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.
Cynthia Hardy, UBU Board Vice President, Finance Committee
Cynthia Hardy is a 2016 graduate of Chandler Chamber of Commerce Leadership Institute, 2013 appointee to Governor Jan Brewer’s Arizona SERVES Task Force, a current member of Arizona Faith Council, local National Associations of Congregational Christian Churches Ambassador and 2020 Year Round Delegate. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Norfolk State University, Norfolk, Virginia. She served four years concurrently as a member of the University Arts & Performance Committee and as a Student Senator. In 1995 Cynthia and her family moved to the East Valley after her husband’s United States Air Force tour of duty was completed at Howard Air Force Base, Republic of Panama.
Cynthia has been an active resident and Chandler community leader since 1999. She has held various volunteer positions with the City and nonprofit Boards and Committees for the past twenty years. Currently, she is serving as a City of Chandler Housing and Human Services Board Commissioner and Chandler Gilbert Task Force for preventive training on substance abuse and recovery.
Training: Tax preparer for American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) in 2005 to 2006, substitute teacher certificate since 2006; Tax preparation assistance (VITA) for City of Chandler in 2011 to 2012 and CERT certification 2012, earned continue learning education credit hours in diversity education and African American disability and advocacy.
Honors: Portraits of Chandler Community Leaders toured 2014 to 2016; For Our City Chandler Mayor’s Choice Volunteer Recognition Award and the Amazing Women of Chandler Award in Chandler Lifestyle magazine May 2019 edition
I Support The UBU project because; I am honored to be apart of UBU Project because of your mission to empower students and adults to embrace wellness through a different concept. And to continue sharing the good news in the community to the undeserved families. I have had the pleasure to be a Board member and a member of ICAN-CCYSA(after school program-ICAN, Improving Chandler Area Neighborhood in 85224 & 85225 and CCYSA-Chandler Coalition on Youth Substance Abuse) since 2009 and now ICAN Chandler Gilbert Task Force which includes care of adults for mindfulness, addictions recovery and behavioral health services in the East Valley under the leadership of Ted Huntington, Community Programs Manager ICAN: Positive Programs for Youth CCYSA: Chandler Coalition Against youth Substance Abuse 650 E. Morelos Street Chandler, AZ 85225. Office: 480.821.4207 EXT 414 Website-CCYSA facebook - CCYSA
Stacey Kimble-Gordon, Board Member, Finance Committee
Stacey’s involvement in the theatre world has ranged from acting and directing to summer theatre production. She is currently immersed in voice acting, as a narrator and commercial voice-over artist at staceykimble.com.
She previously found herself involved with many non-profit organizations while living in Missoula, Montana. A Montana native, Stacey has worked with Missoula Children’s Theatre, and the Missoula Downtown Association. Until recently, Stacey worked and lived (seasonally) in historic Virginia City, Montana for 35 years, where she was involved with preservation. She received an MM in Musical Theatre from the University of Montana in 2006 and a BA in Theatre Arts from Montana State University in 1981. She has lived in Chandler, Arizona now for 12 years. Stacey is married to Michael Fitzgibbons and has one daughter, Taylor.
Why I Support The UBU Project: I have seen how much damage suicide does to families up close and personal. It is my hope we can stop suicide at the most vulnerable time in young people’s lives. The education is most important but tearing down the walls of the stigma attached is necessary to implement these teachings. The UBU Project mission succeeds at, and exceeds, these goals. It is my absolute honor to help further the UBU mission in any way I can.
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.
Buddy Flint, UBU Board Member
An Alumnus of the University of Montana, The Bigfork Summer Playhouse and Missoula Children's Theater, Buddy spent the vast majority of his professional life working at the national level in beverage distribution and marketing. In addition, Buddy has worked in theater, film and television and has volunteered with numerous nationally celebrated non-profit foundations and organizations at the fundraising and event organization level.
Buddy is excited to bring his wealth of experience as a musician, corporate executive, sales director and fund-raiser to The UBU Project Board of Directors and is looking forward to building our outreach and impact throughout the state, region and country.