Board of Directors
ADAM R. HOWARD
COMMODORE
Commodore Adam R. Howard USN Service-Disabled is the founder and leader of PROJECT VALOR SAILING. He is the Artist/Blacksmith in residence at the PROVINCETOWN WELDING STUDIO at 3 Bradford Street in Provincetown. He is also a published Author and Photographer. His vision for PROJECT VALOR SAILING to be a resource for the community and a place of gathering for veterans is impressive. When the refurbished ship VALOR sails into Provincetown harbor in 2022 it will be a joyous event!
GEORGE M. DRATELIS
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Executive Director George Dratelis has worked in the online media industry since 1995 with positions in newspaper companies, technology vendors, start-up companies and nonprofits. He is currently the Chief Technology & Strategy Officer at Realty Link Networks Inc. His role with PROJECT VALOR SAILING as Executive Director is to manage all communications and marketing for the non-profit organization.
LYNELL WILCHA
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
For the past 35 years, Lynell Wilcha has worked in the creative and advertising field. Currently, Ms. Wilcha serves as principal and creative director at Lynell Wilcha Design. She's a past president of the Art Directors’ Club of Philadelphia which has included a talented and experienced team of art directors, copywriters, illustrators, interactive specialists, marketers, photographers, PR specialists, directors, and producers. She has been awarded many industry honors and awards of excellence. As Creative Director she handles development of all marketing material..
ADRIENNE SIMONE
VICE COMMODORE - Maritime Affairs - USCG Master 50T
Captain Adrienne is a native Angeleno who grew up on the sparkling waters of the Pacific. Raised in a charter family her love of the ocean and expert hospitality give her the perfect combination of skill and welcomeness. Captain Adrienne is also a licensed minister and can officiate your wedding aboard Marie Knight or anywhere on Cape Cod and beyond. She joins PROJECT VALOR SAILING as Vice Commodore - Maritime Affairs.
THANASSI KULIOPULOS
EVENT DIRECTOR
Thanassi has studied at the Museum School in Boston, with 20 different painters by his count, but he says he always comes back to the same three subjects: these minimalist depictions of Herring Cove Beach, Long Point Light, and an unmoored dory, sometimes floating, sometimes beached, but always upright. Thanassi is a proud veteran and active member of the Provincetown community. Visit him at THANASSI GALLERY at 234 Commercial Street which is the port HQ and event venue for Project VALOR Sailing.
Harry Trubounis
HOSPITALITY DIRECTOR
Harry Trubounis has decades of experience in the hospitality industry and has managed departments at some of the finest resorts in the country. Most important is Harry's penchant for providing a superior experience to every guest he encounters. His current position as the North American Manager for Royal Dalmatia Yachting in Croatia is a perfect fit to assist Project Valor Sailing in ensuring that each of our guests sailing or staying on VSV-1 VALOR in Provincetown Harbor will have a maritime experience that exceeds expectations. Harry's role as Director of Hospitality will focus on providing supervision of all guest procedures and assistance in managing the VALOR VETERAN VACATION program for Cape Cod, Coachella Valley, and Costa Rica. Harry is a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community and will be the Project Valor Sailing liaison with DC-based LGBTQ+ media outlets and organizations. Harry is located in the prestigious Dupont Circle neighborhood in Washington D.C.
Patrick Patrick
Community Relations Director
Patrick Patrick is a retailer and real estate developer in Provincetown. He is the CEO of Marine Specialties and Shankpainter Associates. He also serves as President of the Provincetown Chamber of Commerce. His business goals include developing businesses and real estate that foster community with a focus on entrepreneurs, artists, and everybody in between with workspace, living space, and retail outlets to bring products to market. As a native of Provincetown and a long-standing leader in the business community, his role with PROJECT VALOR SAILING will be to assist in ensuring that our nonprofit is serving the community as effectively as possible with our programming.
Evan Hagberg
Maritime Management Director / Captain of VALOR
Evan Hagberg is employed as a SaaS solutions architect for his “day job” but when he’s not behind the screen he prefers to be in the great outdoors exploring nature with his German Shepherd Archie and on the water under both paddle and sail. He is an experienced sailor who has logged blue water voyages in the South Pacific and coastal trips along the Eastern Seaboard. Evan is a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community. His role with Project Valor Sailing is managing our proposed sailing program. Evan is extremely excited about the mission of Project Valor Sailing and taking on responsibility for the new boat.
Nate Knight
Communications Director
Nate Knight is a long-time resident of Cape Cod who joined the digital revolution both locally and internationally as a digital marketer and software manager back in 1995. Currently working as Marketing Director at an international SaaS company, Nate has a diverse skill and management background and specializes in unifying systems, teams, and methods to create effective communication. Nate is responsible for the creation and maintenance of the Project Valor Sailing online presence.
JOHN MANDEVILLE
VETERAN OUTREACH DIRECTOR
John Mandeville grew up in Brockton MA. He attended Boston area colleges. John is a US Navy Vietnam Veteran who served in the Tonkin Gulf on the Carrier USS America (CVA-66) from 1970 - 1973 and did a European Tour in 1973. He completed two years of Reserve duty from 1974-1975. John married his wife in 1973 and they have two children, both married. In 1980 upon completing his formal education he accepted a position at IBM Boston where he worked for ten years. After divorcing in 1998 and moving to St Petersburg, FL he took up Nursing as a career and worked at the VA Hospital in Bay Pines, Florida (St Petersburg). John's experience here was his most fulfilling position, helping other Veterans in all aspects of Nursing from Surgery to Hospice. After departing Florida in 2008 he became a resident of Provincetown where he worked at a number of jobs prior to retirement. John is very proud to have completed running in the Boston Marathon twice. He is excited to join Project Valor Sailing. John will focus on Veteran outreach and Provincetown community engagement in his role on the Project Valor Sailing Board of Directors.