Meet the Team

It starts with passion. Our Board of Directors, Executive Director and staff members understand the assignment, end HIV and AIDS. It takes this outstanding team to accomplish TAB’s mission and organizational goals.

  • UPDATE FROM BOARD PRESIDENT CYNTHIA SOMMERS

    As the final leaves of Fall have dropped and the snowflakes begin to fly, I want to welcome three new members to the TAB Board of Directors: Joey Hunt, Kaylie Reed and Hilary Taylor. Each of these women bring a wealth of experience, a deep passion for our cause and a renewed enthusiasm as we head into planning TAB 2025. Together, we are refocusing on the core values that drive our mission, vision, and financial goals. One of our most exciting initiatives is the elevation of our student education initiatives, particularly the Student Fashion Show and  Student HIV Awareness Project. With a new record of over 110 students participating in the Student Fashion Show this year, I hope you will mark your calendars for their show on February 13th and 14th,come support these passionate  local students!We are also making steady progress towards our long-term vision of establishing a "forever home" for TAB, and I’m excited to announce that we are already almost halfway through our Capital Campaign raise, a pivotal milestone in bringing this dream to life. In addition, we are expanding our mission to emphasize the importance of sexual health, not just in relation to HIV but all sexually transmitted diseases. As some of the fastest rates of HIV infection are in the 13-26 age group, this is a sobering and urgent focus for us. Thank you for continuing to support TAB by purchasing tickets to the Gala Fashion Shows, donating and volunteering. 

    If you have any questions or would like to learn more about our organization, the Capital Campaign, or how to get involved in our annual events, please do not hesitate to reach out to myself, any TAB board member, or Executive Director, Jessica Galbo. We look forward to working with you to further our mission and make an even greater impact in our community!

    Sincerely, Cynthia Sommers, TAB Board President

Staff

Executive Director

  • Jessica Galbo has over two decades of experience working with mission-based nonprofit organizations. She has choreographed and directed Telluride AIDS Benefit (TAB) Fashion Week Gala fashion shows, and currently serves as TAB Executive Director. Mrs. Galbo attended the American Ballet Theatre (ABT) in New York City, where she completed the ABT Teacher Training Intensive, and has a passion not only for health services nonprofit work, but also believes in the transformative power of the arts.

    Jessica is the former Mountainfilm Director of Education Programs, and currently serves as a festival emcee as well as serving her community on the board of Angel Baskets & Telluride Food Pantry.

    Jessica Galbo holds a BA from the University of Colorado, Boulder where she studied Pre-Medical Sciences, Humanities & Dance.

Wearable Art Chair

  • Involved as a “Free Box Designer” since the early years of TAB, Kathleen now helps wrangle local designers and backstage dressers along with creating an annual outfit out of a thousand condoms. She stays involved to honor her mentor, Robert Presley, for whom the benefit was founded and to help bring light to the ever changing face of AIDS and HIV around the globe.

Operations Director

  • As the Operations Director of TAB, not only does Stephen lead the team with precision but also showcases his versatile talents as a web designer and a captivating model in our shows.

    With a unique blend of expertise in mountain guiding and computer science, Stephen seamlessly navigates the challenges of both the rugged outdoors and the non-profit sector. His journey with TAB has not only contributed to our mission but has also witnessed a remarkable evolution in his fashion sense.

Brand Manager

  • Evan is the Founder, Managing Member, and Chief Marketing Consultant of MC Works (Monstrous Curiosity, LLC). She has worked in the marketing and communications industries since 2013, advising entrepreneurs, small business owners, and executive-level clients on brand strategy, business development, monitoring and evaluation approaches, data analytics/integrations, and web design platforms.

    Evan has a M.A. in Conflict Resolution from Georgetown University, and has lived, worked, and studied around the world - including Colombia, Spain, and the United Kingdom. She has experience working with international non-profits, governmental institutions, universities and research institutions, startup companies, law practices, and communications firms. Her intellectual drive and purpose is to find creative solutions for complex problems, using communications platforms for innovative, efficient, and strategic solutions.

Lead Stylist

  • Hailey was born and raised in the Town of Telluride and has always had a passion for the Telluride AIDS Benefit Fashion Show. Having grown up around TAB, Hailey has always been inspired by the cause and the sense of community it provides. After participating in the Student Fashion Show in high school she modeled in the Adult Fashion show for several years. In 2024 she worked as the Assistant Stylist for the TAB Fashion Show and is very enthusiastic about her new role as Lead Stylist.

