Local
Comings & Goings
Taube wins award, Jackson moves to Compass
From left, David M. Taube, Jeffrey Jackson and Gregory Varnum
The Comings and Goings column is about sharing the professional successes of our community. We want to recognize those landing new jobs, new clients for their business, joining boards of organizations and other achievements. Please share your successes with us at [email protected].
Kudos to David M. Taube, CFA, CFP for receiving the Financial Planner of the Year award from the Financial Planning Association National Capital Area Chapter.
Upon receiving the award, Taube, founder and CEO of Kalorama Wealth Strategies, LLC said, “I am honored to receive this award from the National Capital Area chapter of the Financial Planning Association. To be recognized by peers for my professional accomplishments is truly rewarding. There is much more to being a successful financial planner and investment adviser than having technical knowledge. It requires a passion and authenticity to help clients and always put their interests first.”
Some of his passion and understanding came after surviving cancer more than 25 years ago. It was then Taube realized he needed to devote his time and energy to helping people. This insight, combined with a passion for all things financial, eventually led him to establish Kalorama Wealth, a fee-only investment advisory and financial planning firm. Since its inception in 2005, Taube’s mission has been to help professionals, business owners, and their families achieve greater financial security and independence by providing objective advice customized to meet the needs of each client.
In 2012, Kalorama Wealth Strategies, LLC obtained official certification as an LGBT owned and operated business through the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce’s Supplier Diversity Initiative.
Taube volunteers for D.C.-area LGBT non-profit organizations through Burgundy Crescent Volunteers, including Gay Men’s Chorus, Food and Friends, Mautner Project, Equality Maryland and HRC. He serves on the NGLCC’s Certification Committee, which certifies LGBT owned and operated businesses for its Supplier Diversity Initiative. Taube has appeared in The Washington Post’s “Ask the Experts” column and has written personal finance columns for the Washington Blade.
Since 1999, Taube has been an adjunct professor in the Department of Finance and Real Estate in the Kogod School of Business Administration at American University.
Congratulations are also in order for Jeffrey Jackson, who just announced he has moved to Compass Realty. Jackson has been in the real estate business for more than 20 years after a career at the World Bank.
He goes to Compass with the Capital Estate Group after long stints at Sothebys International Realty and Keller Williams Capital Properties. Capital Estate Group’s mission is to map paths to better lives and better communities through innovative, dynamic real estate services. Compass Realty was launched in 2013. It is a state-of-the-art, technology-driven real estate company that is expanding in D.C., New York City, Miami and Los Angeles. Compass provides comprehensive brokerage services.
Congratulations also to Gregory Varnum, who has landed an exciting new contract to serve as communications strategist for the Wikimedia Foundation communications team. In this role, Varnum will oversee a variety of different areas, including several related to communications with the Wikimedia community (the global community of volunteer editors that contribute to the Wikimedia projects). Having worked with the Wikimedia community extensively in a volunteer capacity, Varnum will now work to develop and hone communications messaging and strategy related to Wikimedia announcements, campaigns and initiatives that impact the Wikimedia community.
According to Samantha Lien who handles communications for the Wikimedia Foundation, “Greg will also be responsible for duties relating to communications outreach projects in support of public policy and advocacy objectives as they relate to the Wikimedia Guiding Principles. Greg will be coordinating communications efforts related to many of the areas of focus outlined in the Wikimedia public policy portal, including issues related to access, privacy, copyright, and more.”
District of Columbia
Gay D.C. police lieutenant arrested on child porn charges
Matthew Mahl once served as head of LGBT Liaison Unit
D.C. police announced on April 14 that they have placed one of their lieutenants, Matthew Mahl, on administrative leave and revoked his police powers after receiving information that he was arrested in Maryland one day earlier.
Although the initial D.C. police announcement doesn’t disclose the reason for the arrest it refers to a statement by the Harford County, Md. Sheriff’s Office that discloses Mahl has been charged with sexual solicitation of a minor and child porn solicitation.
