Susan Thronson

Susan Thronson is the first parent of a transgender child to serve as Chairperson of the PFLAG National Board of Directors. She turned to PFLAG when her teenaged child came out seeking support for a gender identity transition. There, she found a community of transgender advocates and, most importantly, parents who shared their families’ experiences. She became a PFLAG mom. It changed her life — from a passive ally to supportive parent and, today, an activist for creating a caring, just and affirming world for all.

Susan is an experienced executive business leader. Her foundational professional expertise was developed at Marriott International where she held positions of increasing impact for 24 years. Now, she is focused on corporate governance as a public company board director. She draws on these experiences to provide counsel on  strategic leadership and aligning an  organization so it can achieve a bold vision.

She has served on the PFLAG National Board since 2012, and has held roles that prepared her to become Board Chair: Vice President (4 years), Secretary (3 years), Nominating Committee Chair (4 years), Finance Committee Chair (2 years), Development and Policy committee member, Strategic Review Task Force chair, and 50th Anniversary Task Force co-chair.

Susan and her husband Steve, live in Southern California where they are active members of PFLAG Palm Springs/Desert Communities.