Board of Trustees Officers

MICHAEL MCKENDRICK – CHAIR

Assistant Fire Chief (Ret.), Tucson Fire Department

Founding Member

Mike McKendrick is a native Tucsonan and a 30-year veteran of the fire service. As assistant chief for the Tucson Fire Department’s Operations Division, he was responsible for all the emergency response forces for the City of Tucson. Mike earned a bachelor’s degree in public fire administration from Cogswell College in Sunnyvale, California, and served on the board of the Arizona Public Safety Personnel Retirement System for 16 years. Mike’s previous community volunteer work also includes seven years of coaching football and wrestling at Sabino High School, where he was named 2002 Southern Arizona Wrestling Coach of the Year.  Chairman of the Board, Tucson Old Pueblo Credit Union.

HEATH EVANS – VICE CHAIR

Assistant Chief (Ret.), Rural/Metro Fire Department

Heath Evans has been serving the greater Tucson area in public safety for 25 years, and currently serves as fire chief of Rural Metro Fire Department in Pima County. He follows his family legacy of public service: Most of his family have made life-long contributions in education, healthcare, law enforcement and fire service. Heath began his journey in public safety as a law-enforcement explorer in high school. He started his professional career in the fire service with the Northwest Fire District, where he progressed through the ranks of firefighter, engineer, paramedic, captain and battalion chief before retiring as a deputy chief, directing training for the 200-firefighter-strong district. Heath continued his career with Rural/Metro Fire as a deputy chief directing daily operation for eight fire stations serving nearly 90,000 residents in areas surrounding the city of Tucson. He has also spent his entire career involved with wildland fire response, and served on a Southwest Type 1 Incident Management Team managing large wildland fires across the United States. He is now the interim fire chief for Rural/Metro Fire Department.

Heath earned his bachelor’s degree from Arizona State University in 2004, and his masters of science in leadership from Grand Canyon University in 2009. He is an instructor for the Arizona Center for Fire Service Excellence, as well as Pima Community College. Heath was recognized for his achievements in 2017 by receiving chief fire officer designation from the Center for Public Safety Excellence. He is a member of the International Association of Fire Chiefs, Arizona Fire Chiefs Association, and Pima County Fire Chiefs Association. Together with his wife and children, he has fostered and rehabilitated dozens of neglected horses over the years.  During their free time, the Evans family can be found exploring all that Southern Arizona has to offer.

VERN BABILON – TREASURER

CEO Tucson Old Pueblo CU

Vern Babilon moved to Tucson in January 2013 when he became the new CEO of Tucson Old Pueblo Credit Union (TOPCU). After earning his bachelor’s degree in banking/finance and accounting at Alvernia College in Reading, Pennsylvania, Vern obtained his master’s degree in business/management from Penn State University. He became a certified credit union executive (CCUE) in 1993, and a certified public accountant in 1994. Vern has held positions as a top credit-union executive for the past 25 years – first as CEO in Reading, Pennsylvania, then as EVP/CFO at a large credit union in downtown Houston, Texas. He has also served as a consultant and auditor for many smaller credit unions. Tucson Old Pueblo Credit union – founded by city firefighters in 1935 – maintains strong ties with the firefighting community, which Vern and his staff actively maintain by volunteering with the Greater Tucson Fire Foundation and other events benefiting firefighters. Vern, who is currently serving as GTFF’s treasurer, is also a trustee of the Tucson Police Foundation. Having been involved in a wide variety of community fundraising events over the years (as a sponsor, participant and/or volunteer) Vern especially enjoys participating in running and bicycling events benefiting charities. He and his wife are also one of the first couples to hit the dance floor at the annual Firefighters Ball

GERALD M. “GERRY” BATES, PH.D. – SECRETARY

Assistant Chief (Ret.), Tucson Fire Department

Gerry Bates is a veteran firefighter, retiring after 34 years of service with the Tucson Fire Department at the rank of assistant chief. He served as the department’s health and safety officer, and is a nationally published author on occupational, hazardous materials and injury-prevention issues. Gerry is a Michigan native, and holds a bachelor’s degree in history, a master’s degree in educational leadership, and a doctorate in public administration. He is an instructor in the fire science program at Pima Community College, and holds the level of an eighth-degree grandmaster in the martial art of tae kwondo. He also volunteers as a paralegal with the Tucson City Prosecutors Office, and is a docent at the University of Arizona Museum of Art. Gerry married Char, an ultra-sonographer, in 1983.

ADAM DELLOS – COMMUNITY LIAISON OFFICER

President, Adam D Technology, LLC

Adam Dellos is a Tucson native and graduate of Sabino High School. In 2006, he founded Adam D Technology in order to bring technology solutions to individuals and small companies that needed fast, reliable, trustworthy IT support. His clients include Arizona Conference of Police and Sheriffs (AZCOPS), Greater Tucson Fire Foundation, Tucson Police Officers Association, United Cerebral Palsy of Southern Arizona, Tucson Celtic Festival, Festival & Events Association of Tucson & Southern Arizona (FEATSAZ), Arizona Police & Fire Games, and the Fourth Avenue Merchants Association. The company provides additional assistance in web site development, maintenance and assistance with employee volunteers. Adam has been accepted into The Centurion rookie class of 2015/16, and serves on the boards of the Tucson Computer Society, and Tucson Young Professionals. He joined the GTFF Board of Trustees in 2016. Adam has been active in foundation volunteer work since 2009, providing technical and logistical assistance for Tucson Police Department IT, the 9/11 Tower Challenge, and the 100 Club of Arizona. He has also served as the citizen co-chair for the GTFF HERO program, which provides emergency financial assistance for regional firefighters as a safe, confidential and compassionate resource.

RORIE JOHNSTON – EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Owner, Amapola Executive Services

Returning to Tucson after a fifteen-year hiatus in Southern California, Rorie Johnston has an array of corporate, executive and non-profit experience. Her business, Amapola Executive Services, focuses on developing sustainable income for non-profits. In her most recent role as the CEO of the Escondido Chamber of Commerce, Rorie managed the 400 business-member non-profit organization, Board of Directors, paid staff, and volunteers. By connecting business leaders with peers, city/state/federal legislators, business leaders had a voice in government, fostering a business-friendly environment and ensuring economic stability and growth.  Rorie happened upon the Foundation’s Safe Shift Estate Sale/Resale Store as a customer, but was drawn to the cause of “taking care of those who take care of us”.  So, what began as a one day a week commitment quickly transitioned to volunteering full time. Her financial knowledge, marketing skills, retail, and merchandise experience have been an asset to Safe Shift over the past year as she stepped into the role of managing the store previously held by the late Patty Vallance.