Since 2002, Mr. Gudaitis has served as Executive Director & CEO of New York Disaster Interfaith Services (NYDIS) and its affiliate the Emergency Shelter Network (ESN) – as well as the Chair of New York VOAD (Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster), and President of the National Disaster Interfaith Network (NDIN).

Founded in 2001, in response to 9/11 recovery needs, NYDIS is a 501(c)(3) federation of over 60 faith-based human service providers, charitable organizations and faith communities working in partnership to provide disaster readiness, response, and recovery services for New York City – and supports recovery in disaster-impacted communities with a direct connection to NYC communities. NYDIS collaborates with local, state, and national organizations to facilitate the delivery of non-sectarian spiritual care, mental health services, emergency relief, recovery services and emergency planning programs – as well as providing mitigation education, preparedness training, and other resilience resources and tools to the New York City faith sector and its partners. NYDIS’ relief and recovery services are principally targeted toward under-resourced victim’s families, survivors, and impacted under-served, immigrant, and other marginalized communities. Its affiliate, ESN, provides shelter services for asylum seekers and people experiencing homeless as well as homeless mitigation programs and services.

Currently, NYDIS has over 40 employees whose work is supported by a $22M annual budget supported by $110M in multi-year contract as well as other donations and grants. On a monthly basis, NYDIS’ direct services currently serves over 15,000 asylum seekers as well as ongoing support to Hurricane Ida impacted households and Puerto Rico evacuee households. NYDIS’ Faith Sector Resilience programs annually provide training, preparedness tools and other programming reaches over 10,000 lay and ordained NYC religious leaders or their congregations as well as their nonprofit and government partners.

In addition to many institutional awards and honors, in 2012, Mr. Gudaitis was appointed to the New York State Respond Commission by Governor Andrew Cuomo. In 2015, he was appointed to the New York City Charitable Organization & House of Worship Recovery Task Force by then New York City Council Speaker, Melissa Mark-Viverito. Since 2016 he has been the Co-Chair of the NYC Faith Sector Community Preparedness Program Advisory Board of the NYC Department of Health & Mental Hygiene. And, in 2018, he was appointed to the New York State Puerto Rico Recovery & Reconstruction Committee by Governor Andrew Cuomo. Since 2022, he has served on the FDNY Clergy Council. In 2022, he was recognized as one of City & State’s Responsible 100 executives and in 2024, he received their inaugural Above & Beyond in Social Service honors. In 2024, NYDIS was named the National VOAD Member of the Year.

Mr. Gudaitis holds a B.A. from Kenyon College, and an M.Div. from the General Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Church. He lives in Westchester County, New York, with his husband, the Hon. Anthony Cannataro, an Associate Judge of the New York State Court of Appeals, and their dog, Luca.

Dr. Oliver serves on NYDIS’ Executive Staff team as both the chief program officer and providing oversight of all strategic initiatives for NYDIS and NYDIS’ Emergency Shelter Network.

His career has been dedicated to advancing social justice and fostering interfaith collaboration. With over two decades of experience, Jonathan has passionately developed and enhanced strategies and programs that bridge the gap between religion and social justice, working closely with faith and community-based partners as well as government entities.

Currently, Dr. Oliver directly manages NYDIS’ Asylum Seeker Shelter Services programs, NYDIS’ Adult Clubhouse supporting New Yorkers with serious mental illness, and NYDIS Warehouse which provide logistics and donations management and transportation for all programs and facilities.

Before joining NYDIS, he served as Director of a New York State Office of Mental Health transitional housing program in the Bronx. An active volunteer, Jonathan serves on the board of Upper Room AIDS Ministry, a Federally Qualified Health Center in Harlem, and mentors high school students through iMentor, helping them become first-generation college graduates. He is currently seeking ordination within the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, and serves as pulpit supply across New York City.

Jonathan holds a Ph.D. from Texas A&M University, an M.Div. from Union Theological Seminary, an MSW from Hunter College, an M.Ed. from the University of Texas, and a BBA from University of North Texas. He is also a National Disaster Interfaith Network certified Disaster Chaplain. He and his husband reside in Harlem with their dogs, Ginger and Grey.

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Dr. Cummings has oversight of all NYDIS’ disaster advocacy, mitigation education, planning, and preparedness training programs. These initiatives advocate for those communities disparately impacted by or vulnerable to disasters and public health emergencies as well as providing support to NYC faith communities and their leaders in strengthening their disaster ministries and disaster human services across the communities they serve.

She directs the NYC Faith Sector Community Preparedness Program, in partnership with the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s (DOHMH) Office of Emergency Preparedness & Response (OEPR). Each year, the program hosts over 30 citywide training and risk communication exercises, reaching over 3000 faith leaders to build the Sector’s capacity to prepare for and respond to emergencies. She has oversight of NYDIS’ disaster chaplaincy certifications and deployments, emergency planning, Mental Health First Aid and other trainings. Recognizing that NYC religious communities are on the front lines of the climate emergency, in 2022, Lucy led the launch of NYDIS’s Climate Resilience program – featuring climate resilience resources, networking events, trainings, and vulnerability analyses to help NYC clergy and lay leaders make effective plans, harden facilities, and answer tangible questions for climate vulnerable communities.

