Board of Directors

Jake Trudeau(he/him)

Board Chair

“Be who you needed when you were younger.” Guided by this philosophy, Jake is a dedicated finance leader, advocate, and volunteer committed to building safe, affirming, and inclusive communities—especially for the LGBTQIA+ population and other underserved groups.

With over 17 years of experience in public sector finance, Jake has led transformative change in government budgeting, accounting, and financial operations. Currently he oversees the development and administration of multimillion-dollar operating and capital budgets, advises executive leadership on long-term fiscal strategy, and champions initiatives that drive transparency, efficiency, and public accountability.

Beyond his professional role, Jake is a passionate community leader and volunteer. As Vice Chair of Annapolis Pride, he has driven organizational growth, cultivated key partnerships, and worked tirelessly to increase the visibility and support of LGBTQIA+ individuals. His leadership helped increase the organization’s annual revenue while shaping strategic direction and advocating for equity and representation. He has also served as Treasurer and continues to represent the organization at public events and forums.

His dedication to mentorship and youth development is evident through his coaching roles in local youth soccer and baseball leagues, where he fosters growth, teamwork, and confidence in a supportive environment. A former Corporate Diversity Board Member and VITA tax preparer for low-income families, his impact spans both corporate and community spaces.

Throughout his career, Jake has been recognized with numerous awards for leadership and service, including the Warriorship Award for Inclusive Leadership and the Corporate Significant Impact Award. Whether in the boardroom or on the field, he brings integrity, empathy, and strategic vision to everything he does.

Val Anias (she/they)

Board Vice Chair, Governance Committee Chair

Val joins Annapolis Pride as a board member and member of the Governance Committee and Advocacy & Communications Committee. She is the founder and owner of A Team Family Law, LLC, a local family focused law firm in Annapolis, Maryland. In her practice, Val is passionate about assisting underrepresented individuals and advocates for her clients irrespective of their gender, race, sexual orientation, and family status. Val is a resident of Anne Arundel County and lives with her wife, kids, and dogs!

Dennis McGowan(he/him)

Board Treasurer and Internal Affairs Committee Chair

Dennis is committed to bringing more visibility to the LGBTQ+ community. As a proud uncle, it is important for him to be an example of living authentically and being inclusive. Originally from Pennsylvania, McGowan started his career at PwC specializing in auditing public and private companies in the financial services industry. As Vice President of Professional Practice at the Center for Audit Quality, McGowan currently leads a team of audit executives to advance technical and policy-oriented projects to identify, develop, and seek consensus on issues affecting the public company auditing profession.

McGowan is a Certified Public Accountant licensed in Pennsylvania, and holds a BS in Business Administration from La Salle University. Dennis looks forward to bringing his professional expertise and experience to further support the mission of Annapolis Pride. When not working or traveling, McGowan can be found exploring Annapolis with his boyfriend Kevin and their perfect dogs Guinness (a rescue) and Maggie (a golden doodle).

Ray Feldmann(he/him)

Advocacy & Communications Committee Co- Chair

Ray Feldmann is a respected communications professional with more than 30 years’ experience in public affairs, media relations, crisis communication, media strategy, and community outreach. A former print
journalist, Ray later served as media spokesperson for several Maryland government agencies including
the departments of Environment, Juvenile Services, and Transportation.

As part of his 13-year state
government career, Ray worked in the State House as press secretary for former governors William Donald Schaefer and Parris N. Glendening. After leaving Maryland state government in 1999, Ray led
media relations and corporate communications programs at the Washington, DC Metro transit system, the Intercounty Connector highway, and Towson University.

Following his five years at Towson University, where he also taught Public Relations Writing every
semester, Ray launched Feldmann Communications Strategies LLC in May 2018. His firm specializes in
media and social media strategy, media relations, public affairs, positive story and Op-Ed placement,
and crisis communications. His current list of clients includes two authors, a country singer-songwriter,
and several women-owned or women-led nonprofits and small businesses.

Ray is also a strategic partner
with Kalix Marketing Group (Stevensville, MD) and Liquified Agency (Annapolis, MD and Sarasota, FL).

Ray lives in Annapolis with his wife, fellow communications professional Christine Duray Feldmann, and
their two college-aged children.

Nicole McCoy(she/her)

Advocacy & Communications Committee Co-Chair

Nicole is an undergraduate student at the University of Maryland studying Psychology and Criminology. She actively works with children and their early childhood development and provides support for people who have been affected by parental incarceration. Nicole is passionate about supporting and advocating for people who are struggling and feel overlooked in society. She looks forward to working with Annapolis Pride further to spread the mission and bring positivity to the community.

Lucinda Ware (she,her)

Development Chair

Lucinda Ware is a trusted advisor and community leader with a deep passion for service, inclusion, and empowering others. With years of experience helping organizations and leaders turn vision into impact, she brings a thoughtful, collaborative approach to her work.
Lucinda currently serves as Senior Advisor to Maryland Governor Wes Moore and has spent much of her career helping teams and communities come together around shared values and meaningful progress. Her professional journey has taken her from national initiatives to local partnerships — always with a focus on connection, equity, and opportunity.

