Our Team

Richard (Rick) Massey’s first connection with United Friends Group Homes was as a job coach for several residents in 2008.  After working with 8 UFGH residents as a vocational consultant, he took on the role of House Manager at Beverly Park Group Home in October of 2010 and hasn’t looked back; as of 2016, he has been functioning as the agency’s Executive Director.  He insists that spending any amount of time with the residents is equivalent to drinking from the Fountain of Youth.  When not working, he’s a fan of quiet times with his husband and their dogs, reading (particularly fantasy and sci-fiction), collecting a wide variety of pop culture items and ocean beaches.

Jeff Appelgate joined the UFGH team as Finance Director in August of 2010. Jeff loves the residents and feels that they give meaning to the human experience and true relationships.  His 45 years of experience in accounting finance and management is absolutely crucial to running the “business” part of UFGH.  When not taking care of UFGH matters, Jeff loves to stay active: running marathons, mounain climbing and going to the gym 5 days/week.

Patrick (Pat) Anderson has been an employee of United Friends Group Homes since 2007.  His good natured charm and love of the residents is apparent to anybody who steps foot inside Crown Hill.  He agreed to step up to the role of Program Director in 2016 and has proven to be a boon to the residents, the house staff, and the rest of the management team.  He sees his flexibility as his best attribute when it comes to managing but, of equal importance, is his relaxed demeanor.  Calm, cool and collected – that’s how others see him.  Spending time interacting with the residents will always be his favorite part of the job.  During his downtime, he loves the Seahawks, working on his car and watching movies.

Lakeitheya (Ki) Jones was hired at Beverly Park in 2017 and spent a few years building a tight bond with the residents and her coworkers.  In January of 2020, she was promoted to Program Director and was quickly thrown into the chaos known as COVID-19.  Thankfully, her biggest attributes include accepting change and a willingness to learn.  In a time where we all struggled, Ki was the sea of calm that kept Beverly Park on track. Her favorite part of the job is encouraging the residents and providing them just the proper amount of support and care to help them maintain as much independence as possible.  When not working, she spends time with her family and designing hoodies.

Jonathan Bryla is the most recent addition to UFGH’s management team.  He was hired as Lincoln Park’s Program Director at the beginning of 2023.  He loves music and also finds a way to teach piano during his down-time.  His previous experience as a pianist and a teacher were essential in making Lincoln Park’s most recent resident feel at home; she moved in with her own piano and made a very quick connection with Jonathan that allowed her to blossom. He views his patience as one of his strongest attributes and loves discovering new things.  Although his tenure has been short, he has become a vital part of the residents’ lives.