Northern Arizona Board of Directors
The Boards of Directors with their combined diverse experiences are critical to assisting with strategic planning and fundraising to support the Chapters' humanitarian mission and services.
Timothy Espinosa
What inspires you to serve on the Red Cross Board? As a Board Member I have a greater opportunity to spread the Red Cross beyond my community.
What is your favorite Red Cross function, activity or event? Managing groups when deployed to a major disaster. Working as a volunteer to spread Red Cross activities to other communities.
Where can we find you on weekends? All my days are weekends. I enjoy fishing and hiking. I also enjoy working in my yard. I have fruit trees and a small garden.
A fun fact: My wife and I lived and worked in Hong Kong for four years. We have toured 80 countries.
Mel Miller
Mel Miller is a retired engineering manager with over 36 years of progressive leadership experience, specializing in managing diverse, high-performing teams across complex technology development projects. His career includes leading collaborative R&D initiatives with international laboratories and universities, and he is widely respected for his ability to work effectively across cultural and organizational boundaries. Known for mentoring key employees and fostering strong business partnerships, Mel is also a proactive adopter of organizational efficiency models. His technical achievements include 10 U.S. patents and numerous publications and presentations at industry conferences.
Since retiring, Mel has remained active through volunteer service. For more than nine years, he has supported the Northern Arizona Chapter of the American Red Cross in roles spanning Service to the Armed Forces and Disaster Cycle Services. His volunteer work includes deployments on disaster relief operations, serving as a government liaison in emergency operations centers, and leading smoke alarm installations in underserved communities. Mel also dedicates time to various animal rescue organizations—fostering, adopting, and transporting animals—and regularly assists at local food banks.
Bunny Troup
What inspires you to serve on the Red Cross Board? As a Board Member I have a greater opportunity to spread the Red Cross beyond my community.
What is your favorite Red Cross function, activity or event? Managing groups when deployed to a major disaster. Working as a volunteer to spread Red Cross activities to other communities.
Where can we find you on weekends? Many places, at my sewing machine, working around the house, spending time with friends.
A fun fact: I got my nickname (Bunny) because I was born around Easter. My father thought I was too tiny for my real name (Margaret Ann) and my sister suggested Bunny.
Heather Vinson
Heather Vinson serves as Risk Manager for Yavapai County, Arizona, with a background in local government leadership, private business operations and planning, emergency management, and community preparedness. Through her work with Yavapai County Community Organizations Active in Disaster (YCCOAD) and the Yavapai County Local Emergency Planning Committee (YCLEPC), she helps strengthen relationships that support community readiness and response. Her interests include clear, accessible emergency messaging and communication, improving processes, and helping organizations work together more effectively. Her service with the Arizona Public Risk Management Association (AZPRIMA) reflects her commitment to helping organizations understand liability, make informed decisions, and protect the people and resources that make their missions possible.
Heather is passionate about connecting people and making preparedness practical and approachable. Outside of work, Heather enjoys reading, creative projects, and encouraging her kids to follow their curiosity and confidently embrace what makes them unique.
Through her emergency management work, Heather has seen how quickly a crisis can change someone’s life—and how much a compassionate response matters. The American Red Cross mission is meaningful to her because it brings together preparedness, service, and support when people need it most. She considers it a great opportunity to serve on the Northern Arizona Chapter board and help communities prepare, respond, and recover.