Heidi L. Hamilton is General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer for Urban Resource Institute, overseeing legal and in-house corporate affairs, contracts, board of trustees governance and policy initiatives. The legal division manages agency-wide risk management systems supporting URI’s , programmatic, strategic and operational integrity. Heidi collaborates with team members to create systems that are aligned with compliance laws and regulations that can be implemented with fidelity.

She previously served as the Chief Operating Officer and then Chief Real Estate, Facilities & Legal Officer for Amber Charter Schools, overseeing school-based operation systems and capital improvement projects. As a commercial law attorney admitted in New York and Connecticut, she has negotiated real estate transactions and litigated cases in state and federal courts. An avid believer in not-for-profit capacity building, Heidi serves on the board of Calvin Hill Day Care, Boundless Literacy, Inc., TruFund Financial Services and Barbershop Books, Inc.

Heidi holds a JD from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law and a BA in Political Science from Wellesley College.

Elyse Barbell, SHRMP-CP brings a wealth of experience in human resource operations to Urban Resource Institute, she is responsible for building best-in-class talent acquisition, employee retention, and engagement strategies.
 
Barbell has always had a passion for workforce and leadership development in service to poverty remediation. Barbell most recently spent seven years developing recruitment and retention strategies for Women in Need as the organization’s Vice President of Human Capital. Barbell began her career in the field of education, serving as an English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) instructor and Refugee Services Coordinator at Brooklyn College before expanding into workforce and leadership development. In her previous role as Executive Director of the Literacy Assistance Center, she oversaw the development of the Adult Literacy Information and Evaluation System (ALIES) data collection system for NYC adult education programs, and the creation of the Literacy Assistance Center (LAC) Academy.
 
A native New Yorker, Barbell holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Hofstra University, and a certificate in nonprofit leadership from Columbia University.

Vicky Hernandez serves as the Chief Development & Marketing Officer at the Urban Resource Institute (URI), where she leads the Development and Marketing/Communications teams with a strategic focus on expanding and diversifying URI’s philanthropic support and expanding visibility and awareness about URI and its mission.
 

With 25 years of leadership experience in external relations, fundraising, and program development, Vicky has dedicated her career to affordable housing, community development, youth development, and essential community services. Prior to joining URI, Vicky held leadership roles at prominent community-based organizations in New Jersey, including as Executive Director of Ironbound Community Corporation and Chief Program Officer at New Jersey Community Development Corporation. In New York City, she led high-impact fundraising programs at Enterprise Community Partners and Neighborhood Housing Services, securing tens of millions of dollars to advance affordable housing initiatives across the city.

Vicky is a graduate of Dickinson College with a B.A. in Political Science and earned her M.P.A. with a focus on community development from NYU’s Robert F. Wagner School of Public Service. She brings her passion and expertise to URI’s work addressing domestic violence and homelessness, continuing her commitment to creating transformative community impact.

Charles Carroll joined Urban Resource Institute in 2017 as the Vice President of Operations. In 2020 he was promoted to Senior Vice President, Asset Management. He is responsible for ensuring the smooth operation of all Urban Resource Institute’s 27 properties throughout the New York City. Mr. Carroll negotiates and administers lease agreements and manages capital projects for the construction and renovation of office space and transitional housing facilities. Prior to joining URI, he served people living with HIV/AIDS for 22 years, including eight years at Harlem United where he held multiple positions beginning as Associate Vice President for Adult Day Healthcare programs, eventually advancing to the role of Chief Operating Officer. He holds a Bachelor Science degree from Saint Thomas Aquinas College.

Chinedu C. Ifudu is Vice President of Accounting & Finance for Urban Resource Institute. Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Ifudu is responsible for the overall strategic financial leadership, goals, objectives, and controls at URI. In his role, he oversees the activities and directs the development and management of operating and capital budgets, while protecting the financial assets of the organization. Prior to joining URI, Chinedu worked with Women In Need Inc. where he was responsible for coordinating Contracts & Budget and Financial teams and supervised the General Accounting and Accounts Payable teams. He also worked 13 years at 1199SEIU National Benefit & Pension Funds. Mr. Ifudu obtained his MBA from St John’s University, and holds a CPA License.