Some leaders arrive with fanfare. Others shape the soul of an organization quietly, over decades of integrity and resolve.
Tim is the latter. He arrived with a humble heart and a quiet sense of humor that made even the hardest days feel lighter. For 36 years, he has guided Social Model Recovery Systems through its biggest transitions — not with fanfare, but with focus, consistency, and a deep sense of purpose. His leadership has been marked by care, clarity and a wit that earned him respect without ever asking for it.
Tim once dreamed of taking the stage, but fate cast him in a far more enduring role — the behind-the-scenes showrunner, the steady hand behind the curtain, ensuring the lights never went out for those who needed them most. Born in a small town in Iowa, Tim left home at 19, earned a BA in Theater Arts, and spent a summer making donuts at a tourist stop in Rocky Mountain National Park. He never quite mastered the bear claw, but it was a sweet start to a life filled with unexpected purpose. A few years later, he moved to Los Angeles with dreams of becoming an actor. He performed in local theater, but when the stage didn’t pay the bills, he leaned on his typing skills and accounting background to land temp jobs.
He came to L.A. chasing the spotlight — but ended up behind it, lighting the way for others with quiet grace. In 1989, through a family connection and an unassuming dinner in Monrovia with SMRS founder Charles “Bud” Hayes, Tim was offered the job on the spot. “I was working a job I wasn’t happy in, and they needed an administrator,” he recalled. “Bud hired me over dinner. Just like that.” It might not have been part of Tim’s plan, but some intersections aren’t accidents. Looking back, it’s clear: the right path found him. What seemed like a simple, free dinner became a turning point in SMRS history — quietly altering its course in ways no one could have predicted. It was the beginning of a legacy that would help shape the organization for decades to come.
What began as a practical career move became a lifelong calling. In those early days, Tim drove the mountain roads up to River Community — a peaceful, 20-minute ascent that became more than a commute. “It was beautiful going up and coming down,” he said. “There was a sense of calm, even before the day began.” Though he wasn’t carrying a caseload, his impact ran just as deep — personally welcoming each new resident, making sure they felt seen, and helping them navigate the maze of benefits that made recovery possible.
In the decades that followed, Tim has served as both Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer, helping guide SMRS through a period of extraordinary growth. When he started, the agency’s budget was just $750,000. Today, it exceeds $25 million. The team has grown too — from 20 staff to more than 300. Tim is quick to credit that growth to the vision of leadership of others. But those who know the rhythm of this organization — who’ve carried the weight of the work — know this to be true: if leadership charted the course, Tim caught the wind, trimmed the sails, and kept the vessel steady.
Decades ago, the agency came dangerously close to missing payroll. If Tim felt the pressure, he never showed it. He worked closely with the team to ensure every staff member was paid, leading with calm, steady resolve. Most never knew how close it came, because Tim never let it show. “We’ve never missed payroll,” he says. “Not once. And that matters.” Not just because of financial integrity, but because of leadership and the determination to do the right thing. When asked the secret to nearly four decades of financial stewardship, Tim doesn’t hesitate. “Honesty,” he says. “Report the numbers as they are. No inflation. No games. And make sure what we’re doing meets the spirit of our mission.”
Through it all, Tim has seen his role not just as COO or CFO, but as someone who serves the people doing the work. “I’ve always believed the staff are the people I serve,” he says. “Even if I don’t get to interact with clients as much anymore, I care deeply about supporting those who do.” His leadership has never been about command. It’s about presence. Relationships. Trust. And above all, respect.
“I try to treat people with dignity and respect,” he says. “To understand where they’re coming from. That’s part of being a leader and a human being.”
Ask him what his colleagues might say about him, and he jokes, “That I’m tall.” (He is.) Then, more sincerely, “I hope they’d say I’m respectful. Maybe that I have a good sense of humor.” Tim is the one who answers your call or email, even on vacation, and stands up for what’s right. A mentor. A colleague. A trusted friend. He’ll tell you the truth, even when it’s hard. And he’ll say yes when others say no. He might leave behind a coffee cup and napkin after a meeting, but you’ll never catch him walking away when it truly counts.
Those who’ve worked with him would likely say so much more. That he’s calm in a storm, honest to the core, and a steward of the agency’s heart and finances. They’d also mention the 4:30 p.m. microwave popcorn with Jim O’Connell — a River Community ritual of friendship and laughter that still brings a smile to Tim’s face. Even in the most demanding roles, he’s never forgotten that connection is what carries the work and the people doing it. In prevention, there’s a saying: the opposite of addiction is connection. Tim understood that long before it became a mantra. His presence — steady, loyal, and human — reminds us of what really holds a place like SMRS together. He’s not just part of our history; he’s part of its heartbeat.
What values have guided him all this time? “Humility,” he says. “I was raised Catholic. I don’t practice anymore, but what stayed with me is the importance of humility. That’s served me well in work and life.” When asked what SMRS has meant to him, Tim’s answer is quiet but profound: “It’s given me a sense of achievement. A sense of purpose. And the opportunity to know and work alongside good people.” Looking ahead, he hopes SMRS never strays from its Core Beliefs. “I hope we always ask, ‘Does this align with our mission?’ Whether we grow to 1,000 staff or not, it only works if we treat people with dignity, honesty, and respect.”
The acting career didn’t pan out, but Tim found a far more meaningful role — not on center stage, but behind the scenes, where the real work happens. He traded scripts for spreadsheets, lines for ledgers, and applause for purpose. He never became a leading man in Hollywood, but at SMRS, he’s earned a different kind of recognition — a Lifetime Achievement Award for Best Supporting Actor. Through every defining moment of SMRS, he’s been the quiet constant — the steady rhythm behind the work, never seeking the spotlight, only making sure the rest of us could shine.
His parting message to the next generation of leaders is simple, but powerful: “Respect those you work with. Empower them. Listen to them. And try to have fun.” Tim’s quiet presence has lit the way for so many of us. His leadership hasn’t just shaped this organization — it’s shaped the people within it. And for those of us lucky enough to walk alongside him, the impact is lasting. Personal. Transformative. We are better because of him.