    Hailey graduated with a BA in International Affairs from the University of Colorado - Boulder. She has spent time living in Chile, Madrid, and Berlin. She pulls her sense of style from her time abroad and loves anything fashion! 

Senior Fashion Stylist

  • Elena Levin has been behind the scenes of many Telluride performances and loves the transformative quality of clothing. Growing up sewing, she developed a passion for the craftsmanship of vintage and historic fashion, and learned how to do her own repairs and modifications. She continues to restore and alter clothing for vintage stores and friends. She first began working with TAB in 2022 and has stayed involved year-round as a part of the fashion acquisitions team. 


    Elena has a BS in Environmental Sciences from University of Michigan, and worked in the restaurant industry for many years, including owning a cafe in Telluride. Elena sits on the Telluride Town Council, and is a board member for the Telluride Dance Collective. When she's not working for TAB, she helps Telluride Theater and the House of Shimmy Shake with costuming, and teaches culinary classes at the Ah Haa School. 

Head Dresser

  • Luci has kept all of the models steamed and stitched together backstage for so many years we can’t keep count. Most years she also designs a wearable art, one of a kind piece exclusively for the TAB runway; It is her my favorite artistic outlet. She continues to come back to TAB every year to do, what she says is, her small part to fix this problem.

Production Manager

  • John has been working on TAB for as long as he can remember. He loves the show for how it brings together people from all walks of life to support the cause. It's all about the medicine, he says. Enjoy the show, and outbid your neighbor!

Accountant

  • Bio coming soon

Board of Directors

  • Board Member

    As an active member of the fundraising community in Atlanta, Ford was a founding organizer of the Atlanta Cotillion in 2002, which has raised over $2 million for AID Atlanta to provide medications to individuals without insurance or access to healthcare, and provides testing and education. He worked on the event committee and with corporate sponsors to build the event to a consistent sustainable funding source. He has also worked on the fundraising boards of DIFFA (Design Industry Foundation Fighting AIDS), AID Atlanta, AIDS Walk Atlanta, Jerusalem House and Joining Hearts.

  • Board Member + Founding Member

    Ron was volunteering for AIDS activities in 1988 in Palm Beach, Florida, working with Mother’s Cupboard when he met his future partner, Robert Presley, for whom the Telluride AIDS Benefit was conceived. While living in San Francisco he served as the kitchen manager at Project Open Hand, feeding 1800 AIDS clients every day. And locally Ron has served on various Colorado AIDS councils from 1998-2012.

    A highly involved Telluride community member, Ron served as Board Chairman for the Telluride Commission for Community Assistance Arts and Special Events (CCAASE) from 2002-2014, Co-Chair of the Capital Campaign Committee for the R1 School District in 2003-2004, which built the Michael Palm Theater and Telluride Foundation Board Member from 2003-2013.

    Being gay and living in Telluride for 22 years, and having lost two lovers to AIDS, Ron wanted to show that gay people can make a difference and be contributing members of their communities. He currently lives in Grand Junction, CO with 2 cats and 300 orchids.

  • Board Chair

    Sarah has worked in the HIV and AIDS field for more than twenty years, and has been involved with the Telluride AIDS Benefit since 2015. She found her calling to join the fight against HIV when she was a teenager. Watching a close family friend valiantly battle the disease until his death in 1998 inspired her to battle the disease in her own way, on whatever fronts she could. Sarah holds a Masters in Public Health from UC Berkeley, and her work has taken her to many corners of the HIV world, including testing, counseling, educational outreach, clean-syringe exchange programs and global public policy.

  • Board Member

    Ryan grew up coming to Telluride and moved here full time in 2009. He established his dental practice in Telluride and Norwood that same year.

    Dr. Grady's first exposure to TAB was in 2010 when he was a model in the show. Ryan has always been a strong supporter of TAB and HIV/AIDS research, and he is now currently pursuing starting a Dental Clinic for HIV/AIDS patients in Africa.

  • Board Member

    Matt says he joined the TAB board because one of the most outstanding members of our community asked him to: Ron Gilmer. He serves to continue his undying and relentless quest to educate the public about this disease. His goal is to play some small part in the worldwide eradication of AIDS.

    Originally from Oyster Bay Cove, NY, Matthew has been a Telluride resident since 2000 and a broker associate for Telluride Sotheby's International Realty for over 20 years.

