Senior Leadership

Jeff Hudson, Union Rescue Mission’s Interim President and CEO, has served on URM’s Board since 2007. Jeff and his wife, Sandy, are both passionate about serving URM and neighbors devastated by homelessness in Los Angeles. Jeff started his career and eventually became President and CEO of George Elkins Mortgage Banking Company, before retiring in 2022. Jeff, a third-generation native of Los Angeles, recently celebrated his 40th marriage anniversary with his wife, Sandy. They have three adult children, Juliana, Jessica, and Christopher. Jeff also sits on the Elder Board of Calvary Church in Pacific Palisades.

Richard is joining us as our new COO (Chief Operating Officer) and will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of maintenance, custodial services, security, food service, transportation, distribution, Gift In Kind, real estate, and more. With over 35 years of experience in the hospitality industry, including 22 years in senior management, chief executive roles, and board positions, Richard has worked with three of the top luxury hospitality groups worldwide – Four Seasons Hotels, Rosewood Hotel and Resorts, and Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group.

Throughout his career, Richard has developed an exceptional understanding of service standards, operations, and guest experiences. He has managed boutique city hotels, and unique destination resorts, and has overseen the development and training of service standards in kitchens, restaurants, housekeeping, concierge, and private residences. He has a passion for leading and mentoring teams, collaborating cross-functionally to ensure the delivery of all measured metrics.
Richard has a proven track record in understanding the key objectives of all stakeholders and has developed key initiatives and strategies for growth to optimize outcomes. He has excellent interpersonal skills and clear communication, simplifying complex ideas into easy-to-understand concepts to identify and solve issues.

In addition to his professional career, Richard is passionate about mentoring and serving others. He has mentored students at SMU Cox School of Business, Cornell University’s graduate school of hospitality, and The Hong Kong of Polytechnic University, as well as leading Bible and Sunday school classes. He has also held board positions on the Dallas Advocacy Center, Care for Children in Bangkok and Beijing, and Branches of Hope in Hong Kong. Richard has spent ten years as a special needs foster parent, adopting two of his foster children.

Richard is excited about his new role of serving the homeless community in Los Angeles. He began his career in LA as a student at Biola University, where he led the culinary team that served the athletes of the 1984 LA Olympics. Richard is thrilled to be back in the US with his wife Stephanie, four children, and two grandchildren.

Christopher has served the Lord for 15+ years as a financial executive for Gospel Focused non-profits.  For over 35 years he has worked as a public and private accounting professional in various industries including non-profit, retail, wholesale, manufacturing, financial institutions, healthcare, providing experience in operational, financial, technology and logistics oversight, as well as mergers, acquisitions, IPOs, and divestitures.  He earned Bachelor of Science (BS) degrees in Accounting and Information Systems from Biola University and CPA issued in the State of California.  Christopher and his wife Stephanie have raised their two sons Chris and Kendall in the San Fernando Valley, while he has served as an Elder and worship team member at New Life Church in Woodland Hills.  Chris and his wife Stacey have blessed their family with the recent arrival of their first grandchild Oliver John.

Albert is an ordained pastor within the Christian Reformed Church (CRCNA), and he joined the Union Rescue Mission as a chaplain intern after earning his M.Div. in 2015. Prior to going into chaplain ministry, he graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. After working in Silicon Valley as a consultant and project manager, he received God’s call to go into ministry. Albert is passionate about thinking through the theological implications of encountering Jesus Christ “outside the camp” (Heb 13:13)—whether on Skid Row or in the LA County jails. His better half, Cici, calls him Al Pastor (like the taco). Together they have two wild boys, Nathan and Joshua—who take after their mom and love to create and use their imagination!

Richard had a successful 30+ year career in the fashion industry as Senior VP of Sales for a major U.S. women’s and girls’ apparel company. He was recruited onto the URM Board of Directors in 2013, by CEO Andy Bales, where he served as Board Development Chair for a five-year term. During his time on the Board, Richard helped create the very successful URM Walk to Fight Homelessness at LA Live in 2018. Richard’s positive board impact led to Andy’s recruitment of Richard onto the URM Senior Leadership Team in July of 2018 as VP of Philanthropy and Social Enterprise.

