Shane Andrews
Shane moved from Johannesburg, South Africa to Arlington, Texas in 1995. He first became involved with GLFD working as the Programs Manager during the last two years of his undergraduate degree. He completed his B.A. in English at Southern Methodist University in 2007 and joined the board after the following year. He is currently a legal assistant for Peeples & Hilburn, P.C. and plans to attend law school in the near future. Shane’s interests include politics, literature, personal fitness, and traveling – especially back home.
Dean Carter BS Communication/University of Texas at Austin Prior Corporate experience: Procter and Gamble, Pearle Vision, Pier 1
Currently VP Human Resources, Fossil Inc. Prior Community Involvement
Board member, Arlington Hall and Lee Park Conservancy
Chair, Oak Lawn Community Roundtable
President, Oak Lawn Committee
Chair, The Oak Lawn/Legacy of Love Monument Project
Officer, Kessler Neighbors United
Board Member/Executive Advisor Dallas Chapter Society of Human Resources
HRC Dallas Federal Club Board
City of Dallas Board of Adjustment
Current Community Involvement
Resource Center of Dallas Capital Campaign
Roberto de la Cruz, M.D. Roberto de la Cruz is a physician specialist in Internal Medicine and Palliative Care who practices at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas. He has a Bachelors of Arts from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia and a Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine. He completed his specialty training at Parkland Hospital and has been a member of the GLFD Board of Directors since 2004. He has completed two marathons and is a long-distance cyclist. Roberto enjoys the opera and the company of his two dogs Bonita and Salsa.
Mark Niermann Mark Niermann is a lawyer at Dean Foods Company and is one of the co-founders of the Gay and Lesbian Fund for Dallas. He has been active in several local community groups since moving to Dallas 12 years ago.
Keith Nix Keith Nix owns a public relations/marketing firm specializing in the upscale retail, real estate and design industries. His vocational background includes senior positions in commercial real estate firms and for a decade, served as executive vice president of corporate public relations at Neiman Marcus. The highlights of his background in the Dallas non-profit community consist of founder of the Dallas Coalition for the Arts, Commissioner of Cultural Affairs, president of The 500, Inc., board memberships at the Dallas Theater Center, Dallas Historical Society, Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Kitchen Dog Theater, board of governors of the Dallas/Fort Worth Federal Club and currently, the Friends of the Katy Trail Executive Committee and Dallas Center for BrainHealth Advisory Board. Keith holds a BBA in accounting and marketing from The University of Texas at Austin; he is in continuing education at SMU and at the Dallas Institute of Humanities and Culture.
Richard H. Peeples Richard H. ("Dick") Peeples is a partner in the law firm of Peeples & Hilburn, P.C. in Dallas, which specializes in tax qualified retirement plans. He serves as Secretary of the Board of Directors. Dick has been involved on a volunteer basis with a number of gay and lesbian community organizations since 1976. He has served on the board of directors of the Gay and Lesbian Alliance, Texas Human Rights Foundation, Stonewall Professional and Business Association, Dallas Independent Volleyball Association, Dignity Dallas, Leadership Lambda, Turtle Creek Chorale, and Oak Lawn Community Services. He has been recognized by several organizations for his community volunteer services: 1993 Texas Human Rights Foundation--Robert Schwab Award, 1993 Alan Ross Texas Freedom Parade and Masterpiece Award, 1997 the Dallas Fort Worth Black Tie Dinner Committee--Kuchling Award, and 1998 the J.C. Penney Golden Rule Award. Dick received a B.A. in Economics from Austin College in Sherman Texas and a J.D. from the University of Texas at Austin.
Paul Polenco Paul Polanco is an elementary teacher for Dallas ISD. Before becoming a teacher, he worked as a corporate banker with high profile clients. In this last position he developed an interest for community service. He decided to cultivate this interest by becoming a teacher for an urban district. He also serves as the Vice Chair of the Youth Development Grant Distribution Panel for United Way in Dallas. As a Board Member for GLFD, he is fascinated by the opportunities for service at many different levels. Paul holds a Master degree in Finance from University of Dallas and a BBA from a University in the Dominican Republic.
When not teaching or volunteering, Paul is running, biking, practicing yoga, or playing piano.
Rudy Pollan Rudy Pollan has over ten years of experience in the area of non-profit fund development. He has held major leadership positions as a Director of Major Gifts and Planned Giving and as a Director of Development. He holds a BA degree with majors in chemistry and biology and a MBA from SMU with emphasis in organizational behavior. He is also a graduate of the National Committee of Planned Giving Institute at the College of William and Mary.
Kelly Rao Kelly works with The Container Store in their corporate headquarters in International Business Development and Marketing. Together with her husband Raj, she is firm believer in equal rights and has championed GLFD’s mission since learning about it in late 2001. Immediately she got involved and was instrumental in the success of the Dallas Women’s Museum event as well as the Where the Wild Things Are Event. It was a natural progression for her to join the board. Kelly sits on the Alumnae board of her alma mater, Wellesley College, where she works to support the institution that provides unparalleled higher education for young women. When she is not working, traveling or volunteering, Kelly enjoys spending time in Dallas with her husband and their dog Lola.
Raj Rao Raj is a Financial Analyst at Health Care Service Corporation (HCSC) with an emphasis on Treasury functions. Prior to joining HCSC, Raj worked a number of year with the State and Federal Legislatures. His work in the U.S. Senate focused primarily on judicial appointment. In the Texas State Senate, his focus was on Health Policy. Raj completed his undergraduate in Political Science at Texas A.M. International University and his graduate studies in Political Economics at University of Texas at Dallas. In addition to his pro bono work on behalf of GLFD, Raj also volunteers his time with Entrepreneurial Foundation of North Texas (EFNT).
