Linda Johnson, President and Director

Linda retired as a Maryland Internship Coordinator for the Montgomery County Public School system in 2020. As a nationally board-certified educator with over thirty years of classroom experience, she is passionate about Service Dogs Saving Lives – a Dedication to Joseph Johnson. The mission to alter lives lost by suicide for veterans, first responders, and others, for her, is a call to alter the stigma surrounding mental health challenges.

Paul Johnson, Co-President and Director

Paul, born in Washington, D.C., is one of seven children. Edward Johnson, his father, proudly served as a U.S. Army veteran in World War II.

Paul began his career with US Shoe Corporation, where he developed his expertise in buying and merchandising men’s footwear over a period of eighteen years. Later in his career, Paul founded P.J. & Company, specializing in business, church, and school furniture. After managing the company for twenty-seven years, in 2020, he relocated to Sarasota, Florida, with his wife.

In 2015, he lost his eldest son; in 2022, he and his wife Linda co-founded SDSL.

Mary Niedermair Hickey, Treasurer and Director 

Mary is a Certified Public Accountant with over 35 years of experience in banking and financial services. A proud graduate of the University of Maryland Robert H. Smith School of Business, she holds degrees in Business Administration and Accounting.

Diana D. Tydings, Vice President and Director

Diana has experience in real estate, entrepreneurship, government administration, and volunteer work. She’s been the Director of Human Services at AB&T Telecom, LLC for 11 years. Diana has volunteered for the Joseph Patrick Sanford Foundation’s annual Joe’s Ride and Stride event for 20 years. She’s very close to the Johnson family and is honored to support Service Dogs Saving Lives as a dedication to Joseph Johnson’s memory.

Yvette Ortiz, Secretary and Director  

Yvette is a proud mother of three young men. She served as a Sergeant with the New York City Police Department for 26 years, retiring in 2021 and moving to Sarasota County with one of her sons, who has joined the Sarasota County Fire Department. Yvette was a volunteer member of the NYPD Peer Support Program to aid in suicide prevention. Her decision was impacted by the loss of three officers to suicide in one year. Post-retirement, Yvette can pay it forward to first responders, veterans, and people from all walks of life who need support. She aims to provide hope and save lives through Service Dogs Saving Lives. Yvette expresses her gratitude to Linda and Paul for the honor of joining the board of Service Dogs Saving Lives, providing her with the purpose and opportunity to serve in something she is passionate about—Jesus, family, and life.

Ally Hatfield Broaddus, Director

Ally Hatfield brings a strong background in financial services, with a passion for helping others achieve financial well-being. Originally from Kentucky, she has called Florida home since 2018 and is proud to be part of the Sarasota community.

Prior to working in finance, Ally built a foundation in healthcare administration, which shaped her compassionate and service-oriented approach.

Ally is an active member of Bayside Community Church and a proud alumna of Florida Gulf Coast University’s Lutgert College of Business where she earned a Master’s Degree in Business Administration. Outside of work, you’ll often find her cheering on the Kentucky Wildcats basketball team.

Mary Louise Embrey

Mary Louise is currently the President of MLE Consulting, LLC. She is maximizing and leveraging her experience on behalf of student health, child protection, and substance abuse prevention.

For the six years prior to starting her own consulting business, she was the National Association of School Nurses’ first Director of Government Affairs.

Mary Louise came to the school nurses’ association after 35 years of federal service. Much of her work in both the Public Health Service and the U.S. Department of Justice was in the areas of public policy, congressional affairs, and intergovernmental and external affairs.

Mary Louise has worked with the Delaware, Division of Public Health to conduct trainings in all of the school districts to help prevent prescription drug abuse; and had a contract with the Delaware Department of Education to make a positive impact on addressing the growing opioid epidemic.

Mary Louise has served on the Kids Count – Delaware Board and the Bethany Beach Landowners Association (BBLA) Board of Directors. She currently serves as BBLA’s Executive Director.

Her current volunteerism includes serving as the Communications Director and an advisory committee member for the national non-profit Service Dogs Saving Lives. In addition, she is a member of AARP Delaware’s Executive Council and an active member of the legislative committee for the South Coastal Delaware Chapter.

Mary Louise also volunteers at St. Ann’s Parish in Bethany Beach; the Ocean City, MD Chapter of the Sons and Daughters of Italy; and serves as a Town of Bethany Beach Museum Docent; and an Officer in Chapter L- Delaware P.E.O. (Philanthropic Educational Organization).

Tim Smith

The proud son of a WWII veteran, and the proud father of a first responder, Tim, appreciates the mental-health challenges facing those who serve.

As a former educator and athletic coach for forty years (Adelphi University, NY, Northport Public Schools, NY, and East Syracuse Minoa Public Schools, NY), he has seen firsthand the devastation suicide causes for families, co-workers, neighbors, and entire communities. A firm believer that the stigma and perspective surrounding suicide can be changed through education, specifically, increasing an awareness and understanding of the causes, developing an increased empathy for and willingness to help those in need, and facilitating preventative strategies, of which highly trained service dogs can play an integral role, Tim has helped two school districts implement curriculums to that cause (Onondaga Central, NY and Sarasota Military Academy, FL) with the hope of adding other schools to list as well.

Tim is proud to serve as an advisory and educational ambassador for Service Dogs Saving Lives. He looks forward to helping the Johnsons spread their message of hope to the next generation and to veterans and first responders in need.

Christina Walker

Christina Walker is a proud native of Oklahoma who currently resides in Arkansas, where she serves as Business Operations and Programs Manager for the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Arkansas. With more than 20 years of experience in higher education development, Christina brings deep expertise in fundraising, stewardship, and academic administration.

She began her fundraising career at Syracuse University, working in academic development, where she discovered a strong interest in fundraising and a lasting passion for stewardship—an area she believes is the most critical component of any successful fundraising program. Christina later moved to Raleigh, North Carolina, to join North Carolina State University, where she served as Director of Principal Gifts and Chief of Staff to the Vice Chancellor for Development. During her time at NC State, she developed a women’s philanthropy program, one of her proudest professional accomplishments.

Christina and her husband relocated to Arkansas to be closer to family, prompting a shift back into the academic side of higher education. This transition also allowed her more time to dedicate to volunteerism and community engagement.

Through her friendship and former professional connection with advisory committee member Tim Smith, Christina was introduced to Service Dogs Saving Lives (SDSL) and the opportunity to volunteer alongside the Johnsons. She supports the organization through the development of infographics, marketing materials, stewardship initiatives, and strategic ideation for foundation partnerships. Inspired by the Johnsons’ story and the powerful role service dogs play in human healing, Christina is deeply committed to advancing SDSL’s mission and working with the committee to expand visibility and increase access to service dogs for veterans and first responders.

Christina currently volunteers with Fayetteville Animal Services and the Women’s Fellowship at St. Joseph’s Parish in Fayetteville, Arkansas. She also recently completed volunteer work for St. Joseph’s Catholic Parish in Krebs, Oklahoma, assisting with multiple grant submissions and the development of fundraising plans.