Meet the PROMO Staff
Steph Perkins
Executive Director
Steph serves as the Executive Director of PROMO and is based in PROMO’s St. Louis office. Steph first joined PROMO in 2008 and has served in many roles with the organization, including Southwest Field Organizer and Deputy Director based in Springfield, MO, where he graduated with his Bachelor’s in Sociology and Religious Studies. Originally from Kansas, Steph comes from a large family of Jewish activists and advocates and has been passionately engaged in the fight for LGBTQ equality at the local, state, and national level for more than a decade. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for Freedom For All Americans, a bipartisan campaign to secure full nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ people nationwide. Steph lives in St. Louis with his wife, Amanda. You may contact Steph at Steph@PROMOonline.org.
Pronouns: he/him/his
Alex Clardy
Development Manager
Alex joined PROMO in March 2016 as Development Manager. She brings eight years of fundraising experience from working on political campaigns and a civil rights non-profit. Alex grew up as a minority in rural Mid-Missouri which influenced her life ambition to promote diversity and equality for all humans. She believes strongly in PROMO’s mission and is thrilled to be living back in St. Louis to help PROMO make a positive difference in Missouri. Alex graduated with her bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Wisconsin – Madison and received her Master of Science in Nonprofit Management from Spertus Institute in Chicago. She loves animals and enjoys cooking, hiking, and traveling. You can contact Alex at Alex@PROMOonline.org.
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Shira Berkowitz
Communications Manager
Shira Berkowitz joined the PROMO team in October 2018 as the Communications Manager. Shira brings a unique collection of experience working in digital communication, arts marketing, political advocacy, and human-centered design to the position. They hold a Master of Fine Arts from Washington University of St. Louis, and is an actively exhibiting artist. As both an artist and entrepreneur, Shira is passionate about building spaces for people to gather and grow as community. They are a founding board member of MaTovu, a Jewish neighborhood center in St. Louis City; Q Jews, a social and educational organization; and Citizen Artist STL, an artist’s advocacy collective. Shira can be reached at shira@promoonline.org
Pronouns: they/them/theirs or she/her/hers
Pronouns: they/them/theirs or she/her/hers
Samati Niyomchai
Manager of Public Policy
Samati joined PROMO as the Manager of Public Policy in 2019. Samati came to St. Louis almost ten years ago to get his master’s in social work. During his graduate program, he completed a practicum at PROMO, working on Equality Day, PROMO’s legislative advocacy day, and planning PROMO’s presence at PrideFest. Since then, he has completed his master’s degree, obtained his clinical license in social work, and is proud to make St. Louis his home. He has proudly served as a Ryan White Case Manager for people living with HIV for the past five years, and he is excited to make a return to PROMO. You may contact Samati at Samati@PROMOonline.org.
Pronouns: he/him/his
Pronouns: he/him/his
Karis Agnew
Field Director
Karis is PROMO’s Field Director based in Springfield, Missouri. Karis graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in sociology from Drury University with a focus on systematic and economic disparities of low-income individuals. Before joining team PROMO in 2017, Karis had extensive experience working with the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community through peer support, volunteer opportunities, and educational seminars. Contact Karis at Karis@PROMOonline.org.
Pronouns: they/them/their
Dan Stewart
Special Programs Coordinator
Dan Stewart joined PROMO in April 2017 and serves as Special Programs Coordinator overseeing the SAGE of PROMO Fund program and Training program. Through his experience in the aging field as a professional and researcher, his passion for teaching, and dedication to advocating on behalf of the LGBTQ community, he brings a unique connection of experiences. Dan earned an Honor’s Bachelor of Arts in psychology from Saint Louis University (SLU), a Master of Science in Gerontology from the University of Missouri-St. Louis, and is currently working on his Doctorate in Social Work at SLU. He serves on the diversity and inclusion committee of Alzheimer’s Association, Greater Missouri Chapter, the diversity and inclusion committee of American Red Cross of Missouri and Arkansas, and the minority issues in aging committee for the Gerontological Society of America. He has published his writing in several academic journals and SAGE National. He and his spouse, Hannah, call St. Louis home. You may contact Dan at dan@PROMOonline.org.
Pronouns: he/his/him
Pronouns: he/his/him
