Pride Holdings Group (OTC: PHSE) announced on September 29, 2026, the formation of a new Advisory Board and the appointment of Richard Hawkins, George Wallace, and Darren Donnelly as its first members. The move signals a deliberate effort to strengthen the company’s corporate governance and strategic infrastructure as it expands its portfolio of LGBTQ+ hospitality, nightlife, entertainment, and real estate assets, evaluates additional acquisitions, and works toward a potential uplisting to the New York Stock Exchange or NASDAQ.
The Advisory Board will provide guidance on acquisitions, corporate governance, operational growth, and capital markets strategy. Its creation matters because it addresses a critical need for emerging public companies: building the oversight and accountability frameworks that institutional investors and exchanges expect. For Pride Holdings Group, which trades over the counter, demonstrating such discipline is a prerequisite for any future uplisting and for attracting larger investors.
Richard Hawkins brings more than two decades of capital markets and public company leadership experience, including corporate finance, restructurings, mergers and acquisitions, and strategic growth. He has held executive and board roles across multiple public companies and serves as managing partner of a multi-strategy investment fund focused on public company investments and special situations. His expertise in capital formation, regulatory compliance, and transactional structuring is expected to be valuable as Pride Holdings Group evaluates strategic transactions and strengthens its corporate infrastructure.
George Wallace, a member of the Orlando LGBTQ+ community, adds a community-focused perspective. His appointment reinforces the company’s commitment to maintaining a strong connection between its growth strategy and the communities it serves. This alignment is central to Pride Holdings Group’s identity and could enhance its brand authenticity as it scales.
Darren Donnelly, MBA, brings direct operating experience from his previous role as Manager of Trevi Lounge in Connecticut. He has since joined the Pride Holdings Group team, and his venue-level insight will provide the Advisory Board with an operational perspective as the company evaluates acquisitions and expands its portfolio of hospitality and nightlife businesses.
CEO Tim Majors said, “Establishing our Advisory Board is another important step in building the corporate infrastructure for the future of Pride Holdings Group. Richard, George and Darren each bring a different perspective to the table – from corporate strategy and community engagement to direct operational experience. That diversity of experience will be valuable as we continue evaluating acquisitions, strengthening our governance and positioning the Company for its next stage of growth.” He added that the company aims to surround itself with individuals who understand business, operations, and the community it serves, to build a stronger organization with the governance, accountability, and strategic discipline necessary to operate at a significantly larger scale.
The Advisory Board is expected to play an active role in reviewing acquisition opportunities, assessing strategic fit, operational integration, potential financial contribution, and long-term shareholder value. It will also advise management on the steps necessary to pursue a future NYSE/NASDAQ uplisting, though any uplisting would be subject to satisfying applicable listing standards and regulatory requirements, and there can be no assurance that it will occur within any particular timeframe. Pride Holdings Group anticipates adding additional members to the Advisory Board in 2027 as it continues to expand operations and corporate infrastructure. The announcement was initially distributed via NEWMEDIAWIRE.
