Kayla Dransfield serves as the current President of Greenbrier Valley Pride. She is the Executive Director of Almost Heaven Habitat for Humanity, a non-profit homebuilder in Greenbrier County. Dransfield is an AmeriCorps VISTA alum and a graduate of West Virginia University, she has a BA in Sociology and Anthropology. Dransfield moved to the area in 2021 to be closer to family. She spends most of her free time with her dog, friends, and family, and can often be found outside in the garden.

Katie Williams is a faculty member and Director of Academic Technology and Faculty Development at the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine. She has a Ph.D. in Sustainability Education, as well as Master's degrees in Learning Design and Technology and Library and Information Science. She has spent her career in education- as a librarian she focused on increasing literacy and understanding information, and in her current role she works with future physicians on a variety of issues included social determinants of health and technology implications in healthcare. Parallel to her efforts in her primary role, Katie has spent the last decade working to increase awareness surrounding LGBTQIA+ issues: she leads Safe Zone trainings, has spoken at seminars and conferences regarding equity and safety in higher education for LGBTQIA+ populations, and is highly focused on making sure that all individuals, regardless of identity find safety in educational spaces. Outside of her professional work, she enjoys camping with her partner Jenna and friends, gardening, cooking, and cycling. 

New bio coming soon.

Thomas Ruggiero is a local fashion designer and artist in Lewisburg, WV and a passionate advocate for equality and joy throughout the Greenbrier Valley. Thomas believes in the power of community organizing, and being an active participant in his community. Thomas was the Grand Marshal of the 2024 Holler with Pride parade and festival. 

Dara Vance is a Floridian raised by Hillbillies. She moved to WV in fall 2020 to take her life in a new direction. She served with AmeriCorps, worked in the recovery community, and worked as a grant accountant. Dara is an exhibiting art who's current work focus on incorporating embroidery, illustration, and found objects (she means bones and skulls). Dara lives in Williamsburg with cats, dogs, sheep, and a donkey.

Beckley native, Keaton James Burton, spent his childhood in Fayetteville as an outdoorsy athlete playing soccer and running cross-country. His passion for fashion led him to his current career in Lewisburg as The Associate Brand Creative for Lewisburg Surf Shop and Bienen Davis. His innovative vision not only cultivates brand appropriate media relationships across multiple digital platforms but also creates content to support both brands. As Keaton continues his journey to NYC he looks forward to serving this Pride organization that is so incredibly important to the gay community in West Virginia.

CJ Ward was born and raised in Greenbrier County, near Lockbridge. She served in the military after attending Parkersburg Community College and graduating with an associate’s degree. After serving her country, she moved back to WV near Charleston. She began a career in EMS as an EMT and was an active member and community organizer for the lesbian community in Charleston.

In 1995, CJ moved to Washington, DC, and worked in the EMS system and the emergency rooms at various hospitals in the area. She was a community organizer for the annual Pride Festival and began working with transgender youth, providing resources through her job as an EMT.

She married in 2003 in Canada and was the first lesbian couple to get their wedding announcement in the Washington Post. Her FTM transgender son was born in 2005, and he came out at the age of 14.

Throughout her son’s school years, CJ worked on bullying prevention curriculum and programs to ensure LGBTQIA youth and their families were connected to resources. She conducted trainings with the administration, staff, parents, and youth to educate them on LGBTQIA issues.

These programs decreased bullying by over 50%. She worked with families to help parents navigate the legal and medical systems to ensure their children would receive the affirmation of their identity in every aspect of their life.

In 2017 CJ returned to college to finish her Bachelor’s degree at WVU and obtained her Master’s in Psychology in 2021. She and her wife divorced in 2022. She then relocated to Greenbrier County to be closer to her family.

Delegate Cindy Lavender-Bowe is a small business owner, community leader, and lifelong advocate. She currently serves as an at-large member of the West Virginia State Democratic Committee.

Cindy holds a Master’s degree in Leadership Studies from Marshall University and taught public school for ten years.

Cindy and her husband Mark, are the owners of Barnwood Living, a small business that includes a restoration company, retail shop, and rental cabins.

Cindy has extensive experience in nonprofit leadership including roles as the Marketing and Public Relations Director and the first Development Director at Carnegie Hall, Lewisburg. She served as the Executive Director of the United Way of Greenbrier Valley prior to beginning her campaign for the West Virginia Legislature.

In 2018 Cindy was elected to represent the 42nd District in the West Virginia House of Delegates, where she proudly caucused with LGBTQ members and advocated for equality and inclusivity.  During her first legislative session, Cindy founded and chaired the House Democratic Women’s Caucus. The following session, Cindy, alongside Senator Stephen Baldwin, co-founded & co-chaired the WV Legislative Joint Democratic Platform Committee.

Courtney received a PhD in Biological Anthropology from the University of Tennessee, specializing in the effects of malnutrition and disease on bone health. She currently teaches anatomy and social determinants of health at the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine (WVSOM). In her role at WVSOM, she has held various positions that advocate for underserved populations. She spearheaded a task force that successfully implemented a breast/chest-feeding policy on campus, ensuring support for lactating employees and students. She served on WVSOM’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee (until it was dissolved) and continues to serve as the curriculum coordinator for the professionalism thread. In this role, she works to equip future physicians with the skills to lead with empathy, advocate for public health, and improve healthcare access for diverse populations. Her collaboration with WVSOM’s Rural Health Initiative introduced a rural health simulation to the curriculum—placing students in their future patients’ shoes and allowing them to experience firsthand the health inequities experienced by underserved communities. Courtney also serves as the La Leche League leader for the Greenbrier Valley, providing educational and emotional support for parents navigating breast/chest-feeding. Passionate about expanding her impact to the broader community, she is eager to bring her experience and commitment to GVP.