Our Team

President/Chief Executive Officer: Joseph J. Mettimano

Mr. Mettimano has more than three decades of experience in the nonprofit sector. Prior to joining Central Union Mission, he served in leadership roles with World Vision, UNICEF USA, Prison Fellowship, American Association for the Advancement of Science, Global Impact and a number of award-winning coalitions. With these and other organizations, he has served causes as varied as global poverty, prisoner transformation, malaria, child sex trafficking, child soldiers, homelessness and the environment. He has provided expert testimony before the United States Senate and has been a featured speaker on a variety of topics in venues such as the United Nations, the White House, universities and state capitals around the country.

His personal involvement with the homeless community spans over 20 years, including serving for more than 10 years as a pastor on the streets in Washington, DC, where he led a weekly outreach with food distribution and a time of fellowship. His Christian faith and ministry commitments have allowed him to serve in a variety of ministry roles during the past 25+ years. He is an ordained pastor with the Church of God (Anderson, IN). Mr. Mettimano graduated cum laude from Temple University with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication, and he received additional training at The George Washington University.

Chief Financial Officer/Chief Operating Officer: Sally Cox

Ms. Cox oversees the Mission’s financial affairs, including regulatory, banking and real estate transactions. She is also responsible for operational and administrative duties including human resources, information technology and facilities management. Ms. Cox joined the Mission in 2014 with over 25 years of senior corporate finance experience including her role with the North American Service Division for Compaq. She has served on the board of a variety of nonprofit organizations, including with the Women’s Committee of the Washington National Opera, the Women in Leadership and Philanthropy Council at Virginia Tech and as an elder at Chevy Chase Presbyterian Church (Washington, DC). Ms. Cox has a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Virginia Tech and a master’s degree in business administration with a concentration in finance from The George Washington University. She is a certified public accountant.

Vice President, Men’s Ministry: Ron Stanley

A native of Washington, DC, Rev. Stanley brings 30 years of pastoral and chaplaincy experience to the Mission’s Men’s Ministry, which includes the Spiritual Transformation and Overnight Guest Programs. Rev. Stanley earned a masters of theology concentrating in systematic theology from Dallas Theological Seminary and a Bachelor of Science in biblical education focusing on curriculum development and design from Columbia International University (Columbia, SC). He is completing his dissertation for Dallas Theological Seminary. Rev. Stanley completed clinical pastoral education to serve as a chaplain at the Washington Hospital Center. Rev. Stanley serves as pastor of Mount Olive Baptist Church (Washington, DC.) He is also professor at Washington Baptist Seminary and adjunct professor of Bible and theology at Lancaster Bible College. Rev. Stanley served on the STEP Foundation/Bridge Builders Ministry as the South Dallas Liaison to North Dallas Churches under Harv Oodstyk and Michael Fechner of Prestonwood Baptist Church (Dallas, TX.) Under Dr. Tony Evans, Rev. Stanley served as director of missions and of the Center for Christian Growth at Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship (Dallas, TX.) Locally, he has served as senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Suitland (Forestville, MD) and director of evangelism for Mount Calvary Baptist Church (Fairfax, VA.)

Vice President, Development: Megan Schmoll

Ms. Schmoll is responsible for helping to strengthen relationships between major donors and the Mission through enhanced cultivation, stewardship, and engagement. She brings over ten years of non-profit development experience specializing in individual giving and capital campaigns, most recently at Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts and Americans for the Arts. She has a bachelor’s degree from Wake Forest University and a master’s degree in Arts Management from The State University of New York at Buffalo. Ms. Schmoll is an active member of National Presbyterian Church, where she is ordained as a Deacon. She currently serves on the Board of the NPC Fund for Charitable Giving.

Senior Director, Social Work: Shirley Johnson

At the Mission since 2004, Ms. Johnson promotes a holistic approach to transforming men from dependency to independency through a comprehensive service delivery support system that meets both spiritual and natural needs. A licensed independent clinical social worker, she holds a master’s degree in social work from Florida State University and has obtained over 5,000 professional development training hours. She has over 30 years of government experience in social work in working for the DC Department of Child and Family Services for 24 years and for the Florida Department of Children and Families for seven years. She also has well over 14 years of non-profit, faith-based experience. She is a 29-year member of From the Heart Church Ministries (Camp Springs, MD) and volunteers in several capacities, including the deaconess and altar ministries. She has served on several community boards of non-profit organizations and is currently the board chair for House of Divine Guidance, a women’s and children’s hypothermia shelter in Takoma Park, MD.