Sue Williams, M.D. Sue is a physician practicing at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas. There, she works as the primary physician or consultant for acutely ill patients. After attending UT Southwestern Medical School and completing her training in Internal Medicine at Parkland, she remained on faculty at UT Southwestern until joining the staff at Baylor in 1998. Sue served as part of the Palliative Care team, helping patients and their families cope with end of life issues. Most recently, she has pursued her passion for cooking as the founder of a small artisanal chocolate company. A native of Texas, she spends her leisure time traveling or at home with her daughter and two rescue dogs
BS Communication/University of Texas at Austin
Roberto de la Cruz is a physician specialist in Internal Medicine and Palliative Care who practices at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas. He has a Bachelors of Arts from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia and a Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine. He completed his specialty training at Parkland Hospital and has been a member of the GLFD Board of Directors since 2004. He has completed two marathons and is a long-distance cyclist. Roberto enjoys the opera and the company of his two dogs Bonita and Salsa.
Mark Niermann is a lawyer at Dean Foods Company and is one of the co-founders of the Gay and Lesbian Fund for Dallas. He has been active in several local community groups since moving to Dallas 12 years ago.
Keith Nix owns a public relations/marketing firm specializing in the upscale retail, real estate and design industries. His vocational background includes senior positions in commercial real estate firms and for a decade, served as executive vice president of corporate public relations at Neiman Marcus. The highlights of his background in the Dallas non-profit community consist of founder of the Dallas Coalition for the Arts, Commissioner of Cultural Affairs, president of The 500, Inc., board memberships at the Dallas Theater Center, Dallas Historical Society, Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Kitchen Dog Theater, board of governors of the Dallas/Fort Worth Federal Club and currently, the Friends of the Katy Trail Executive Committee and Dallas Center for BrainHealth Advisory Board. Keith holds a BBA in accounting and marketing from The University of Texas at Austin; he is in continuing education at SMU and at the Dallas Institute of Humanities and Culture.
Richard H. ("Dick") Peeples is a partner in the law firm of Peeples & Hilburn, P.C. in Dallas, which specializes in tax qualified retirement plans. He serves as Secretary of the Board of Directors. Dick has been involved on a volunteer basis with a number of gay and lesbian community organizations since 1976. He has served on the board of directors of the Gay and Lesbian Alliance, Texas Human Rights Foundation, Stonewall Professional and Business Association, Dallas Independent Volleyball Association, Dignity Dallas, Leadership Lambda, Turtle Creek Chorale, and Oak Lawn Community Services. He has been recognized by several organizations for his community volunteer services: 1993 Texas Human Rights Foundation--Robert Schwab Award, 1993 Alan Ross Texas Freedom Parade and Masterpiece Award, 1997 the Dallas Fort Worth Black Tie Dinner Committee--Kuchling Award, and 1998 the J.C. Penney Golden Rule Award. Dick received a B.A. in Economics from Austin College in Sherman Texas and a J.D. from the University of Texas at Austin.
Paul Polanco is an elementary teacher for Dallas ISD. Before becoming a teacher, he worked as a corporate banker with high profile clients. In this last position he developed an interest for community service. He decided to cultivate this interest by becoming a teacher for an urban district. He also serves as the Vice Chair of the Youth Development Grant Distribution Panel for United Way in Dallas. As a Board Member for GLFD, he is fascinated by the opportunities for service at many different levels. Paul holds a Master degree in Finance from University of Dallas and a BBA from a University in the Dominican Republic.
When not teaching or volunteering, Paul is running, biking, practicing yoga, or playing piano.
Kelly works with The Container Store in their corporate headquarters in International Business Development and Marketing. Together with her husband Raj, she is firm believer in equal rights and has championed GLFD’s mission since learning about it in late 2001. Immediately she got involved and was instrumental in the success of the Dallas Women’s Museum event as well as the Where the Wild Things Are Event. It was a natural progression for her to join the board. Kelly sits on the Alumnae board of her alma mater, Wellesley College, where she works to support the institution that provides unparalleled higher education for young women. When she is not working, traveling or volunteering, Kelly enjoys spending time in Dallas with her husband and their dog Lola. 
Raj is a Financial Analyst at Health Care Service Corporation (HCSC) with an emphasis on Treasury functions. Prior to joining HCSC, Raj worked a number of year with the State and Federal Legislatures. His work in the U.S. Senate focused primarily on judicial appointment. In the Texas State Senate, his focus was on Health Policy. Raj completed his undergraduate in Political Science at Texas A.M. International University and his graduate studies in Political Economics at University of Texas at Dallas. In addition to his pro bono work on behalf of GLFD, Raj also volunteers his time with Entrepreneurial Foundation of North Texas (EFNT).
Sue is a physician practicing at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas. There, she works as the primary physician or consultant for acutely ill patients. After attending UT Southwestern Medical School and completing her training in Internal Medicine at Parkland, she remained on faculty at UT Southwestern until joining the staff at Baylor in 1998. Sue served as part of the Palliative Care team, helping patients and their families cope with end of life issues. Most recently, she has pursued her passion for cooking as the founder of a small artisanal chocolate company. A native of Texas, she spends her leisure time traveling or at home with her daughter and two rescue dogs