Continuing the Mission

The City Center is now part of the Rescue Mission Alliance, bringing together a shared commitment to serving homeless families with hope, stability, and lasting change.

The City Center’s former Board and Executive Board members now serve as TCC Ambassadors, continuing to champion The City Center’s mission and advocate for the families we serve throughout the community.

The Rescue Mission Alliance Board of Directors now provides leadership for the entire organization. We are grateful for the dedicated leaders who continue to support this mission and help carry it forward.

Board Members

Doug Otten is honored to join RMA’s Board of Directors in 2024, following his tenure as the organization’s CEO.

A seasoned business and entrepreneurial executive, Doug brings extensive experience in technology startups and traditional industries. Currently, Doug serves as CEO of Sam Hill & Sons, a general engineering contractor providing heavy construction services in Ventura, Santa Barbara and Los Angeles counties.

Prior to his current role, Doug led teams at Microsoft, Gospel Light Publishing and Amazon. He joined RMA in 2021, serving as Chief Operating Officer and VP of Marketing before assuming the role of Chief Executive Officer in 2023.

Doug earned a bachelor’s degree in Communications from California Lutheran University. He attends Mission Church and resides with his family in Ventura, where he was born and raised. 

John Gardner, MBA, is the founder and leader of Center for Mission Effectiveness (CME), a program of Christian Foundation of America, where he also serves on the advisory board.  CME helps Christian donors and Christian nonprofit organizations and their leaders be effective and impactful in their stewardship, for the people they serve, and for God’s glory.

John’s 40-plus year career comprises serving in senior level leadership roles, including the for-profit and non-profit health industry, and organizations in hospital administration, physician practices, skilled nursing and rehab and diagnostic services. He is a certified member of the John Maxwell Team for coaching and training of adults and youth.

John serves on the Rescue Mission board of directors and also leads the board’s development committee. He and his wife Lucy of 56 years have lived in the Conejo Valley area for 45 years with their two adult children, spouses, and seven grandchildren living nearby. The family has been active in Calvary Community Church where John is Elder Emeritus.

Alia Azariah is a nationally recognized expert in human trafficking, the commercial sexual exploitation of children, survivor aftercare, and trauma-informed systems change. A survivor herself, she brings both lived experience and professional expertise to shaping survivor-centered services, training, and policy.

She serves as Director of Collective Impact at Safe House Project, where she leads national efforts to strengthen standards of care and expand effective services for survivors. Alia has trained more than 250,000 professionals nationwide and has advised public systems, service providers, and multidisciplinary leaders on best practices in care and response. Her work has included speaking at the U.S. Capitol, testifying before the UK Parliament, and serving as an expert witness in trafficking-related cases. In 2025, she was selected for the Obama Leaders USA Program’s 2025–26 cohort, recognizing her as a national leader driving innovative social change.

Sandy Harrison serves with the County of Ventura Public Works Agency specializing in program management, public policy and emergency response. She began her career in politics working for the State Assembly and the U.S. House of Representatives, gaining experience in government relations, constituent services, and public affairs.

A longtime Ventura resident, Sandy is passionate about serving her community and supporting organizations that create lasting local impact. She enjoys, reading, good coffee, and spending time with her family. She and her family attend Two Trees Church in Ventura.

Dr. Mark McCamish is a biotech executive and industry leader with decades of experience advancing innovative therapies for cancer patients. Most recently, he served as President and CEO of IconOVir Bio, an oncolytic virus-based biotech dedicated to curing cancer and restoring life to patients. Previously he led Forty Seven, Inc., guiding the company through significant clinical and commercial growth.

An internationally recognized expert in biologics and biosimilars, Dr. McCamish has held senior leadership roles at Abbott, Amgen, and Novartis/Sandoz, where he pioneered global biosimilar development and commercialization. He is passionate about mentoring leaders and driving innovation that improves patient outcomes.

Dr. McCamish earned bachelor's and master's degrees from UC Santa Barbara, a PhD in Human Nutrition from Penn State, and an MD from UCLA. He completed his residency and fellowship at UC Davis and held professorships at both UC Davis and Ohio State University.

Gail Morgan brings her love of the Lord and over 40 years of award-winning public relations, marketing and crisis management experience to her Rescue Mission Alliance board position, where she also leads the communications committee. She began her career working in hospital public relations, including a stint as Media Manager at St. Joseph Medical Center in Burbank. She was hired in 1990 as the City of Santa Clarita’s first communications manager/Public Information Officer, a job she held for 28 years, followed by six years as Chief Strategist for Stacy Miller Public Affairs, Inc.

Gail enjoys dedicating her time and talent and has served on several boards including Bridge to Home, Family Promise, Child and Family Center Foundation and the Domestic Violence Center of Santa Clarita. She currently serves as the volunteer publicist for Caregivers of Ventura County.  Gail and her husband Joe worship and serve at Mission Church Ventura and reside in Oxnard.

A resident of Oxnard, Nina is grateful for the opportunity to serve the community through Rescue Mission Alliance.  Nina began her career in public accounting, where she quickly gravitated towards specializing in nonprofits large and small. 

As Chief Administrative and Financial Officer for a Los Angeles Private Foundation for the last 28 years, Nina has interacted with numerous nonprofits seeking to improve the lives of underserved Angelenos, so she is pleased to participate in the great work of RMA closer to home. 

Nina and her husband John worship at Mission Church Ventura. They enjoy hosting their four adult children and families whenever they get the chance!

Andy Stay joined the Rescue Mission Alliance board in 1997, has served as board chair, and currently serves as vice-chair. 

A graduate of LaSalle University, Andy spent a few years teaching before turning to the private sector where he owned and operated a new car dealership in Oxnard.

Andy says his father taught him to keep God first, work hard and serve others to the glory and honor of God. Andy has served on the board of directors for more than 10 local nonprofit organizations including the Knights of Columbus, the Salvation Army, St. John’s Hospital, and Big Brothers Big Sisters. Andy is past president of the Lion Club/Noontime Lions, and a long-time volunteer for the city of Oxnard and Ventura County. 

Andy lives in Somis and says his greatest gifts from God are his wife Flora, their two children and five grandchildren.