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Board of Directors
Greg moved to the Palm Springs area in 2022 and joined Modern Men in 2023 as a bass singer. Originally from Louisville, Kentucky, Greg spent most of his adult life in Connecticut and the New York Tri-state area. There, in addition to his career as a software developer, he was active in the local theater community as an actor and music director, having directed over 20 local theater productions. He became quite familiar with the behind-the-scenes activities of mounting a musical production. His admiration for the organization and creative direction of Modern Men inspired him to join the Board of Directors.
GREG CHRZCZON | PRESIDENT
DENNIS CHASE | VICE PRESIDENT
Dennis is originally from Hyannis, Cape Cod, MA and moved to California in 1991. He sang with the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus from 1998 under Dr. Stan Hill's direction until 2020, when Dennis moved to Palm Springs. During that time he also performed in musical theater and operetta with various SF Bay Area companies. Dennis has been on the board of several non-profit organizations, including chapters of the NAMES Project and Toastmasters. He currently works as a biotech project manager with a global firm, helping solve unmet medical needs. He looks forward to the rewards and challenges of helping to deliver Modern Men's mission and achieve our goals. On the lighter side, Dennis has appeared on Wheel of Fortune and was a Jeopardy! champion in April 2021. He is a member of PS Cookbook Bears and hopes to make it onto an amateur TV baking show one of these days.
BILL CIFFAIRY | SECRETARY
Bill Ciffairy was born and raised in Queens, NY, and later moved to and lived most of his adult life in downtown Brooklyn. In New York, Bill earned his undergraduate degrees in English/Secondary Education from St. John’s University and his Master’s Degree in Deafness Rehabilitation from NYU. Bill taught high school English then later became involved with American Sign Language and worked with the Deaf community as an educator where he taught Deaf and Hard of Hearing high school students in the NYC Department of Education. Later, he became a school administrator with the NYC DOE from which he retired in 2013. Bill is a nationally certified sign language interpreter for the Deaf. As an interpreter, Bill has interpreted in numerous venues including; Carnegie Hall, several Broadway theaters, Paper Mill Playhouse in New Jersey AIDS Walk NY and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Bill was a singing member of the New York City Gay Men’s Chorus for almost 13 years and served in various capacities including interim acting chair. Bill joined Modern Men in 2021 after he and his domestic partner, Drew, moved to Palm Springs.
MITCHELL LAKS | TREASURER
MITCHELL LAKS
ALEXEI BARNES | MARKETING CHAIR
Alexei relocated to the Desert in September 2018 after 12 years in El Dorado Hills, CA and 13 years in the SF Bay Area. He was raised in Laramie, WY where he resided for 25 years after graduating from the University of Wyoming (UW) with a BA in Music. While at the University, he was a cellist with the University Symphony and Chamber Orchestras and sang with the Collegiate Chorale. He was a board member with LGBTQ’s of Wyoming and past president of UW’s LGBTQ group. Under the direction of Dr. Stan Hill, Alexei sang with the San Francisco Gay Men’s chorus from 1993 – 1998. He has been a member of Modern Men since June of 2021.
STEPHEN OWENS | DIRECTOR AT LARGE
Stephen is a founding member of Modern Men in 2013 and has been an active member ever since. A bass singer, Stephen has an extensive choral background, starting in high school chorales, many years in the Barbershop Society, various community choruses as well as small ensembles. He was a founding member and sang with ‘Equal Voices’ in San Francisco, a 12-man ensemble, for over six years. A previous member of the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus, and their small ensemble, Vocal Minority. Additionally, Stephen was a member of the Orlando Gay Chorus in Florida. A move to Palm Springs allowed Mr. Owens to join the newly-formed Modern Men. Additional local participation in Harmonic Voices and Schola Cantorum allowed him to showcase his ensemble skills. Stephen has a bachelor’s degree from California State University, Northridge and a Teaching Certificate from California State University, Fullerton. A retired Special Education teacher, he is looking forward to sharing his experience and history with the board of Modern Men, where he can help shape the future of the organization, to enhance the presence of the Chorus in the Coachella Valley arts community, and assist in the forming of a solid, well-run choral organization.
