Leadership

Walking in Faith, Serving in Love

Our Leadership Team

We are blessed to have an amazing team of leaders who faithfully serve the Mission and guide our efforts as we do the Lord’s work.

Each and every one of them are committed to helping our ministry work to our full potential, so we can help transform as many lives as possible. We would like to introduce you to our Executive Leadership Team and Board of Directors who lead us with humility, integrity and the love of Jesus.

Our Board of Directors

President – Mark Sewalson

Vice President – Vince Lopez

Treasurer – Mike Wallace

Secretary – Tim O’Brien

Sheri Blauwiekel

Robert Brown

Diane Calhoon

Jim Ewan

Michael Iammarino

Paul Johnson

Leon Jones

David Langford

Cedar Robinson

Gareth Keown

Chief Executive Officer - Gareth Keown, MSML

Gareth Keown is an accomplished nonprofit executive with more than two decades of broad-sector leadership experience spanning humanitarian relief, community development, and faith-based organizations. Known for leading through transformation, Gareth has guided teams and organizations through seasons of rapid growth, structural change, and renewed mission alignment. His leadership philosophy centers on developing people, building resilient systems, and fostering cultures of clarity, accountability, and hope. He has played a key role in addressing food insecurity at scale, most notably through his leadership at Midwest Food Bank Texas, where he spearheaded operational expansion, strategic partnerships, and data-driven sustainability initiatives. Gareth’s work reflects a deep commitment to organizational health, leadership development, and long-term community impact. He is passionate about equipping others to thrive in mission-driven environments and leading organizations that turn compassion into measurable transformation.

MIke Fields

Chief Officer of Physical Operations - Mike Fields

Mike joined the Mission in July 2022 as the Executive Director of Physical Operations and moved into his current role in October. Mike has worked in the field of event and facility management for over 25 years. He has been involved with a variety of facility development projects to include Olympic biathlon and cross-country trails, an Olympic speedskating and ice area, Olympic boxing and wrestling gyms and most recently he was on the team that designed and built the Olathe Community Center. Mike is a graduate of Emporia State University (MSE) and the University of Kansas (BSE). His focus will be on internal customer service and adding value to the Mission through infrastructure management.

Amanda Greene

Chief Programs Officer - Amanda Joy Greene

Amanda Joy Greene served for eight years as the Administrator and Care Ministry Director for L. Minor Care Center. She joined City Union Mission in November 2017 and, alongside her team, helped launch and establish the L. Minor Care Center, a program designed to support men experiencing homelessness who also face mental health challenges, physical disabilities, or complex care needs. Under her leadership, the Care Center provided and coordinated compassionate support that empowers each person to stabilize, heal, and take meaningful steps toward a positive safe home. Prior to her work at the Mission, Amanda served more than twenty years on active duty in the U.S. Army, bringing a disciplined, mission-focused leadership approach to nonprofit service. Her journey with City Union Mission began as a high-impact volunteer supporting the Women and Family Center director. Amanda’s work centers on serving vulnerable populations, increasing the Mission’s capacity of care, and aligning recovery programs and services to better equip individuals and families for stability, growth, and long-term success. Her leadership reflects a commitment to whole-person, Christ-centered care that upholds dignity and responsibility.

Chief Information Officer - Mark Rondeau

Mark was hired in 2015 into City Union Mission’s IT department. He comes with extensive experience in the world of information technology. Mark was promoted to the Director of IT within a few years and now holds the position as the Chief Information Officer (CIO). Mark is experienced in VMWare, Windows Server, Active Directory, Desktop Support, MS Office Suite, Call Center Management just to name a few. Mark is a great asset to City Union Mission, is a team player and has elevated the Information Technology to a whole new level.

Doug Balsman

Deveopment of Director - Doug Balsman

Doug Balsman serves as our Director of Development after teaching our clients in the Christian Life Program. Called to work at the Mission after volunteering, he focuses on building the financial capacity necessary to care for those experiencing homelessness in Kansas City. A lifelong change champion, Doug has inspired a culture of excellence across a 23-year career in surgical training and medical device implementation, plus as a high school teacher and guidance counselor. His gospel-centered approach to community development is the foundation for his record of integrity and partnership with local businesses and organizations. As Director of Development, Doug will continue and enhance the path of financial sustainability that allows City Union Mission to provide for the Lord’s promises of safety, care, and transformation of the underserved in Kansas City. A friend of business, public, and church networks, his goal of greater involvement across boundaries will unite KC in the common cause of helping our neighbors in need. Doug lives in Lee’s Summit with his wife of nearly 30 years, Kristin. Their son, daughter-in-law and two granddaughters reside in Pleasant Hill, and their daughter and son-in-law live in Grain Valley before leaving for a work experience in Belgium. In his free time, Doug enjoys cycling, hiking, reading about the US Civil War, and listening to the blues.

Dylan Cornell

Director of Finance - Dylan Cornell

Dylan Cornell is a Senior Finance Director with a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Central Arkansas. He has seven years of experience supporting nonprofit organizations through strong financial leadership and accounting expertise. He specializes in budgeting, financial reporting, and ensuring compliance in mission-driven organizations. Known for his ability to translate complex financial data into clear, actionable insights, Dylan has a strong track record of improving financial processes and supporting strategic decision-making. Born and raised in Kansas City, Dylan is passionate about serving the community he knows and loves by aligning financial stewardship with organizational impact to improve growth and sustainability here at City Union Mission.

Lauren Pope

Director of Human Resources - Lauren Pope, SHRM-CP

Lauren joined the Mission in April 2023 after spending five years in the advertising sector. Her longstanding passion for those experiencing homelessness led her to make the move to a mission-driven nonprofit. In her role, Lauren oversees all HR operations, including workforce management, organizational compliance, and policy and procedure development, to foster an environment where employees are supported and equipped to best serve the community. Lauren is committed to upholding HR best practices that align people-centered strategies with organizational goals.