‍ST. PETE, Fla.   The St. Pete Pride Board of Directors has officially named Bior Guigni as the organization’s new Executive Director, following the departure of Nicole Berman in late 2024. Guigni was hired in January 2025 and started in late March, diligently working on plans for St. Pete Pride’s 23rd Annual Pride celebration.

With more than 350,000 attendees expected across 11 events this May and June, securing an executive director to lead this year’s Pride and help shape the vision for 2026 was the Board’s top priority. The official St. Pete Pride Vendor and Events Guide, published by Watermark Out News, is set to release during the first week of June.

In an interview with Watermark Out News, board president Dr. Byron Green-Calisch shared that “Going into year 23, we needed someone that had a tremendous amount of experience in the nonprofit space, as well as somebody that was passionate about the queer community. Guigni was the absolute perfect mix of both of those things.”

As an immigrant from the Dominican Republic, Bior's journey has been shaped by the challenges of navigating multiple identities, and she has made it her life’s work to be a change agent—particularly for youth of color facing systemic barriers.

In response to joining the team,  Bior Guigni, executive director of St. Pete Pride shared:

“I’m not here to simply maintain the legacy, I’m here to evolve it. 

“This role felt like a natural evolution of my purpose: to build liberatory spaces, amplify marginalized voices, and challenge the status quo. It’s also personal — as a Dominican immigrant, a queer woman of color, and a change agent, I know the importance of visibility and belonging. St. Pete Pride deserves leadership that reflects the diversity of its community and moves with both strategy and heart.

“Under my leadership, St. Pete Pride will deepen its year-round presence, through advocacy, cultural programming, and equitable access to resources. We’ll expand partnerships, uplift BIPOC and trans voices, and make sure youth and elders alike feel seen and supported. My leadership style is rooted in collaboration, accountability, and joy. Pride is protest, celebration, and possibility, and I want to make sure St. Pete Pride reflects all of that.”

Bior is a graduate of the Institute for Nonprofit Practice and has completed executive education through Harvard University, MIT, Cornell University, and Tufts University, grounding her leadership in the intersection of social justice and innovation. She was named a Social Innovator by the Social Innovation Forum in 2019 for creating and scaling a nationally recognized program aimed at empowering underrepresented youth. 

Her work has earned her the Changemaker Award in 2024 and recognition as one of NationalNonprofit HR’s 2024 Women to Watch, celebrating her contributions to diversity, equity, and inclusion.Prior to her role at St. Pete Pride, Bior led a community-based nonprofit, where she guided a team through transformative growth, focusing on creating equitable opportunities for marginalized youth, particularly those of color. Her leadership reflects her unwavering commitment to breaking down barriers and creating spaces where all backgrounds can thrive.