“On Tuesday, the Harford County Sheriff’s Office contacted MPD’s Internal Affairs Division shortly after arresting Lieutenant Matthew Mahl,” the D.C. police statement says.
“The allegations in this case are extremely disturbing, and in direct contrast to the values of the Metropolitan Police Department,” the statement continues. “MPD’s Internal Affairs Division will investigate violations of MPD policy once the criminal investigation concludes,” it says.
“MPD is not involved in the criminal investigation and was not aware of the investigation until yesterday,” the statement adds.
Mahl served as acting supervisor of the MPD’s then Gay & Lesbian Liaison Unit in 2013 when he held the rank of sergeant. D.C. police officials placed him on administrative leave and suspended his police powers that same year while investigating an undisclosed allegation.
A source familiar with the investigation said Mahl was cleared of any wrongdoing a short time later and resumed his police duties. Around the time he was promoted to lieutenant several years later Mahl took on the role as chairman of the D.C. Police Union, becoming the first known openly gay officer to hold that position.
NBC 4 reports that Mahl, 47, has served on the police force for 23 years and most recently was assigned to the department’s Special Operations Division.
Records related to Mahl’s arrest filed in Harford County District Court, show Sheriff’s Department investigators state in charging documents that he allegedly committed the offenses of Sexual Solicitation of a Minor and Child Porn Solicitation on Monday, April 13, one day before he was arrested on April 14.
The court records show he was held without bond during his first appearance in court on April 14. A decision on whether he would be released while awaiting trial or continue to be held without bond was scheduled to be determined during an April 15 bond hearing. The outcome of that hearing could not be immediately determined.
Maryland
Evan Glass is leaning on his record. Is that enough for Montgomery County’s top job?
Gay county executive candidate pushing for equitable pay, safer streets, and cleaner environment
By TALIA RICHMAN | During a meet-and-greet at Poolesville Memorial United Methodist Church, Evan Glass got his loudest applause of the night with a plan he acknowledged was decidedly unsexy.
“Day one, I’ll hire a director of permitting services,” the county executive candidate said.
Doing so, he added, is a step toward easing the regulatory burdens that can stifle small businesses in Montgomery County.
The only problem? At least one of his fiercest competitors is making a similar pledge.
The rest of this article can be read on the Baltimore Banner’s website.
District of Columbia
D.C. bar, LGBTQ+ Community Center to mark Lesbian Visibility Week
‘Ahead of the Curve’ documentary screening, ‘Queeroke’ among events
2026 Lesbian Visibility Week North America will take place from April 20-26.
This year marks the third annual Lesbian Visibility Week, run by the Curve Foundation. A host of events take place from April 20-26.
This year’s theme is Health and Wellness. For the Curve Foundation, the term “lesbian” serves as an umbrella term for a host of identities, including lesbians, bisexual and transgender women, and anyone else connected to the lesbian community.
The week kicks off with a flag-raising ceremony on April 19. It will take place in New York, but will be livestreamed for the public.
“Queeroke” is one of the events being held around the country. It will take place at various participating bars on April 23.
As You Are, an LGBTQ bar in Capitol Hill, is one of eight locations across the U.S. participating. Their event is free and 21+.
On April 24, the D.C. LGBTQ+ Community Center will hold a screening of “Ahead of the Curve,” a documentary about the founder of Curve, Franco Stevens. The event is free with an RSVP.
April 25, is Queer Women in Sports Day. And on April 26, several monuments in New York will be illuminated.
Virtual events ranging from health to sports will be made available to the public. Details will be released closer to the start of Lesbian Visibility Week. Featured events can be found on the official website.
Some ways for individuals to get involved are to use #LVW26 and tag the official Lesbian Visibility Week account on social media posts. People are encouraged to display their lesbian flags, and businesses can hand out pins and decorate. They can also reach out to local lawmakers to encourage them to issue an official Lesbian Visibility Week.
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