  • Board Member

  • Board Member

    Joey started working with the Telluride AIDS Benefit in 2013 as a student educator and model, and proceeded to direct the high school show in 2018. She attributes her involvement with TAB and exposure to the beneficiaries work in advocacy and treatment to pursue a public health career in HIV research to better understand the disproportionate impact of HIV on communities across the globe. Joey has worked across a breadth of research projects ranging from social and behavioral factors impacting adherence to anti-retroviral medication, to basic science projects investigating biological HIV and COVID-19 outcomes in a cohort in Uganda.  

    Joey is currently pursuing her PhD in Epidemiology at the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University. She is excited to combine her love for TAB with her dedication to public health research in an effort to support TAB's mission to fight, fund, and educate for years to come.

  • Board Member

    Shannon has an extensive dance background that includes ballet, jazz, tap and hip hop training. Shannon has organized annual dance camps in Lamardelle, Haiti, where for many years she along with other teachers, staff and students have spread the love of dance during a weeklong camp for 150 Haitian students.

    By way of Shannon’s position with the DSOA, she is excited to share all of her industry specific knowledge and experience with dance studios throughout the world.

  • Board Member

    Kaylie moved to Telluride with her husband and two daughters in June 2021. She attended her first TAB two weeks later and was blown away by the energy, talent and production quality. 

    After attending her third TAB, she finally summoned the courage to be in the show in 2024. This experience brought her closer to the cause and fueled a desire to increase her impact.

  • Board Member

    Cynthia possesses a strong background in fashion, fundraising and a deep appreciation for the organization and its work.

    After moving to Telluride in 1999, one of the first events she attended was the TAB Fashion Show. The energy of the evening and the greater cause struck a chord, and she knew her involvement with the organization would one day take on a greater roll.

  • Board Member

    Hilary Taylor feels so fortunate to have called Telluride home for 15 years.  "It is a dream come true to live here."  

    Originally from Durham, North Carolina she grew up skiing in Colorado.  She earned a bachelor of science degree from Vanderbilt University studying human and organizational development and communications.  She is just as much a city person having lived in Chicago and London before moving to 300 days of sunshine in Telluride.  She finds it natural to promote the Telluride lifestyle and loves her career in real estate.  She loves giving back and is a regular volunteer for causes that are near and dear to her including the Telluride AIDS Benefit, One to One Mentoring, festivals, senior lunches, highway clean-ups and much more.

    Becoming ingrained in this community and developing meaningful relationships is of utmost importance to Hilary.  She loves meeting new people, hearing their stories, and collaborating on what to experience in this charming town and fun adult-playground. While she loves skiing, summer is Hilary's favorite time of year! When not working, she savors time with her husband Carson and two quickly growing boys.  

Advisory Board

  • Board Member + Founding Member

    Daiva is a fiercely proud former Baltimoron, transplanted to Colorado half her life ago to build Telluride’s gondola transportation system. Although birthing chairlifts was not part of her initial goal after a Cold War-era B.A. in Russian Studies, she quickly decided to bed down in the box canyon to see what would unfold.

    The founder and a previous Artistic Director of the Telluride AIDS Benefit Fashion Show, she’s now a traveling minstrel for Mountainfilm on Tour. She’s earned an M.A. in Diplomacy and International Conflict Resolution, mostly for fun. And in her spare time, this proud Lithuanian mom of one can be found writing and performing poetry, putting on the Telluride Literary Arts Festival, and wandering local forests on the hunt for mushrooms. She’s also a passionate pro at finding herself lost in neighboring deserts and canyons.

  • Board Member

    In 1992, Jessica was working for the Sheridan Arts Foundation when the first TAB Fashion Show was held at the Sheridan Opera House. She could not have predicted then, her future level of involvement with the organization.

    A teacher at Telluride High School, Jessica has been involved in the facilitation of THS AIDS Education Day, the TAB Student Show and HIV/AIDS outreach since 2007. She delights in witnessing young people give of themselves for the benefit of others, to grow through the experience of working together for a cause and developing an awareness of the impact of HIV/AIDS around the world.

  • Board Member

    A local educator, administrator and counselor, Sandy has been on the TAB Board since 1999. Together with Amy Kimberly, Sandy began the HIV/AIDS educational programs in the Telluride School District, which provide cohesive HIV/AIDS education for students grades 7-12.

    Although recently retired from teaching, Sandy is very active in her TAB role as an HIV/AIDS education liaison. Sandy created the TAB Student Fashion Show, which incorporates an HIV/AIDS educational theme and inspires young new activists and leaders for the cause each year. The TAB Student Show has been a community event favorite since 2001.

  • Board Member