About Us > Board

Jasmin Brand

Jasmin Brand is the Chief Marketing Officer for Brandpointe, a company she founded in 2007 that specializes in connecting individuals and medium sized firms with continuing education and professional development e-learning solutions. With an extensive background in marketing, sales and consumer engagement, Jasmin is passionate about creating and growing online communities and serves as a social media consultant, collaborating with for profit and not profit companies. Along with being an avid supporter of equal rights and opportunities for all, she is passionate about giving back and devotes many hours to serving at various nonprofits including Dallas Children's Advocacy Center, The Urban League of Greater Dallas Young Professionals, The Aberg Center for Literacy, American Lung Association and the Junior League of Dallas. Jasmin graduated with a B.A. in Political Science and International Studies from Southern Methodist University and recently completed her Masters in Education specializing in Adult Learning.

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.

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 Polanco

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 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).

Billy Rodriguez

William "Billy" Rodriguez joined the GLFD Board in May 2010, having previously supported various GLFD causes.  Billy is self-employed as a real estate developer and financial consultant.  Billy also serves on the boards of the Trinity River Audubon Center, Reading & Radio Resource, and the University of Texas at Austin Texas Union; tutors DISD students at Peeler Elementary; records books on tape for the visually-impaired at the Reading & Radio Resource Center; serves as a volunteer tax preparer with the local United Way’s “Earn It, Save It, Keep It!” program; and plays saxophone with the Oak Lawn Band.  Since moving to Dallas in 1982, he has served on the boards and/or advisory boards of the Dallas Museum of Art and its Professional Members’ League, Easter Seals Society, Dallas County Heritage Society, Center for Non-Profit Management, Center for Housing Resources, and Junior League of Dallas.  Billy graduated from The University of Texas at Austin with a B.A and an M.B.A.