Matthew’s Hope announces new leaders

Matthew’s Hope’s Orange County operation will have two familiar faces in its top leadership positions.

Founder and CEO Scott Billue has named Shelley Bradford as the operation’s president and executive director, and Shannon Diaz as its new Orange County campus director. Billue made the announcement at the West Orange Chamber of Commerce’s Business After Hours event, held Thursday, April 18, at Matthew’s Hope.

“This one is a big one for me, because I love this girl so much,” Billue said of Diaz as he teared up. “She came through our program. She was a rock star in the program. … This girl was a heroin addict four years ago. 

“When Shannon was getting ready to graduate from our program, I said to her, ‘What do you want to do?’” Billue said. “She said, ‘Scott, I really want to do this.’ And I looked at her, and I said, ‘With your felony, nobody’s going to hire you. … But I don’t play by those rules.’ So, she went to work for us, and she worked her way up the ranks, and she is now officially the director of this campus, and we’re so proud of her.”

Since October 2022, Bradford has served as vice president and has led the Orange County operation while Billue dealt with some health issues and launching the organization’s Brevard County operation.

“Shelley’s not my right hand,” Billue said of Bradford. “Too often, people have looked at her as my right hand. … Outside of Sharlene, she’s my everything. … She rocks this place, and she has put together a team that has allowed me to do some of the things I have to do from a health standpoint. She’s made that possible.”

In addition to the announcement, VyStar Credit Union presented a check for $2,500 to the Winter Garden-based homeless ministry.