UBU Project 501 (c)(3) BOARD OF DIRECTORS

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Marcy Hardge, UBU Board Member/Treasurer:  Currently the owner of Rise and Shine Tax Services in Glendale, AZ, Marcy was born in Germany and adopted at 18 months along with her twin. She is a graduate of Independence High School and continued her studies at Glendale Community College. She is certified in five levels of taxation up to, and including, the corporate level and also successfully completed the RTRP test with Internal Revenue Service. In addition, Marcy is registered with the Internal Revenue Service as a preferred preparer and has been an independent business owner for over 30 years serving the people of Phoenix’s vibrant West Valley communities.

Rick Mitchell, UBU Board Member/Secretary;  A resident of Phoenix, Rick was born in Chicago and moved from one coast to the other and back again over the course of his professional career. He settled in the valley with his wife Sydney in 2003. A graduate of Illinois State University with an MBA from Benedictine University, Rick’s professional career included 23 years with MetLife including roles as a divisional controller and a member of the Board of the MetLife General Insurance Agency.  In addition to his work with The UBU Project, Rick currently serves as Executive Director and CEO of the Homeless ID Project prior to which he served on the Homeless ID project Board of Directors for nearly 3 years. Rick has a personal passion for the mission of the UBU Project that is based in values instilled in him long ago.

Rev. Victor E. Hardy dedicates his work with The UBU Project to his parents:  Mr. Abraham N. and Francis J.U. Hardy of Portsmouth, Virginia. Who always encouraged him to celebrate and honor his legacy of three generations of Pastors and Civic Leaders by continuing the work of social justice and equality.  When Rev. Hardy received his ordination on September 16, 2012, he was elected to Associate Pastor in 2013 then 2014 elected to co-Pastor and recently elected to officiating Pastor of the Congregational Church of the Valley in Chandler, Arizona.  

In 1995, he started his local civic journey in Mesa, Arizona marching with Mr.“Big John” Goodie for observance of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a legal holiday.  In 1999, Rev. Hardy moved his family to Chandler, Arizona where he began his student presentations of Leadership in Training on Diversity; and Unity and Tolerance through the Civil Rights Movement.  He also became a volunteer member to: City of Chandler Celebration Unity Planning and Multi-Cultural Festival Subcommittees; Director Chandler For Our City; East Valley Jewish Community Center Diversity Committee; Friends of Chandler Symphony Orchestra and Chandler Center of the Arts and 2015-2016 Chair of Chandler’s East Valley Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast.  To further the progressive work in Chandler’s social justice movement he Founded with Officer David Woodward and Coach Stephen Carson the Chandler Men of Action(CMOA), an African American Male non-profit organization dedicated to work with African American Male Youths as mentors. CMOA has annually awarded two, five hundred dollars scholarships to assist our young men to continue their pursuit of higher education and training.  Also CMOA selects a candidate for the Coy C. Payne Man of the Year honor to an outstanding African American gentleman at the Annual African American Banquet held annually on the last Friday in February for the past three years.  Pastor Victor Hardy was awarded this honor in 2019.

Currently serving as a Sr. Legal Operations Analyst with Trane Technologies fka – Ingersoll - Rand Company, Tim is blessed with expert communication and technical skills, and brings deep experience bridging the gap and serving as a liaison between legal teams and technology support groups. His experience and knowledge make him an exceptional addition to any organization managing legal systems including, litigation case management, forensic collection, legal hold, document review, IP case management, IP Annuities management, Immigration I-9 Control Systems, Ebilling and general matter management and contract management functions. He is  a creative individual who is able to work with multiple people in various roles and locations while still understanding the constraints of organizational needs.

In addition to his training and experience holding a Masters of Business Administration – Project Management Specialty St. Mary’s University of Minnesota, Bachelor of Arts, Political Science University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, MN and  Post Baccalaureate Paralegal Certificate Hamline University, St. Paul, MN. Tim, like David, is a thriving survivor of his own suicide attempt, a recovering alcoholic with 24 years in the program  (serving for years as David Simmons' sponsor and advisor as well) and looks at his work in support of The UBU Project as an opportunity to "pay it forward."

Among other duties, Tim will be working in partnership with numerous corporate and education organizations to help bring The UBU Project's message of hope, resilience, self-compassion and empathy into the Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN communities and throughout greater Minnesota.