Lila Baxter
President
Lila (she/her) is a transgender woman who has volunteered for First Event since 2018, starting as a Big Sister mentor, then Registrar, and later as Director of Administration. She is presently Co-Chair and Director of Administration for First Event 2025. Her responsibilities include attendee and vendor registration, First Event financial performance, and administration of the Ken Garber scholarship program.
Upon joining the staff of First Event in 2019, Lila observed that the scholarship program in place at the time was insufficient, only providing assistance with the purchase of a conference ticket. After moving into a leadership role in 2024, Lila spearheaded the creation of a more comprehensive scholarship program that promotes equity by providing assistance with meals, lodging, and travel in addition to a conference admission.
In 2019, Lila co-founded the nonprofit Renaissance New England (RNE) to provide a safe space and peer support for adult transgender, nonbinary, and gender-expansive individuals, and adult family and supporters. RNE was founded to replace the local chapter of a national organization whose charter was to welcome heterosexual crossdressers only. Lila currently serves as Director of Membership for RNE and coordinates Pride event participation.
In her spare time, Lila works a full-time job managing the Electrical Engineering department for a company that designs, builds, and maintains robots for military and first responders. These robots are used to keep these brave public servants away from explosives and other hazards that threaten lives and livelihoods.
Vela Velazquez
Vice President
Olivia Werth
Director of Finance
Olivia (she/her) has served as treasurer of TCNE since 2023. In addition to her work with the Community she is the founder of North Shore Trans Support, serves on the board of North Shore LGBTQ+ Network, and volunteers with several other organizations dedicated to supporting and advocating for trans and LGBTQ+ people in the area north of Boston. She enjoys spending time with her spouse & their cat, has put her English degree to good use working as an accountant, writer, poet, and zine maker, and her favorite color is purple.
Francois Dubouloz
Secretary
François (they/them) is a neurodivergent immigrant from France with a background in law and a deep commitment to justice. As an older trans masculine non-binary individual, they bring lived experience to their advocacy work.
They spent two decades creating a local food forest while unschooling their three children and serving as an educator and administrator in a local co-op. François also co-authored a French book on community-based gardening and served as a co-leader of a counter-hate speech group. They are deeply involved in organizing and advocating for the trans and immigrant communities and contributing to mutual aid efforts focused on soup kitchens, community gardens and seed sovereignty.
With decades of community engagement, François is honored to bring their experience and passion to advance TCNE’s mission of uplifting trans and gender-diverse individuals across New England.
Irene Brank
Development
Irene (she/her) is a storyteller, consultant, and advocate for the transgender, non-binary and gender expansive community. She is a bi-racial person who is proud of her Asian heritage. She specializes in transgender, nonbinary, or otherwise gender-expansive education, pro-bono consultation for individuals planning for their transition at work, and leading gender transitions in the workplace. Irene is a frequent speaker for corporate and non-profit events, often partnering with her transgender daughter who is promoting change as a social media influencer and content creator. She is a frequent speaker at the Out & Equal Workplace Summit and other conferences supporting the LGBTQIA+ community. Irene has spent many years in different roles with both ERG’s and BRG’s including leadership. Irene brings her unique experience in Human Resources and Diversity Equity & Inclusion together to create sustainable impact for the transgender, nonbinary, or otherwise gender-expansive community.
Carmen Alvaro Jarrín
Director of Volunteers
Carmen Alvaro Jarrin (she/they) is an anthropologist and a professor specializing on trans and non-binary identities in Brazil and the United States. She’s the author of The Biopolitics of Beauty, they have published in Transgender Studies Quarterly and she is working on a new book called Our They/Them Future. At TCNE, Carmen has served as the Director of Outreach, as the Director of Volunteers and as the Chair of the Nominations Committee. They have pushed TCNE to better integrate people of color and non-binary folks into the organization, thus serving the needs of younger generations of gender nonconforming people.
Gabe Rodarte-Miller
Director of Education & Workshops
Gabe (he/him) is a proud member of the Latino and LGBTQ+ Community. Currently he is the coordinator of workshops and social programming at First Event and throughout the year at TCNE. As a dedicated Diversity Champion with expertise in DEI and recruiting, Gabe has made significant contributions to advancing diversity and inclusion. He has served on various LGBTQIA+ boards, demonstrating a strong commitment to fostering equitable environments. Gabe has led numerous initiatives in partnership development, conference planning, and diversity-focused recruitment efforts. Additionally, he has successfully managed several Employee Resource Groups, furthering his impact in promoting inclusivity in the workplace.
CJ Gregorios
Director of DE & I
CJ (they/them) is a proud nonbinary member of the Asian and Pacific Islander (API) LGBTQ+ community who believes that everyone deserves to feel a deep sense of belonging—everywhere, and in every part of who they are. As an ordained minister, CJ is passionate about guiding others on their spiritual journeys, offering compassionate support that honors each person’s unique path. A devoted advocate for trans rights, they work to create safe, affirming spaces where trans individuals are seen, supported, and celebrated. CJ is committed to advancing acceptance and visibility for the LGBTQ+ community in every aspect of life, helping to build a world where everyone can thrive authentically—spiritually, personally, and collectively.
Philippa Harris
Director of Marketing
Philippa (she/they) brings 24 years of back-office finance experience, having worked with leading investment firms and banks in Boston, Tokyo, and Singapore. Now transitioning into Event Management, Marketing, and Graphic Design, she specializes in music and Japanese sake. An accomplished musician, she sings and plays bass and koto in ShimoKita Bam Bam, a Japanese-pop-inspired American R&B and rock band. She holds the Distinguished Toastmaster award and has supported large-scale music events for Boston non-profits, including Embrace, Boston Pride for the People, and Japan Festival Boston.
Philippa’s journey with TCNE began when she hesitated to register for a summer event, only to find the guest list full when she finally gained the courage. Determined to connect, she showed up anyway and was met with overwhelming kindness. Since 2023, she has been a guest speaker at First Event and performed in the 2024 and 2025 fashion shows. Grateful for TCNE’s support, she is committed to giving back to the organization that helped her through her own transition.
David Bedrin
Director of Outreach
David (he/him) is a proud member of the LGBTQIA community, a parent of a trans teen, and a licensed clinical social worker whose private practice focuses on empowering trans, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming individuals and their loved ones to grow toward authenticity. He first volunteered at First Event in 2024 and was moved by the power in the First Event community. As a part of the Outreach team, he is excited to help TCNE and First Event reach transgender and queer individuals and their loved ones.
Ash Fredrickson
Ashley (Ash) (she/her) is a proud parent of three LGBTQ+ children, and three adorable cats, She is a military retiree and combat veteran. Ash is the founder of the Trans & Nonbinary Community 518 Social Media Group (FB) which she created to try to provide more safe Transgender social spaces that she wasn’t able to find locally when she started to socially transition. She is also deeply involved with an LGBGT Veterans group, and she schedules, plans, and hosts numerous social events for the Trans and Queer Community in the Capital Region of NY each month, and is deeply passionate about bringing people together by providing safe spaces and social events for all of the LGBTQ+ Community. Ashley serves on the board for the Pride Center of the Capital Region (Upstate NY) and now serves on the board for TCNE, happily accepting due to TCNE First Event Conference participation giving her the runway to be her authentic self.