Yvorra Leadership Development (YLD) is a non-profit private foundation designed to promote leadership development among members of the fire, hazardous materials, and emergency medical services communities. The Foundation was created to continue the efforts of James G. Yvorra who dedicated his life’s work to the betterment of fire and emergency medical services.
The Yvorra Leadership Development Foundation (YLD) is a non-profit, tax exempt organization. The Foundation operates under section 501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code and as an organization described in section 501(c)(3) and 509(a) of the Code. In compliance with Federal requirements, YLD prepares annual financial reports and submits them to the IRS. All financial reports are submitted to a certified public accountant for third-party review and are a matter of public record.
The Foundation’s Board of Directors is primarily responsible for the administration and management of the organization. All members of the Board of Directors and the Scholarship and Awards Committee serve without compensation or remuneration.
Board of Directors
Rose M. Cogan
Ed.D.
Training Consultant, (retired), Elkridge, MD
George D. Dodson
President
Red Hat Publishing Company, Inc., Chester, MD
Michael Eversole
U.S. Secret Service, Washington, D.C.
Donna Hawley
Flight Nurse, CFRN
Havre de Grace, MD
John Hess
U.S. DOT Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
Washington, D.C. (retired), Hagerstown, MD
Michael S. Hildebrand
Partner
Hildebrand and Fish LLC, Mount Dora, FL
JoAnne F. Hildebrand
Academic Director and Associate Professor (retired)
Fire Science, University of Maryland University College, Adelphi, MD
Sean Noll
Major, U.S. Marine Corps
James P. Zeigler
Ph.D. Principal
J.P. Zeigler LLC, Richmond, VA
Scholarship and Awards Committee
The Scholarship and Awards Committee is established under the Board as a free-standing and impartial group for the sole purpose of evaluating applications and selecting suitable candidates. No member of the Board serves on the Awards Committee; however, the Committee Chairperson serves as a non-voting member of the Board.
The Scholarship and Awards Committee reviews qualified applicants in the fall of each year and selects award recipients by letter ballot. Awardees are selected based on five broad criteria. These include:
- Potential to have a positive impact upon the future of his or her organization and the emergency response community
- Formal education and previous training, particularly in the areas of management and administration
- Commitment to professionalism in the emergency response community
- Analysis of three favorable written recommendations submitted with the application