The People Behind the Bridge
ArchBridge was founded on the belief that homelessness is solvable when compassion meets action. Our team is made up of advocates, outreach workers, strategists, and neighbors who bring their hearts and expertise to the work every single day.
Board of Directors
Patrick Gilligan
Board Chair
Patrick Gilligan is the Founder, Executive Director, and Board Chair of ArchBridge, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Amanda McAuley
Board Member
Amanda McAuley is an experienced sales and brand strategist with a strong background in building teams, partnerships, and community-focused programs.
Stewart Dixon
Board Member
Stewart Dixon is Founder and Managing Partner of VentureDNA. An accomplished executive leader with a record of successes.
Traci Knight
Board Member
Traci Knight is the Owner/Principal of TK Designs, a boutique graphic design company based in San Diego.
Doug L. Rees
Board Member
DL (“Doug”) Rees Contracting LLC started 40 years ago with a F-150 pick-up truck and a bag of hand tools.
From Trauma to Workforce, From Survival to Stability
At ArchBridge, we believe good intentions are just the beginning. We work in the spaces where they meet real action.
ArchBridge is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides a vital bridge for individuals transitioning from lives marked by trauma, homelessness, and disempowerment to lives of strength, stability, and independence. Focused on homeless veterans, adults, and children living in crisis, ArchBridge implements uniquely designed, results-driven programs that guide individuals towards a life of self-sufficiency, propelling them from the streets to independence. By prioritizing direct impact over administrative overhead, the foundation ensures that critical resources reach the disenfranchised and those who need them most.
Through its innovative and compassionate approach, ArchBridge is committed to providing life-changing support to those who need help, as well as a universal blueprint for communities seeking meaningful, measurable solutions to homelessness.
Why ArchBridge Stands Apart
Founded by individuals who have lived through and overcome immense personal hardship, ArchBridge is built on the belief that no one should be defined by their worst day - and everyone deserves a second (or even seventh) chance at life.
We develop scalable, community-based programs that meet people where they are. Our goal is to provide real solutions for real lives, aiming not just to alleviate suffering, but to provide a sustainable path forward.
Our Approach is Grounded in 4 Key Pillars
At ArchBridge, we don't believe in one-size fits all answers especially when it comes to solving homelessness. We believe in listening deeply, acting strategically, and working relentlessly to help people build lives rooted in purpose, hope, stability, and independence.
The Team Behind ArchBridge
ArchBridge was born from lived experience and a shared passion to lift up others and pay it forward.
Founder Patrick Gilligan began his journey by volunteering at shelters and leading support groups while undergoing his own trauma recovery. As both a Veteran and a Survivor, he understood firsthand what it feels like to be invisible - to feel like if you disappeared, no one would notice. This sense of hopelessness would eventually become the spark for a movement.
Leaning into his dear friend, Stewart, Patrick asked a vital question: How do you bridge the gap between the worst moment of your life and the point where you can find happiness and enjoy your life again?
With this question at the helm, they began forming a team of committed individuals - each bringing their own lived experience, professional expertise, and a shared determination to create lasting change, not just for individuals, but for entire communities.
Meet Our Founder
Patrick Gilligan is the Founder, Executive Director, and Board Chair of ArchBridge, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to helping veterans and anyone experiencing homelessness overcome addiction and reclaim their lives. A passionate advocate and hands-on street leader, Patrick was honored as the 2024 San Diego Hero of the Year by the San Diego Psychiatric Association (SDPA) for his tireless work supporting those in crisis.
An eight-year U.S. Marine Corps veteran with an overseas deployment and an honorable discharge, Patrick brings the discipline and heart of service from his military background into everything he does. He is a survivor of sexual assault and PTSD, and draws on his own lived experience to connect deeply with the people he serves-many of whom often feel unseen or unheard by traditional systems.
Driven by the belief that solving homelessness must start on the streets-not just in City Hall- Patrick is committed to cleaning up our communities and compassionately addressing homelessness, which is not only a humanitarian crisis but also a public health, public safety, and economic crisis affecting every resident, business, and neighborhood in San Diego and across the nation.
Before founding ArchBridge, Patrick built an 18-year career in New York City’s high-tech industry, leading development projects in speech recognition, complex event processing, and financial CPM software. Patrick, who studied at Northeastern University in Boston, now resides in Point Loma, San Diego, where he volunteers weekly with PATH San Diego’s shelter program and remains active in local recovery and outreach efforts.
Associative Executive Director
Carol Ann Chambers
Carol Ann Chambers is a transformative leader with more than 23 years of experience as an educator, fitness and wellness professional, Olympic-level coach, speaker, writer, program director, fundraiser, and community strategist. Named the 2023 IDEA World Fitness Leader of the Year, she has been internationally recognized for her lifelong dedication to empowering individuals and communities through fitness, health, education, and service.
As Associate Executive Director of ArchBridge, Carol Ann partners closely with the Executive Director to advance the organization’s mission of providing a vital bridge for individuals transitioning from trauma, homelessness, and disempowerment to lives of strength, stability, and independence. In this role, she oversees day-to-day operations, staff leadership, program development, and organizational strategy-ensuring that ArchBridge delivers impact with excellence, sustainability, and compassion. She also represents the organization with community partners, funders, and stakeholders, strengthening collaborations and securing resources that expand opportunities for those most in need.
A proven innovator, Carol Ann has designed and led large-scale national initiatives, including creating the first fitness-based U.S. Department of Defense Approved SkillBridge Program for transitioning service members and multiple U.S. Department of Labor Approved Registered Apprenticeship Programs for the military and under-resourced communities. She is also known for her compelling public speaking, mentorship, and leadership development work.
A proud UC Berkeley graduate, mother of two, and young breast cancer survivor, Carol Ann uses her platform to champion causes that uphold dignity, health, and opportunity for all-ensuring that no one is defined by their worst day, and everyone has the chance to rebuild.