Senior Director, Family Ministry: Tracy Duncan

Ms. Duncan helps the city’s most vulnerable, low-income population by providing food, clothing, special outreach distributions, senior programming, educational classes, Bible studies, community resources, summer camp and supplies for children. Tracy joined Central Union Mission in 2009. Her years of experience in foreign missions, church leadership and local outreach result from spending a year in East Asia with Cru and leading young adult ministries at The Chapel (Akron, OH) and at Cherrydale Baptist Church (Arlington, VA), where she also led mission trips as well as the local outreach ministry. Ms. Duncan is a graduate of Kent State University, with a Bachelor of Arts in sociology, and Trinity International University, with a Master of Arts in religion. She worships at McLean Bible Church.

Director, Camp Bennett: Michael Tate

Mr. Tate administrates the Mission’s Camp Bennett facility and directs the children’s summer camp program. Michael served for 4 years as the director of youth and Christian education at Emmanual Lutheran Church in Virginia Beach, VA. In addition to his youth ministry, Michael also ran a Mathnasium franchise teaching supplementary math to first grade through college-age students. Before that, he served as a director of the Morale, Welfare and Recreation program for the Department of the Navy in Norfolk, VA, for 10 years. We welcome Michael and his family as they move to the DC area to renovate Camp Bennett’s programs.

Board Chair: Deedee Collins

Deedee’s passion is to serve others with mercy, compassion, and encouragement so they may experience the love, beauty and glory of God through salvation in Jesus Christ. She came to Central Union Mission as a volunteer over twenty years ago and delights in serving dinner at the shelter, as well as supporting all their ministries, seeing lives transformed daily with the hope of the gospel of Christ. Deedee joined the board of directors in 2017 and currently serves as chair.

She loves to study God’s Word and encourage women in their walk of faith through Bible study teaching, mentoring, writing and speaking. Deedee enjoyed a rewarding three-decade career in the national security field. Her undergraduate degree is in business, and she holds a master’s degree in human resource management and development.

She is married to Buzz, a retired naval aviator and captain with Southwest Airlines. They have two sons, both married, and two adorable grandchildren. They are members and deacons at Immanuel Bible Church (IBC) in Springfield, Virginia, involved in evangelism and outreach efforts. Currently, they serve as mentors with the young adult ministry and lead a neighborhood Bible study. Deedee also serves on IBC Women’s Ministry Leadership Team and participates in the women’s spiritual mentoring ministry she helped launch in 2014.

Vice-Chair: D.C. Washington

In addition to his role with a leading DC-area consulting firm, D.C. Washington is an accomplished singer, conductor, worship leader, and anthem singer. D.C. is a graduate of the University of Central Arkansas and Mississippi College. After a 22-year career in the United States Military (retired Lieutenant Colonel), D.C. moved to Northern Virginia where he has resided with his family for many years. He is a member of Immanuel Bible Church where he is part of the choir and several ensembles; he also occasionally serves as worship leader and director. D.C. has been featured at many conferences around the country (and overseas), including Moody Bible Institute Founders Week and Pastors Conference. He also is a member of the nationally known Cathedral Choral Society in Washington, DC. He is a frequent singer of the national anthem for the Washington Commanders, the Washington Nationals and DC United. D.C. is vice-chair of the Mission’s board and has served on the board since 2002.

Secretary: Pamela Roylance

Pamela has been a volunteer at the Mission since 1998. She was introduced to the Mission through Fourth Presbyterian Church’s involvement in the summer outreach to children at Camp Bennet. She joined the Board in 2004. Through the years volunteering at the Mission, she has been blessed by witnessing how all are served in the name of Christ.

Pamela’s father was in the Air Force. She started school in Turkey, graduated in England, and received her degree in Business Administration in VA. Prior to retirement, her career was in sales and marketing at USAirways.

She and her husband have two adult children.

Treasurer: David Leach

Mr. Leach joined the Mission’s Board in 2005 and currently serves as treasurer. He has 36 years of nonprofit organization experience, serving in the higher-education, conservation, and religious sectors. He is currently employed as the Chief Operating Officer for Immanuel Bible Church. Mr. Leach is on the pastoral leadership team, oversees the operations and finance council, and serves as an elder at Immanuel (Springfield, VA). He has a bachelor’s degree in accounting from George Mason University. He is married to Laura.

