Integration Analyst in the Aerospace Industry, Claudia got the activist bug after attending the 2017 Women’s March in DC. That led to becoming a Precinct Organizer in Brevard County, as well as a Field Organizer for candidates like Sanjay Patel (US Congress 8), Mel Martin (Florida Senate), Pam Dirschka (Florida House 50), and Alton Edmond (Brevard County Sheriff). Claudia was with the Brevard Dems when they won the “Golden Gavel” for most doors knocked in all of Florida. She was also the Chair of the Brevard Dems’ Technology Committee – a good fit for a geek!
Music is Claudia’s first love and performed as a musician (guitar and bass) at the Titusville Playhouse. Now that she is a happy Seminole County resident, she hopes to get involved in theatres over here. (That’s when she’s not supporting our Rainbow SemDems, watching the four furry family members at home, or helping out as statistician for her wife’s four-time National Champion Raider Golf Team.)
Director, At-Large – Bridget Elliott
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Bridget Elliott was born and raised in Norwich, NY. She received a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting and an MBA at St Bonaventure University. Bridget moved to Orlando in 2005 and moved to Lake Mary in 2011 where she currently resides. She started her career doing accounting work at a private company and in 2019 she joined the finance department of a public company where she is a Senior Analyst. Bridget is a Disney lover and loves spending time with her niece and nephews at the parks. She is also a huge sports fan, a runner and loves concerts.
Bridget was called to activism after the tragedy at Pulse and became more active after the tragedy at Parkland. Her activism started in the gun violence prevention space but has traveled down many paths from there. Bridget believes that all people should have equal rights and has volunteered with many organizations that hold this same value. In 2022 she found her way to SemDems and worked with many candidates in that year’s election. Bridget was excited to join Rainbow SemDems to continue to support the LGBTQ community. She is honored to be a board member and looks forward to bringing her passion to the group.
Director, Communications – Woody Bass
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Originally from the Central Florida, Woody was born in the Winter Park area and lived near Kissimmee before moving to the Atlanta area for a few decades (and had to deal with insufferable UGAly fans). Woody returned to Central Florida in 2021 where he has settled in Casselberry, Florida with his dog “Mister Rowdy” and cat “Miss Kitty.”
Woody graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Florida in 2020 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Relations. He is currently a Senior Business Analyst for a financial IT company where he has been responsible for end-to-end project management for over 20 years. He has served the LGBTQ community as a volunteer in a variety of ways including as VP of Communications for the University of Florida LGBTQ+ Alumni Association and on the committee for the Dogwood Invitational Bowling Tournament which is a member of the International Gay Bowling Organization (IGBO).
