Pride Holdings Group Forms Advisory Board to Strengthen Governance and Acquisition Oversight

Pride Holdings Group (OTC: PHSE) announced the formation of a new Advisory Board and the appointment of Richard Hawkins, George Wallace, and Darren Donnelly as its initial members, according to a NEWMEDIAWIRE press release. The move represents another step in the company's development of corporate governance and strategic infrastructure as it expands its operating portfolio, evaluates additional acquisition opportunities, and works toward its long-term objective of pursuing an uplisting to the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) or NASDAQ.

The Advisory Board will work alongside company leadership, providing additional perspective and strategic guidance in key areas including acquisitions, corporate governance, operational growth, and capital markets strategy. Pride Holdings Group is a publicly traded holding company focused on acquiring, operating, and scaling LGBTQ+ oriented hospitality, nightlife, entertainment, and real estate assets. Through its portfolio of venues, events, and branded experiences, the company aims to create safe, inclusive, and economically sustainable community spaces while delivering long-term value to shareholders.

Richard Hawkins brings more than two decades of experience in public company leadership, corporate finance, restructurings, mergers and acquisitions, and strategic growth initiatives. His experience spans capital formation, corporate governance, regulatory compliance, transactional structuring, and the rehabilitation and development of emerging public companies. He has held and continues to serve in executive leadership and board roles across multiple public companies, while also serving as managing partner of a multi-strategy investment fund focused on public company investments and special situations.

George Wallace is a member of the Orlando LGBTQ+ community and brings a community-focused perspective to the Advisory Board. His appointment reinforces Pride Holdings Group's commitment to maintaining a strong connection between the company's growth strategy and the LGBTQ+ communities it serves. Darren Donnelly, MBA, brings both business education and direct operating experience to the Advisory Board. Donnelly previously served as Manager of Trevi Lounge in Connecticut and has since joined the Pride Holdings Group team. His experience at the venue level provides the Advisory Board with an operational perspective as the company continues evaluating acquisitions and expanding its portfolio of hospitality and nightlife businesses.

"Establishing our Advisory Board is another important step in building the corporate infrastructure for the future of Pride Holdings Group," said Tim Majors, CEO 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."

The company expects the Advisory Board to play an active role in reviewing acquisition opportunities and providing management with additional perspective on strategic fit, operational integration, potential financial contribution, and long-term shareholder value. The Advisory Board will also advise management as Pride Holdings Group continues evaluating the steps necessary to pursue a future NYSE/NASDAQ uplisting. Any potential uplisting would be subject to the company satisfying applicable listing standards, regulatory requirements, and other conditions, and there can be no assurance that an uplisting will occur within any particular timeframe.

Pride Holdings Group anticipates adding additional members to the Advisory Board in 2027 as the company continues to expand its operations and corporate infrastructure. For Texas, this development signals a growing focus on LGBTQ+ oriented hospitality and entertainment assets as an economic driver, with potential implications for similar businesses in the state seeking capital markets access and strategic growth. The addition of experienced advisors could enhance the company's ability to execute acquisitions and create sustainable community spaces, offering a model for inclusive economic development.