EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP

Ron Brown - Executive Director
In addition to the year-long structured Christian discipleship ministry for those addicted to drugs and alcohol, Teen Challenge Southern California provides comprehensive outreach and prevention programs for inner-city youth at risk of gang affiliation and drug abuse.
In addition to his duties as Executive Director, Ron is passionate about leadership development and encourages pastors and Christian leaders through conferences and seminars locally, nationally, and internationally.

Don Coley - Chief Administrative Officer
Don has more than 35 years of experience in executive-level marketing and management. He is the author of “A Steward’s Journey, Solving the Money Maze” and the complementary “Leader’s Guide for Small Group Discussion,” as well as the creator of the “60 Seconds on A Steward’s Journey” DVD series.
He holds a M.A. in Counseling Psychology, frequently teaches on the subject of apologetics and the application of biblical principles in modern American life, and has written numerous articles for secular and Christian journals. Don and his wife, Pam, live in Murrieta, California.

Rosie Weir - Director, Ventura/Tri-County

Herlindo Salinas - Director, San Diego County
Those many prayers and God’s perfect timing led Herlindo to the discipleship ministry of Teen Challenge in 1990, where he discovered God’s love and the power to change his life.
Herlindo successfully completed and graduated from the Teen Challenge residential program and feeling the call to continue to minister as a Teen Challenge staff member, went on to attend and graduate from the Teen Challenge Ministry Institute in 1993. Upon graduation, he accepted a position as a staff member at the San Diego Teen Challenge facility, where he continues to serve today.
In 2007, Herlindo was selected to be the Director of San Diego County Teen Challenge. In this position, he has continued to be used by God to touch many lives and faithfully lead San Diego County Teen Challenge forward.
Among many different ministry accomplishments in more than 20 years of service, Herlindo is an ordained minister with the Assemblies of God and has served not just in Teen Challenge, but also in his local church as a Bible teacher. He and his beautiful wife, Joyce, reside in San Diego and are the proud parents of four adult children and six grandchildren.

Tim Suk - Director, Orange County
Tim came to know the Lord and was born again in 1995 while an inmate of Orange County’s Theo Lacy Jail. The following year, he entered the doors of Teen Challenge, a Christ-centered ministry that addresses addiction and other life-controlling issues. After completing the year-long program, Tim attended and graduated from Teen Challenge Ministry Institute. He spent the next 3 ½ years on staff at Teen Challenge in Hawaii.
In 2002, Tim returned to Orange County Teen Challenge, where he has worked since. As Director of Orange County Teen Challenge, Tim oversees daily operations of the recovery home, a large neighborhood outreach and learning center, a transitional home for Teen Challenge graduates, and an adolescent home for boys. Tim is an ordained minister with the Assemblies of God.

Kevin Mooney - Director, Inland Empire

John Burns - Director, Central Valley
Next, he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Bible from Central Bible College in Missouri. He continued his education and earned a Master of Science in Counseling from University of Phoenix, Bakersfield, CA Campus. John is an Ordained Minister and a certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor.
John joined the staff of Kern County Teen Challenge in 2000. He remained at Kern County until 2014, when he became the Superintendent of Operations at the fledgling outreach center in Fresno. In 2015, the center expanded beyond Fresno to become Central Valley Teen Challenge and shortly thereafter, John was appointed Director, Central Valley Teen Challenge.

Micah Hale - Director, Ministry Institute

Michael Salinas - Director, Kern County Teen Challenge
A native of Kern County, Michael grew up in Wasco. Upon high school graduation, he went on to attend Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. But the lure of alcohol and drugs caused him to lose focus and his life spiraled out of control. Walking away from his Christian upbringing, he drifted through life with no sense of purpose or direction. Then the day came when he was ready for change. He found and entered San Diego Teen Challenge in 2007—and began a renewed life with Christ free of drugs and alcohol.
After an internship at Inland Empire Teen Challenge, he worked in sales and the medical industry for years. Then God called him back to Kern County and Michael began working for Kern County Teen Challenge in August 2014. Over the next several years, he served in and managed various departments at the center and in May 2020, was promoted to Director.
Today, Michael’s heart is to serve the lost and hurting men and women in Kern County and beyond who need to experience the freeing redemption he found in Christ Jesus. He and his wife Kailey are the proud parents of a little boy and love living the redeemed life God has given them.