Meet Our Board of Directors
Rand Hoch
President & Founder
(He/Him/His)
Meredith Ockman
Vice President
(She/Her/Hers)
Janiece Davis
Treasurer
(She/Her/Hers)
In 1988, Rand Hoch founded the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council, leading historic efforts to secure LGBTQ+ protections in housing, employment, and healthcare. Appointed by Governor Lawton Chiles in 1992, Hoch became Florida's first openly LGBTQ+ judge.
Throughout his career, he has held leadership roles with the ACLU, Lambda Legal, and the Democratic National Convention. Under his renewed presidency since 2006, the Council successfully implemented domestic partnership registries and bans on conversion therapy. A highly decorated advocate, Hoch has received the Harvey Milk Foundation's Diversity Honors and the Key to the City of West Palm Beach.
Florida native Meredith Ockman is a lifelong advocate for marginalized voices. Since moving to West Palm Beach in 1999, she has held leadership roles at Compass LGBTQ Center and the Pro-Choice Coalition. A dedicated activist for reproductive rights, she has provided clinic defense for over a decade and received the Feminist Leadership Award.
Ockman is currently the Southeast Regional Director for NOW, overseeing seven states. Her extensive service includes leadership positions with Florida NWPC and the South Florida Women’s Health Foundation. From child welfare to rape crisis centers, Ockman remains a driving force for social justice in Florida.
Janiece Davis improves the lives of Palm Beach County residents by implementing public health policies and environmental changes regarding tobacco use. Through public-private partnerships and youth mentorship, she achieved significant milestones, including Florida’s first comprehensive tobacco-free schools policy and the removal of school districts from preemption in the Clean Indoor Air Act.
Her work with youth led to state legislative action and the nationally recognized "Not a Replacement" campaign. A graduate of the University of Florida with a Master of Public Health, Davis is a member of the Delta Omega Honorary Society and Leadership Florida Connect Class IX.
Rae Franks
Co-Secretary
(She/Her/Hers)
Rhonda Williams
Co-Secretary
(She/Her/Hers)
Nicholas Coppola
Board Member
(He/Him/His)
A West Palm Beach attorney since 1985, Rae Franks transitioned from graphic arts to law, graduating from Stetson University with Rand Hoch. Raised in Cuba, she is a founding member of the Palm Beach County Hispanic Bar Association and a dedicated advocate for minority and feminist rights, having served as Treasurer for both NOW and the Women’s Political Caucus.
As a Human Rights Council board member, Franks helped draft West Palm Beach's Human Rights Ordinance, earning the 1995 Legislative Advocacy Award. She currently serves as Secretary for the PBCHRC and has chaired the county’s Office of Equal Opportunity/Fair Housing Board.
Rhonda Williams is a versatile writer, engineer, entrepreneur, and life coach. A Virginia Commonwealth University engineering graduate, she pioneered the tech industry in 1983 by founding a software company that launched the first PC-based personnel system and consumer tax software.
Today, Williams is a prominent transgender activist and consultant for nonprofits, specializing in gender acceptance. Her influential blog, Rhonda’s Escape, has amassed nearly three million views, providing daily inspiration for readers to overcome personal obstacles. Through her writing and public speaking, she continues to advocate for information technology innovation and authentic living.
Nicholas Coppola is a retired electrical contractor with 40 years of experience and degrees from SUNY and NYU. A dedicated community leader, he has chaired the Delray Beach Code Enforcement Board and served as Chair and Treasurer of the Compass LGBTQ+ Community Center.
Before moving to Florida, Coppola served on the board of the Gay Men’s Health Crisis (GMHC) in New York. His advocacy for HIV outreach within Black and Latino communities earned him the prestigious NAACP Dr. Hazel Dukes Leadership Award. Currently, he serves as Vice President and Treasurer for the Sherwood Park Civic Association.
Adriana Gonzalez
Board Member
(She/Her/Hers)
Born in Colombia and now a U.S. citizen, Adriana Gonzalez is the founding partner of Gonzalez & Cartwright, P.A. in Lake Worth Beach. A graduate of Florida Atlantic University and Florida Coastal School of Law, she specializes in personal injury litigation. As a bilingual attorney, Gonzalez frequently advocates for non-English-speaking and undocumented clients.
