Andrew Zapfel
President, Board of Directors
Andrew is the Board Chair and has been a Board Member since 2019. Andrew is a global health practitioner with expertise in community engagement, policy and advocacy, and health system strengthening. He oversees a broad range of global sickle cell disease (SCD) activities, primarily working in sub-Saharan Africa. Andrew has worked in diverse public health programs, particularly in HIV and human rights focused care. He is also an adjunct professor at GWU. He lives in the H St Corridor with his dog, Nollie.
Justin Campbell
Vice President, Board of Directors
Washington D.C. resident 10+ years, passionate about health equity. Strategy & Consulting Manager leveraging tech for social good. Led projects impacting millions in healthcare & finance globally. Master’s in Global Health fuels my work with the DC LGBTQ+ Community Center to dismantle barriers & empower our diverse LGBTQ+ family!
Ashley Gibbs
Secretary, Board of Directors
Ashley Gibbs is a public health professional and international development practitioner with more than 15 years of experience promoting the health and rights of communities around the world.
She currently serves as Senior Multilateral Country Support Advisor in USAID’s Office of HIV/AIDS. She has lived in the DC Area since 2009 and is honored to support the DC LGBTQ+ Community Center’s exciting expansion to serve this vibrant community.
Eddie Mansius
Treasurer, Board of Directors
Eddie Mansius is a commercial real estate professional based in Washington, DC. Outside of his day job, Eddie serves as the Treasurer for the DC LGBTQ+ Community Center, where he has meaningfully contributed to the development and execution of the ambitious vision for the city’s new LGBTQ+ center. Eddie holds a BA in Urban Studies from Brown University.
Rehana Mohammed
Member, Board of Directors
Rehana Mohammed is a passionate public servant, leader, and management professional. She is a federal employee with over 10 years of experience in federal policy and programs at multiple federal agencies. She started her federal career as a Presidential Management Fellow at the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
Rehana is currently as a Board Member, and in her 7 years on the Board has previously served as Chair, Vice Chair, Co-Chair, and Secretary. She also served her community as an Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner in Ward 2. Rehana has been a Fellow with the African American Federal Executive Association, New Leaders Council, and LGBTQ Victory Institute. She holds an MS in Public Policy and Management from Carnegie Mellon University and a BS in Foreign Service from Georgetown University. Rehana is a Certified Government Financial Manager (CGFM) and Project Management Professional (PMP). A native of the DC area, Rehana currently lives in Ward 2 with her wife and their two cats.
TJ Flavell
Communications Chair, Board of Directors
TJ Flavell joined The DC LGBTQ+ Community Center Board of Directors in 2022 and has a long history of serving as a leader in the local LGBTQ+ community. In addition to having served as AGLA’s (now known as EQUALITY NoVA) president three times (in 2012 and 2016, and 2022) and currently serving as an EQUALITY NoVa Board member, TJ serves on the Human Rights Campaign’s Greater Washington, DC Steering Committee as Co-Chair of Corporate Outreach and leads Go Gay DC, a popular LGBTQ+ social, arts, and cultural group of over 10K followers. TJ previously served as president of PEN – Metro DC’s LGBT Chamber of Commerce (now known as the Equality Chamber) for a term, and president of the Alexandria Gay & Lesbian Community Association for two terms. For 35 years, TJ’s career has focused on transforming education through the use of technology.
In addition to working for Achieve, Inc., a nonprofit focused on college and career readiness, he served as manager of the National School Boards Association’s Technology Leadership Network, a consortium of tech-savvy school districts. He also worked for the National Association of Elementary School Principals, the Academy for Educational Development’s LearnLink project, and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS). TJ encourages everyone to support The DC LGBTQ+ Community Center, as it provides crucial human support services needed by many people.
Jack White
Member, Board of Directors
Jack is a seasoned finance professional with 25 years of expertise in the field. As a Certified Fraud Examiner and Certified Human Rights Consultant, he brings a unique blend of skills and knowledge to his work. Currently based in Washington, DC, Jack works within an international organization, championing media and education initiatives on a global scale. With a passion for promoting transparency and accountability, Jack has dedicated his career to combating fraud and advocating for human rights. His extensive background in finance, coupled with his commitment to social justice, drives his efforts to create positive change in the world.