CHRIS BURNS | DEVELOPMENT CO-CHAIR
Chris is originally from Tullahoma, TN. He held a variety of Human Resources Leadership roles with Starbucks, and later with Nordstrom, where he is currently employed. Chris and his husband, Kevin, moved from Seattle to Palm Springs full-time in 2022. Chris joined Modern Men in January 2023 as a second tenor. He previously sang in the Cathedral Choir and Men’s Chant Choir at St. James Cathedral, and with Cantare Vocal Ensemble, both in the Seattle area. He also served on the Board of Directors for Team Read, a program focused on helping 2nd and 3rd grade students improve their reading skills with the help of teen tutors from their community. While on the board, Chris led efforts related to employment/HR and alumni engagement.
NATHAN TRUESDELL | DEVELOPMENT CO-CHAIR
Nathan Truesdell joined Modern Men Chorus in January 2023 as a performing member. Born and raised in Mississippi as a southern preacher’s kid, he left home to pursue his career and has since lived in ten states before finding his home in Palm Springs in 2022. Nathan now serves as the chorus as a Board Member, Tenor 1 Section Manager, Marketing Committee Member, and Co-Chair for Development. Beyond the chorus, he is the Board President of Desert Ad Fed, Marketing Director and Board Member for the Palm Springs Symphony, and CEO of TrueLocal Media, a Palm Springs-based advertising agency dedicated to elevating local voices through creative storytelling and community impact.
CHRIS COCHRAN | DIRECTOR AT LARGE
Chris relocated to the Coachella Valley in mid-2021 following a rewarding librarian career with the federal government in Washington, DC, and continues professional pursuits as a business and legal information researcher and consultant. He was a long-time member of the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington (GMCW) as well as a member of their tight harmony group, Potomac Fever, and sang in the choir at All Souls Church Unitarian in DC for several years. Chris joined Modern Men in fall 2022 and also sang with A Cabbello in the 2023-2024 season. He enjoys his volunteer work as a small dog handler at the Palm Springs Animal Shelter and continues his professional interests as a member of the Board of Directors of the Association of Independent Information Professionals (AIIP).
GEORGE ROCKEL | COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT CHAIR
George joined Modern Men in 2020 just in time to see the chorus shut-down due to COVID. He was also a member of Palm Springs Gay Men’s Chorus, since his arrival in the desert in summer of 2017, which allowed him to be bi-choral. Prior to his move to the Desert, he and his husband Dan, lived in Seattle Washington, where he was a singing member, volunteer and employee of The Seattle Men’s Chorus and sang with the St. James Cathedral Choir. George has always been involved in choral music since his early years in grade school, high school and church choirs. He was born in Chicago and moved to Seattle to get away from high humidity, bitter cold winters and unbearable summers. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in accounting, specializing in Electronic Data Processing. George’s professional career centered around computers and computer networks, working in the insurance, banking and manufacturing industries. His volunteer work included systems analysis, planning, consulting in areas of finance, volunteer management, technology, board development and education.
ROGER HUNT | MEMBERSHIP CHAIR
Roger was born in Tulsa, OK and spent most of his formative years in Dallas, TX where he settled as an adult. In 1996, he moved to San Francisco and took a job with a publishing company known for their non-profit and leadership titles. His skills in understanding computerized subscription fulfillment systems were utilized in his positions as Subscription Manager and later as Renewals Manager. He worked in the publishing industry for over 25 years. Roger produced the Russian River LeatherSIR/Leatherboy contest in 2005 - 2006 and served on the Board of the parent organization in 2011 - 2013. Roger and his husband retired to Palm Springs in March of 2020.