contact us: info@ubuproject.org
contact us: info@ubuproject.org
Timothy Melchior, UBU Board President, (Legal and Corporate Advisor)
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.
Paula Colledge, Board Member
Paula Colledge MS, PA-C is a semi-retired neurosurgical physician assistant with 40-plus years of experience working in health care. Her work with the military and doing point of care work has led her to the stark reality that our medical system is broken. Care can be elusive even for those that can afford it and those that cannot are truly stuck. This fact combined with production pressures on practitioners makes for brief and incomplete care. She explains: We need to think outside the box, especially regarding mental health. Suicide rates in Montana reflect the severity of this mental health crisis. We are at the top of the nation, something we take to heart as we see patients. Military and tribal individuals suffer the most, and are often the most underserved. VA benefits can be hard to reach and long wait times for some, and it is very difficult to find a mental health provider that will take Tricare.
When I met Dave(Simmons), the bald guy with a guitar, and heard about UBU, I knew that this is the kind of work I could sink my teeth into. To work with kids and grown-ups before they experience the inability to function in our complicated and fractured world is unique and powerful. I am extremely excited to throw my energy into helping expand these residencies to more people. I honestly feel that every human can benefit from learning how to effectively express themselves, to improve literacy around discussing feelings of despair, and to find their voices in the world.
Paula is also a singer/songwriter, playing music around the fire with her husband, David and most recently playing with other medical professionals in Conscious Sedation, a rock and roll band. She lives on a farm in Montana raising Goldendoodle puppies, bees, and vegetables.
Rev. Victor E. Hardy, UBU Board Member
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.