A proud Marylander, Lucinda is also a partner at WC Strategies, where she supports nonprofits, labor organizations, and mission-driven campaigns nationwide. She serves on the boards of Park Heights Renaissance and Annapolis Pride.

When she’s not working, Lucinda enjoys exploring the Chesapeake Bay region, supporting local arts and culture, and spending time with family and friends.

Adam Halliday (he,him)

Events Committee Co-Chair

Adam has spent most of his life dedicated to music and event production. He got his start early, at the age of 15, running sound for his friends’ bands right here in Annapolis. In his early 20’s he spent a lot of time touring and learning the ins and outs of the audio and production business. Since returning to Annapolis, he has been a consistent part of the Annapolis music scene, working at The Whiskey and Metropolitan for many years.

These days, when it comes to audio and production, Adam spends most of his time in the local wedding industry as a DJ and Audio Engineer for various wedding bands. You can also find him at the mix position at several festivals and events around the area. Additionally, after returning to school, he has found his way into the space industry working on projects which are being sent to nearby planetary bodies.

Adam, having spent most of his youth moving from place to place as the son of a Navy officer, is proud to be an Annapolis resident and to call it his home. He is committed to being an active and consistent advocate for the LGBTQIA+ community and hopes to bring you several fun events as the co-Events Chair for Annapolis Pride.

Hilarey Leonard(she/her)

Events Committee Co-Chair

Hilarey began her professional career producing television shows for cable networks like Discovery, National Geographic, and HGTV. Throughout her life, she had always enjoyed working in restaurants between jobs and while in school, so when she met her husband, Brian, they realized they shared a passion for entertaining. They opened their first bar, Lost & Found, in Shaw, DC, in 2014, their second, Free State, in Chinatown, DC, in 2017, and their newest location, Leo restaurant in Annapolis, in 2023. Hilarey handles private and special events, web and social media marketing, and community outreach for the businesses. Hilarey is also a Sommelier and curates the wine programs at all locations. She is a proud mom of son, Quentin, enjoys volunteering, and making connections in her community.

After living in DC for over 25 years and participating in countless Pride events and celebrations, Hilarey is committed to being an active, informed, and constant advocate for the LGBTQIA community.

John Crestwell(he/him)

Rev. John T. Crestwell, Jr. is the called Minister and Executive at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Annapolis (UUCA). He began his ministry in Anne Arundel County in 2009. Before joining UUCA, he was minister of Davies Memorial Unitarian Universalist in Camp Springs, MD, where, in 2006, he helped them become a “Breakthrough Congregation” as one of the most racially diverse churches in the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA).

Rev. John is the Vice-chair of the AA County Executive’s Interfaith Advisory Council, a member of the Anne Arundel Connecting Together (ACT) Strategy Team, a mentor with the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) Commissioned Lay Ministry, Lead Chaplain for the Wellness House cancer community, and member of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) President’s Council.

Rev. John is a mentor, singer, spiritual teacher, and social justice advocate. He is married to Joni R. Crestwell and together, they have a blended family of 5 adult children.

Shelly Rios(she/her)

Shelly Rios (she/her/hers) is honored to join the Board of Directors for Annapolis Pride, bringing her deep commitment to advocacy, community engagement, and equity. A proud member of the Latinx and LGBTQ+ community, she is passionate about creating inclusive spaces where all individuals—regardless of race, gender identity, or background—can thrive, feel heard and celebrated.

With over a decade of experience in healthcare, Shelly has worked across diverse settings, from supporting children with emotional and behavioral special needs to emergency medicine and Alzheimer’s care for the elderly. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for Reproductive Justice Maryland as an Engagement Operations Specialist, championing reproductive rights and healthcare access for all.

Beyond her professional work, Shelly is dedicated to service and community-building. She finds joy in volunteering with the homeless, spending time in nature, getting lost in a good book, and hosting gatherings that bring people together. She is excited to contribute her passion, experience, and leadership to Annapolis Pride, advocating for a more inclusive and affirming future for all.

Jayne Walters(she/her)

Jayne Walters is a former board member and the Director of Education for Indy Pride and was the first openly transgender manager in the history of Indianapolis Public Library. Having worked in libraries for over 14 years, she now works for the Anne Arundel County Public Library, and her writing has been featured in Library Journal and Children & Libraries. She has spoken on LGBTQ+ issues for libraries, companies, and on the news, and is a contributing author in the book Trans and Gender Diverse Voices in Libraries (2023). Her passions include LGBTQIA+ representation in juvenile literature; making sure libraries are accessible and equitable for the community and making them a safe and welcoming environment for all.

Katie Worthington (she/her)

Anne Arundel County High School Senior

Each fall, the Annapolis Pride Board adds a local high school senior to serve as a full board member for one year. The student board member is an essential part of the board to lend voice and experience to the youth of our community. The 2024-2025 student is the third student to serve as a board member. The Pride Board solicits applications and interviews students for this position.