Outside of his professional endeavors, Jack leads a fulfilling personal life. He is happily married and shares his home with two beloved cats. Proud of his Middle Eastern heritage, Jack is fluent in both English and Arabic, allowing him to connect with diverse communities and cultures. As a gay man, Jack is a staunch advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, working to foster inclusivity and acceptance in both his personal and professional spheres. His multifaceted identity enriches his perspective and strengthens his dedication to building a more equitable society for all.
Christopher C. McDonald
Member, Board of Directors
Christopher moved to DC in 2021 from Huntsville, Alabama and is a Senior Deal Strategy and Negotiation Specialist for a global health, wealth, and career services consulting firm. He joined the board in 2023. Christopher served on two non-profit boards prior to moving to DC and has a vast understanding and experience in non-profit financials, program realignment, community engagement, and youth services. Additionally, he has served as co-chair of the pride alliance business resource group at his previous employment. In his free time, he enjoys theater performances, the symphony, trying new restaurants, coffee shops, traveling, reading, and college football.
Dr. Preston Hawes
Member, Board of Directors
Hailed by the European Academy of Arts and Sciences as an “electrifying and virtuosic” performer with “exquisite taste and rare talent”, Canadian violinist, Dr. Preston Hawes is a laureate of the Concours de Musique Du Canada, the Andrews International Music Competitions, the Prix de Musique de Chambre à Fontainebleau, and recipient of the JC Van Hulsteyn award and Peabody Career Grant. He has been heard as a soloist in over 35 countries in venues such as Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Kennedy Center, and Plovdiv Symphony Hall, and for audiences composed of people from every walk of life from orphaned children, to politicians, and royalty.
Earning a Masters of Music degree and the coveted Artist Diploma at Yale University, Hawes completed his studies earning a Doctorate of Musical Arts from Peabody Institute of Music. Dr. Hawes is artistic director of the New England Symphonic Ensemble, the resident orchestra of MidAmerica Productions at Carnegie Hall, NYC, and has performed at Carnegie Hall over 150 times over the years. Apart from his life as a musician, Preston serves on the Board of Directors for The DC LGBTQ+ Community Center, and with his two best friends co-owns a quirky and empowering clothing company called Blame Daddy. When not on stage, he enjoys collecting fine violins and bows, traveling to see new places around the world, and enjoying the wonderful artistic talent local to Washington DC.
Jonathan Gilad
Member, Board of Directors
Jonathan Gilad currently serves as the Vice President of Government Affairs at the at the National Emergency Number Association (NENA). In this role Jonathan helps ensure that lawmakers and federal officials in Washington, D.C, are fully educated about the needs and services delivered by 9-1-1 professionals. Furthermore, as part of NENA’s advocacy efforts, Jonathan works to ensure that the proper resources are made available to the 9-1-1 community so they can continue serving the public with the latest technology and highly trained professionals. Prior to joining NENA, Jonathan served as an Associate Vice President, Association Solutions, at MCI – USA – an association management firm. As a leader he helped these associations make significant progress towards strategic goals, while working collaboratively with his colleagues.
While at MCI USA Jonathan led several advocacy successful efforts on behalf of his clients in both the administration and Congress. In part of these efforts, Jonathan helped revitalize the American Health Quality Association’s Congressional advocacy efforts and annual Policy Forum. Jonathan began his career in policy while working on Capitol Hill for Senator Kirsten E. Gillibrand (D-NY) where he gained firsthand experience with the effectiveness of advocacy and government relations. After leaving Capitol Hill, Jonathan used that experience to help nonprofit organizations amplify their messages to Congress and the public — particularly scholarly and scientific associations, such as the American Political Science Association — boosting their online presence and working with members to strengthen their voices when advocating for scientific research. Specifically he helped the association build out its advocacy department. This congressional advocacy effort culminated in the successful repeal of restrictions placed on political science research at the National Science Foundation.