Our Leadership
Joni Eareckson Tada
Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Joni Eareckson Tada
Founder and CEO
Laura Gardner serves as President and Chief Operating Officer at Joni and Friends. She has been with the ministry for more than a decade providing fiduciary oversight, departmental integration, and strategic planning through various senior management positions, including Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for the past five years. Laura holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Troy University and has received certification from the Harvard Business School Executive Education in Driving Nonprofit Performance and Innovation. Before joining Joni and Friends, Laura founded her own business, The Protocol Institute, LLC, where she developed world-class eLearning courses on character education, etiquette, and protocol. She was the first to introduce such tools for helping to instill these qualities in young people and wrote extensively on the topic for national publications. Laura currently serves as the Chairman of the Joni and Friends Foundation and Chairman of the Christian Leadership Alliance.
Laura Gardner
President and Chief Operations Officer
Laura Gardner serves as President and Chief Operating Officer at Joni and Friends. She has been with the ministry for more than a decade providing fiduciary oversight, departmental integration, and strategic planning through various senior management positions, including Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for the past five years. Laura holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Troy University and has received certification from the Harvard Business School Executive Education in Driving Nonprofit Performance and Innovation. Before joining Joni and Friends, Laura founded her own business, The Protocol Institute, LLC, where she developed world-class eLearning courses on character education, etiquette, and protocol. She was the first to introduce such tools for helping to instill these qualities in young people and wrote extensively on the topic for national publications. Laura currently serves as the Chairman of the Joni and Friends Foundation and Chairman of the Christian Leadership Alliance.
Arnulfo Cueva
Chief Financial Officer
Arnulfo is an accounting and finance professional with over 20 years of experience supporting or directly acting at the executive level. With a B.A. in Economics from Harvard University and an MBA in Finance from UCLA, Arnulfo began his executive career in finance as Senior Controller with The Management Association, having earlier consulted for clients that included Disney, Dole, and Technicolor. Before Joni and Friends, he used his skills for designing and implementing finance, operations, and management strategies with organizations that include the Catholic Community Foundation of Los Angeles as Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer and various companies as an Intacct Software and Finance and Operations Consultant. Arnulfo was born and raised in Los Angeles where he continues to reside with his wife and two children.
Greg Hubert
Executive Vice President, U.S. Ministries
Greg Hubert brings a unique blend of training, experience, and passion to oversee the Field Services ministry at Joni and Friends. With BA from Biola University and MDiv from The Master’s Seminary, Greg’s career includes over 30 years of pastoral leadership and corporate management. Yet his passion for ministering to the disabled is deeply personal. He and his wife Gina have raised three boys who are all on the autism spectrum, each of whom is viewed as a gift from God. They know firsthand the fears and struggles, joys and triumphs that come with any disability. Greg enthusiastically views his role as SVP of Field Services as a culmination of his education, professional career, and life experiences to expand the ministry of hope and support to those individuals created with God-designed abilities.
Donna Lucas
Senior Vice President, Development and Marketing
Donna Lucas has spent more than 20 years working in product development, marketing, and brand management for powerhouse brands such as adidas USA, K-Swiss, and the Dickies Brand at V.F. Corp. As a strategic branding and marketing executive, her years of experience with high profile brands, strategy, and leadership serves Joni and Friends well in positioning the ministry for a long future. Donna holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Philadelphia University and a Master’s of Marketing. She lives in Southern California with her husband Jack and their 3 daughters.
Steve Bundy
Senior Vice President of the Christian Institute on Disability
Steve is responsible for the execution of ministry programs around the world as well as spiritual encouragement for ministry staff. He is a published author and co-author with Joni Eareckson Tada of Beyond Suffering: A Christian View of Disability Ministry. His latest book, with Doug Mazza, is Another Kind of Courage: God’s Design for Fathers of Families Affected by Disability. Steve and his wife Melissa know firsthand the joys and challenges of parenting a child with special needs, as their own son, Caleb, was born with muscular dystrophy and autism. Steve holds a B.A. in Theology and Missions, a Certificate in Christian Apologetics and an M.A. in Organizational Leadership. He is a licensed minister and has served as a pastor and missionary. Prior to joining Joni and Friends, Steve was VP of Business and Finance at William Carey International University in Pasadena, CA.
Jason Holden
Senior Vice President, Operations
Jason graduated with a B.S. in Management from Regent University and is a certified Lead Like Jesus facilitator. He lives in Southern California with his wife Jannah and daughter Makenzie. His passion to serve the disability community is only second to his love for his faith. He feels blessed to continue serving the ministry as Joni and Friends helps people living with disability find their place in the body of Christ.
Evalerie L’Heureux
Vice President, Human Resources
Evalerie enhances and implements programs and processes that develop and engage employees professionally, personally, and spiritually. She has made it a priority to support the staff so in return, they will have a greater commitment to the mission of the organization and the work which God has called them. Evalerie graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Marketing from Santa Clara University in CA. She is a certified facilitator in Lead Like Jesus and Biblical DISC, and a Credentialed Christian Nonprofit Leader. She began her career in Marketing and worked for many years as a Director in various Property Development and Management companies. Evalerie had the opportunity to stay at home to raise four children with her husband Immanuel, and serve the schools, community, and church by offering organizational, marketing, leadership, and counseling assistance. Evalerie and her family are passionate in helping others and have developed a special love for those who are affected by disability.
Andrew Grumm
Vice President, Information Technology Services
Andrew Grumm brings over 25 years of IT experience, with 15 years in the Healthcare/Life Science industry, to his position as Vice President of Information Technology Services at Joni and Friends. He brings extensive technical knowledge and delivery of IT Operations and Services from his previous leadership roles at such organizations as Quest Diagnostics and Q2 Solutions.
Andrew holds a BS in Computer Science from California State University, Northridge and numerous technical certifications. Andrew is happy to apply his technical expertise and planning skills to help accelerate the growth of one of the best Christian ministries in the world!
Dinithi Jayakody
Vice President, Accounting & Finance