Richard has a decades-long record of supporting social justice, fighting homelessness, and working to reducing poverty in Los Angeles, and around the world. Using his expertise in sales, marketing and trend analysis, Richard helped multiple non-profits and churches build their fundraising and marketing programs. Serving on the Board of Lutheran Social Services of Southern California, Richard helped reinvent their annual walk-a-thon event by rebranding it as the “LSS Walk to End Poverty,” which resulted in participation and fundraising increasing fivefold. Richard also served as Co-Chairman of the Board for the San Damiano Foundation in Burbank, CA. SDF was a Franciscan ministry, whose mission statement was “Putting the Power of Film at the Service of the Poor.

Since joining Senior Leadership at URM in 2018, Richard has collaborated with CEO, Andy Bales, and the URM Board, to help the organization nearly double in size in less than five years. He has helped recruit, expand, and transform the organization’s Philanthropy Department, with energized and inspired leadership. His actions have helped cultivate a highly motivated team of directors and philanthropy officers at URM. In addition, due to the pandemic, Richard and team reinvented the URM annual gala and turned it into an Emmy nominated TV Special on CBS Television. The celebrity ladened event is now called Angels of Hope and raises $3 million annually. Furthermore, Richard added URM Over the Edge to their annual events in 2019. It now attracts hundreds of brave souls who are willing to rappel off the roof of the 25-story Universal Hilton Hotel, which helps raise over $1 million each year.

Born in New Orleans, LA, Richard attended Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, where he received a BS degree in Marketing and Fashion Merchandising. He’s married to his college sweetheart, Patti, and they have one daughter, Taylor.

EDUCATION

Attended the College of St. Paul’s & St. Mary’s in Cheltenham England, graduated from the University of La Verne in La Verne California. Received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Public Relations with an emphasis in Broadcast Journalism. Also studied Drama for two years at Cross Roads Arts Academy in Los Angeles.

PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND

Public Relations Director/Union Rescue Mission: 8/2006 to present.

Duties include: Coordinating Media/Public Relations opportunities to help generate URM name recognition and to bring positive media attention to URM’s activities & services through all forms of media: print, radio, TV, Social media, News letters and spokesperson opportunities. Also coordinates all media relations, information and logistics for events/special stories. Also produced CEO’s weekly Video Blog.

West Angeles Church of God in Christ Video Announcements & Voice-Overs: Bi-weekly voice-overs for Bishop Blake’s message on KJLH Radio Free 102.3 FM

KTYM Radio Co-Host: 9/1995 to 10/2007.

Co-Host of a weekly radio talk show “On The Positive Side”. Duties included: Producing commercials, Public Service announcements & voice-overs. Attended major community and corporate events, interviewed celebrities and special guests. Also interviewed Public Officials and gave special recognition to organizations & businesses that support the community.

Public Relations/Resource Manager/Kedren Head Start/State Preschool & Family Service Center: 10/1991 to 8/2006.

Duties include: Proposal writing, attending major social events. Setting up Press Conferences, producing newsletters, press releases & public service announcements. Also responsible for cultivating partnerships with community leaders & corporate representatives to raise funds.

KACE Radio Air Personality/News/Sports & Entertainment Editor: 7/1982 to 12/1992.

Duties included: writing & editing news stories, interviewing celebrity guest, attending press conferences, attending & reviewing concerts, plays and major motion pictures. Also produced commercials and voice-overs.

Personal:

Hobbies & Other Interest: Skiing, golfing reading and traveling. I have lived in Germany, Turkey and England. I am a member of West Angeles Church of God In Christ, a board member of RBD Communications and a Executive committee member of The Hollenbeck Youth Centers Los Angeles Inner City Games.

LaTonja  Lindsey has a passion to serve the unforgotten ones. her passion in life is to empower others through the love of Christ.

LaTonja has worked in non-profit Christian organizations for over 18 years. She has a background in administration, volunteer services, working with people who have disabilities, and community outreach. LaTonja has a BA in journalism.

LaTonja joined URM in 2007. She has worked in various position at the mission, which has allowed her to understand the needs of the people. She now oversees all aspects of men, women, and family emergency services.

LaTonja is a strong advocate for helping women achieve their full potential. She believes in sisterhood and strives to bring peace amongst all women she meets.

LaTonja loves to travel and meet new people from all walks of life.

LaTonja considers herself a foodie at heart and is always open to help broaden a person’s pallet.

LaTonja loves Jesus, her family, friends, and the unknown.