Prior to NYDIS, she was Executive Director at Faith & the Common Good, a Canadian interfaith environmental network, where she helped design and implement a faith building energy efficiency program for the United Church of Canada’s portfolio of 3000 buildings. Lucy taught global sustainability governance at the University of Hong Kong for more than 8 years. She advises numerous climate NGOs; serves on the board of Kindred Works, a green rental housing B-Corp; and is on the Parliament of the World’s Religions Climate Action Task Force.

Lucy earned a Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins University, an MA from Yale University Divinity School, and a BA from the University of Virgina. She is also a National Disaster Interfaith Network certified Disaster Chaplain and is a certified Adult Mental Health First Aid instructor by the National Council on Behavioral Health. She and her husband reside in Manhattan.

Fernando Martinez leads NYDIS’ Data Analytics and Logistics operations, applying data-driven strategies to enhance program and contract performance as well as oversight of NYDIS’ warehouse operations – both in support NYDIS’ mission of advocacy and service for vulnerable populations across New York City. He ensures compliance with contracts and develops reporting tools to optimize efficiency and decision-making.

Fernando manages a team of seven staff and contractors, providing ongoing training to improve internal systems. He has also introduced new processes for donations management, inventory tracking, and delivery logistics within NYDIS’ warehouse, significantly enhancing operational performance and safety.

Through advanced data analysis and visualization tools, Fernando delivers weekly and monthly internal reports, offering insights to guide strategic initiatives and inform leadership decisions. His reporting matrixes are regularly incorporated into grant proposal as well as contract and grant reports.

Fernando holds a Bachelor of Business Administration and a Master of Science in Business Analytics from Texas Christian University. A former NCAA Division I pole vault champion; Fernando embodies a commitment to excellence. He currently lives in Manhattan with his goldendoodle, Nala.

Patrick provides the operational and programmatic management of NYDIS’ Adult Clubhouse – 600-member clubhouses which, under the Clubhouse International model, creates community, innovation, social change, and supportive services for individual impacted by mental health challenges. NYDIS’ Clubhouse, funded by the NYC Department of Health & Mental Hygiene, is located at the Episcopal Church of Our Savior in Chinatown, on Manhattan’s Lower East Side.

Prior to joining NYDIS, he served as a program director of several New York State of Mental Health (OMH) and New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) supportive housing programs located in vulnerable neighborhoods in Brooklyn. These programs supported and empowered people with mental illnesses or experiencing chronic homelessness. Patrick passionately provides services that connect people with equal opportunities to enhance their quality of life and self-reliance. As an avid advocate for community engagement, partnership, and social impact, he actively contributes and provides expertise and leadership to various causes, including nonprofit organizations distributing food and clothing, animal rescue and adoption, and horticulture development to attain viable sustainability within food desert communities.

Patrick is a licensed social worker. He holds a MSW from Silberman School of Social Work and a BA in Psychology from Queens College. He is SIFI certified and provides mentorship to social work graduate students. He holds a Leading for Impact certification with United Neighborhood Houses (UNH) to assist with the development of future leaders and advocate for social justice. Patrick, his wife, two children, and their two cats, Harry & Hermine, reside in Brooklyn, New York.

Matt O’Connell supports the Executive Staff by managing NYDIS’ internal and external operations, including data management, IT infrastructure, procurement, security, vendor relationships, and oversight of special projects. His broad expertise ensures seamless operational efficiency across the organization.

Matt’s involvement with NYDIS began in 2012 as a volunteer during Superstorm Sandy, where his dedication quickly positioned him as an integral part of the team. Matt has been instrumental in helping NYDIS’ responses to major crises, including Hurricane Maria, COVID-19, Hurricane Ida, and the current asylum seeker shelter crisis. In recognition of his decade of service, Matt was honored with the Elder Betty C. Jones Award in 2022.

He holds a Bachelor of Arts from Providence College and resides in Greenpoint, Brooklyn.

Kadija Still oversees NYDIS’ shelter operations, managing three site operations managers responsible for the organization’s citywide Asylum Seeker Shelter Services contract. Under her leadership, NYDIS provides shelter and hospitality services to over 15,000 adults across the five boroughs on a monthly basis. Kadija collaborates with Executive Staff to align shelter operations with contractual obligations while driving operational growth and strategic development.

Kadija brings over 10 years of experience working within the shelter system. Prior to joining NYDIS, she served as Interim Assistant Program Director at Pam’s Place Women’s Shelter within the Acacia Housing Network. She began her career at a women’s mental health and substance recovery shelter, where she helped clients secure permanent housing and reintegrate into society.

Kadija holds certifications in crisis management, Mental Health First Aid, and trauma-informed care, and is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree from DeVry University. She resides in Queens with her husband, three daughters, their dog Princess, and cat ShuShu.

Saundra Smith