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

Director of Development - 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.

Recovery Programs Supervisor – Mi Soon Jun

Mi Soon Jun serves as Recovery Programs Supervisor at City Union Mission, bringing more than 16 years of experience in Christ-centered recovery services, counseling, education, and nonprofit leadership. Throughout her years at the Mission, she has served individuals and families experiencing homelessness, addiction, trauma, and other life-controlling challenges. Her experience spans counseling, program development, staff leadership, crisis intervention, education, and the development of whole-person recovery services designed to promote healing, accountability, stability, and lasting transformation. Mi Soon is passionate about serving and leading with humility and excellence while reflecting God’s heart for the poor, the broken, and the overlooked. Her vision is to help build recovery programs where people are treated with dignity, challenged to grow, and supported in discovering hope and a path toward restoration. She believes effective recovery ministry brings compassionate care and personal responsibility together, creating a Christ-centered culture where individuals and families can heal, grow, and move toward lasting stability.

Mike Wichman

Women and Family Center Supervisor - Mike Wichman

Mike Wichman is our Women and Family Center Supervisor. The Women and Family Center Team supports our homeless guests 24/7. In his role, Mike works to create an environment that provides safety and structure for the homeless guests so that
they can take the necessary steps to attain sustainable, stable housing. Mike started in 2023. Prior to working at City Union Mission, Mike worked as a correctional chaplain and also had a career in telecommunications. Mike is an endorsed chaplain and ordained through the Evangelical Presbyterian Church. He is married and has two grown, married children. 

Anthony Mills

L. Minor Care Center Supervisor - Anthony Mills

Anthony Mills has been employed at the City Union Mission for a little over four years. He started as an overnight Guest Coordinator/Peer Support Specialist at the L. Minor Care Center. He was promoted to Center Team Leader and now serves as the Care Center Supervisor. Anthony’s connection to the City Union Mission and its clients dates back decades, to when he was homeless and needed their services. Anthony is a member of Faith Fellowship Baptist Church, where he serves as a deacon and Sunday school teacher. Anthony is also a veteran, having served in the Air Force and the Army Reserve.

Men’s Center Supervisor - Ricky Williams

Ricky serves as the Men’s Center Supervisor, leading daily center operations, intake and assessment frameworks, and structured stabilization efforts within emergency shelter services. Drawing on a strong background in case management, crisis response, and supportive care, Ricky focuses on fostering staff growth, driving operational efficiency, and empowering frontline teams—including Peer Support Specialists and Community Support Specialists—to deliver meaningful, whole-health services. Born and raised in the Kansas City area, Ricky is deeply connected to the local community and dedicated to strengthening human services across the region. Having completed higher education locally in the Kansas City area, Ricky brings both deep local insight and a strong commitment to compassionate, community-focused leadership to the center's mission every day.