PHILADELPHIA –Mayor Cherelle L. Parker announced seven appointments to fill key roles in various departments and agencies, including the Office of LGBTQ+ Affairs, the Procurement Department, Public Property, Department of Planning and Development, and the new Office of Business Impact and Economic Advancement. These appointments will impact operating departments as well as help broaden the Parker Administration’s Economic Impact and Strategic Partnerships.

«We are on a mission to be an Administration that creates positive tangible impacts on this city and the lives of Philadelphians,” said Mayor Cherelle L. Parker. “These appointments will help us further create a government that values partnership as we create a Safer, Cleaner, Greener city with Access to Economic Opportunity for All.”

Here are the newest appointments to the Parker Administration:

New Positions & Appointments

Tyrell Brown will serve as the new Director of LGBTQ+ Affairs. Prior to this role they served as the Executive Director of the LGBTQIA Latinx and BIPOC social justice organization Galaei after serving previously as the organization’s Deputy Director (2021-2022). Brown has had a wealth of community organizing experience stemming back to their efforts as an 18-year-old in Davenport Iowa where they lived for a year and helped spearhead QCAD (Quad Cities Affirming Diversity). In addition to their role as Executive Director of Galaei, they founded Philly Pride 365 a program of Galaei in 2023 where they also operate as the Program Director. With the help of their talented team, Philly Pride 365 has cultivated Philadelphia’s two largest pride events consecutively, including what is being called the nation’s first parade for National Coming OUT Day in 2023.

Ronald Hovey serves as the Procurement Commissioner. Hovey brings nearly 40 years of public and private sector experience, playing a key role in enabling the various strategic initiatives and day-to-day operations in Engineering, Pharmaceuticals, Energy, and Transportation. His experience includes a stint at Amtrak, where Hovey oversaw the selection of the developer to update the William H. Gray III 30th Street Station. Most recently, he served as Chief Procurement & Logistics Officer for New Jersey Transit, where he overhauled the Procurement organization, updated systems and processes, and negotiated many of the largest contracts in the Agency’s history, most notably the $1.5 billion Portal North Bridge replacement.

Nadir Jones joins the Parker Administration as the Director of Business Impact and Supplier Diversity in the Office of Business Impact and Economic Advancement. He has over two decades of experience championing diversity and inclusion within the Minority, Woman, and Small Business community. As the former Diversity Sourcing Manager at CBRE Group, Inc., the world’s largest commercial real estate investment services firm, he proudly led their global Supplier Diversity Program to new heights across several different countries.

Joseph Brasky will continue to serve the Parker Administration as the Commissioner of the Department of Public Property. Born and raised in South Philadelphia Brasky started his career with the City of Philadelphia at the Fire Department as a cadet. He has 18 years of service with the City of Philadelphia, working as a Plumbing and Heating Maintenance worker, moving to group leader, then crossing over to management as a Superintendent, Building Services Manager and then Building Services Administrator.

Andy Toy will serve as the Director of the Home Appraisal Equity Program in the Department of Planning and Development. Prior to this role he served as the policy director at the Philadelphia Association of Community Development Corporations (PACDC), where he shared best practices with community leaders and advocate for communities on issues like affordable housing. He’s also served as the community development director at SEAMAAC for more than five years. At SEAMAAC, he was instrumental in multi-million-dollar community development and revitalization projects, including Mifflin Square Park, Vendor Village, SoPhiE Food Truck and the 7th Street Commercial Corridor. Before SEAMAAC, while serving as the managing director at the Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation for the Eastern Tower Community Center, Toy and others collaborated on development of the Chinatown community center, which is part of the nearly $80 million mixed-use development at 10th and Vine streets called the Crane.

Robin M. Torrence has over 20 years of experience in classroom instruction, team leadership, and case management with a passion for working with children and young adults, as well as providing community service. Most recently, Torrence worked in the Mayor’s Office of Education as a Community School Coordinator. Prior to that, she had been a Director of Educational Programs for an Out-of-School-Time (OST) program, a Social Worker, Case manager, and a teacher for the School District of Philadelphia.

Patricia Wellenbach will serve as the Chief Strategy and Partnership Officer. Wellenbach is an executive with over 30 years of C-Suite and senior management experience, including over 15 years as a CEO and 20 years in the board room. Her success lies in her ability to operate and manage businesses to position them for future growth and sustainability. Wellenbach has a proven track record of creating and implementing business strategies that increase profitability and efficiencies by building executive teams and boards that are aligned to achieve the strategy. She has demonstrated the capacity to lead businesses through substantive change and articulate a vision that inspires success.