Leadership Team
Rev. John Hughes, MSW
Chief Executive Officer
John is passionate about helping churches help people. John has served as the chief executive officer of Metro Community Ministries since July 1998. Under his leadership, Metro has grown from a staff of three to 16 and has expanded its programs nationally.
Before Metro, John served as assistant, executive, and senior pastor at several of Calvary Chapel’s locations throughout San Diego. He was also the director of an international relief organization that conducted projects in Africa, Europe, Mexico and Caribbean.
His practical experience includes working with the homeless, victims and families of domestic violence, juvenile offenders, and victims of child abuse. He has also served as a community organizer.
John is the co-founder of the Faith Based Leadership Training Institute at San Diego State University and is a former adjunct professor at University of San Diego and lecturer at San Diego State University, and is a current adjunct professor at Bethel Seminary San Diego. John has a bachelor’s degree in social welfare and a master’s degree in social work from San Diego State University.
For fun, John enjoys spending time with his family and friends, sharing great conversations, reading, bicycling, and if the waves aren’t too big… surfing.
Lorna Pallares
Chief Operations Officer
Lorna has worked at Metro since May 1999 when she became its first employee. Lorna’s expertise includes program implementation, grant writing, case management, and evaluation.
As chief operations officer, Lorna is at the center of bringing about Metro’s programmatic successes. Her eye for detail helps to make Metro’s programs and services function at a national level.
Lorna’s practical experience includes working with at-risk and justice-involved youth. She holds a bachelor’s degree from San Diego State University and a master’s degree from Point Loma Nazarene University.
Linda Womack
Chief Administrative Officer
Linda’s introduction with Metro came when she working for one of its funders. It wasn’t long until John Hughes approached her about working at Metro. Linda’s expertise includes financial management, program design and implementation, grant writing, human resources, and supervision. Linda’s mantra of embedding “systems and processes” into the work of Metro has caused the organization to succeed not only programmatically but administratively.
Board of Directors
Rev. Rolland Slade, Lead Pastor, Meridian Baptist Church
Rev. Jeri Newell–Davis – Associate Pastor, St Mark’s United Methodist Church
Rev. Craig Dorval – Senior Pastor at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church
Bruce Brown – Retired Commander, U.S. Navy and Retired Educator
Raphael Wilson, MD – Research Physician
Freda Wilson – Software Engineer
Mary Linam – Independent Mission Consultant
Jeff Linam – Certified Public Accountant
Phil Thalheimer
Rev. Ron Spineto
Rev. Larry Pierce — Retired Executive Pastor at San Diego Hope Church
Tom Jarvis
Rev. Jessica Strysko, Teacher’s Pastor, First United Methodist Church, San Diego