Assistant Treasurer: Michael J. Dennis

A Mission board member since 1998, Mr. Dennis serves as the Chair of the Audit Committee and as the Assistant Treasurer. Mr. Dennis holds a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Iowa and Bachelor of Science degree (Business) from Iowa State University. He is a member of the DC Bar and has passed the Certified Public Accountant exam. He is a long-term resident of Georgetown and worships at Christ Church, Georgetown. He currently works as a private international law consultant for the World Bank and APEC. He previously served as the Chair of the Washington Christian Housing Council.

Board Members

Serge Duss

Serge Duss served for more than 30 years in the international humanitarian and development sector, both in overseas leadership positions and as a government relations and advocacy director in Washington, DC, for several organizations. Among them were World Vision, International Medical Corps and World Relief. He is currently the principal partner at SKD Strategies, a consulting organization to small international NGOs. Prior to his long career in the international NGO sector, Serge was an award-winning reporter and editor in New York with the Gannett newspaper chain.

Serge is married to Donna, a long-term healthcare consultant, and they have two sons, Matthew and Brian. Serge and Donna are ordained elders at National Presbyterian Church in Washington, DC. He has served on the Mission’s board since 2004.

David Hazelton

Dave Hazelton is a senior partner at an international law firm. After graduating from the University of Michigan Law School and clerking with a federal appellate court, he joined the Washington, DC, office of Latham & Watkins where he has practiced law for the past 40 years. He married his high school sweetheart and they have three grown children. He serves as an elder, Sunday school teacher, and Bible study leader at Cornerstone Church, where he and his wife also host an international student ministry. In addition to Central Union, Dave serves on the boards of Denver Seminary and Cru’s humanitarian arm, Unto, as well as an outside pro bono counsel for the International Justice Mission.

Senator Don Nickles

Don Nickles is chairman and CEO of The Nickles Group, a firm he founded in 2005 after serving in the U.S. Senate for 24 years. He oversees the firm’s government relations and consulting practices, also providing strategic advice to clients on a wide range of policy issues.

Nickles was elected to the Senate at age 31, the youngest Republican U.S. Senator in history, and was later elected by his peers to leadership positions including Assistant Majority Leader, Chairman of the Senate Republican Policy Committee and Chairman of the Republican Senatorial Committee. He also served as Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee and was a senior member of the Senate Finance and Energy Committees.

Prior to his time in the U.S. Senate, Nickles served in the Oklahoma State Senate and worked for Nickles Machine Corporation, a family business based in Oklahoma. He received a bachelor’s degree from Oklahoma State University. Don has served on the Mission’s board since 2020.

Don married his high school sweetheart, Linda, while attending OSU. They have 4 children and 12 grandchildren. Linda went to heaven in April 2022. Don is active in Holy Trinity Church in McLean, Virginia.

Gwen Traficant

Gwen and her husband have been long- term supporters of Central Union Mission. She has served as a Mission ambassador and co-chaired the 2022 Spring Benefit. Gwen recently joined the board of directors and will be serving as a fundraiser and Mission advocate.

Gwen received her undergraduate degree in Early Childhood education from Geneva College in Pennsylvania. Gwen was a teacher in the Alexandria City School system for three years but as a result of multiple family health challenges, she was a caregiver spanning over 28 years. Serving at the Mission aligns with her desire to encourage caregivers and those who are hurting to experience God’s love, mercy, and grace through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

She is married to her college sweetheart Jim who is a partner at the Pinkston Group. They have three adult children, a daughter, son, and daughter (in-law). They are members of Immanuel Bible Church in Springfield, Virginia where Gwen serves in the mentoring ministries and Jim on the elder board. Together they serve in a young marrieds class as a mentor couple.

John Yun

John Yun leads the Yun Wealth Management Group at RBC, which advises executives and business owners on their financial planning, investments and other financial and family matters. He is especially passionate about helping clients see clearly how to make a bigger impact for worldwide good. He holds a degree in finance from the University of Maryland, a CFP from the University of Virginia and CEPA from the Exit Planning Institute. He has served on the Mission’s board since 2020.

Yun was born and grew up in Prince George County, Maryland, and currently resides in Vienna, Virginia. His parents immigrated to the US from South Korea.

John is married and a father of three children. He enjoys saltwater fishing, golf and volleyball. His family’s mission is to be faithful disciples of Christ and fulfill the Great Commission.