She is a past President of the Palm Beach County Hispanic Bar Association and is active in the Palm Beach Justice Association. Known for her legal scholarship and advocacy in Tallahassee, she has received numerous honors for her work. Gonzalez is also the mother of two sons.
Chauncey Graham
Board Member
(He/Him/His)
Florida native Chauncey Graham is a policy attorney specializing in municipal law and governance. A graduate of the Dreyfoos School of the Arts, Florida Atlantic University, and Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School, Graham has dedicated over a decade to public service.
His extensive background includes senior legislative roles within both the Florida House and Senate, where he focused on policy development and constituent advocacy. Actively involved in civic leadership, Graham supports organizations dedicated to equity, education, and public safety. He leverages his legal expertise and experience in community-centered governance to advise on complex legislative and regulatory matters across all government levels.
Bradley Jackson
Board Member
(He/Him/His)
A native of Wellington, Bradley Jackson is the Director of Marketing and Business Development for Engenuity Group, Inc. An FSU graduate, he specializes in public sector procurement and community representation. Through the Palm Beach County League of Cities, Jackson has built vital relationships with local leaders to advocate for infrastructure and Home Rule.
Previously a member of the PBCHRC Voters Alliance, Jackson now serves on the Board of Directors, leveraging his political connections to advance LGBTQ+ protections. His extensive service includes leadership roles with SMPS South Florida, the Boynton Beach Historical Resources Board, and Leadership Palm Beach County.
Michael Duquette Mittleman
Board Member
(He/Him/His)
Michael Duquette Mittleman is the Vice President of Information Management at NextEra Energy Resources, overseeing IT and support for power generation and nuclear fleets. Before joining NextEra in 2010, he served as IT VP for the Global Commodities Group at Constellation Energy.
Recognized as a leader in his field, Mittleman was named one of ComputerWorld’s "40 Innovative IT People Under 40" and has received the Microsoft Pinnacle Award. He holds a degree in Computer Information Systems from Johns Hopkins University and currently serves on the Technology Advisory Committee for the Palm Beach County School Board.
Jasmin Lewis
Board Member
(She/Her/Hers)
Mississippi native Jasmin Lewis is a secondary English teacher and GSA co-sponsor within the School District of Palm Beach County. A highly qualified educator, she holds a Master’s and an Educational Specialist degree and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Innovation.
Dedicated to youth advocacy and inclusive policy, Lewis serves as the Community Engagement Co-Chair for the Human Rights Campaign South Florida Steering Committee. Her leadership extends to the New Leaders Council-Palm Beach and the Florida LGBTQA Democratic Caucus, where she works to protect vulnerable populations and foster solidarity across diverse communities.
Ty Penserga
Board Member
(He/Him/His)
Ty Penserga is the first Asian American and openly gay Mayor of Boynton Beach, elected in 2022 after serving as Vice Mayor and Commissioner. A public school teacher and son of an immigrant, he prioritizes professional governance and community trust.
During his tenure, Penserga has championed affordable housing, infrastructure modernization, and environmental protection through a Climate Action Plan. He has chaired the city’s Community Redevelopment Agency and pension board. A graduate of Temple, FAU, and the Harvard Kennedy School, Penserga is a Bloomberg-Harvard New Mayors fellow who remains dedicated to local youth and senior programs.
Matthew McWatters
Board Member
(He/Him/His)
Matthew McWatters is a wildlife advocate, fundraiser, and long-time community leader based in West Palm Beach, Florida. Matt has more than two decades of active involvement in local politics, working to advance progressive causes at the state and county levels.
Through his conservation work, activism, and donor-relations roles, Matt has bridged environmental advocacy with civic engagement, mobilizing support across both nonprofit and political spheres.
Gemma Torcivia
Board Member
(She/Her/Hers)
Gemma Torcivia is a Palm Beach County native and Managing Partner of TG Law, specializing in personal injury and commercial litigation. A Dreyfoos alumna, she holds an MBA and JD from Florida International University. Her diverse background includes serving in Teach For America and leading the Homestead CRA, where she managed multimillion-dollar budgets and transformative redevelopment projects.
A devoted public servant, Torcivia is a Guardian ad Litem and a Fellow of the Florida Bar Leadership Academy. She holds leadership roles with the Palm Beach County Bar and FAWL, focusing on increasing diversity and inclusion within the legal profession.