BIO ~ Thomas Roblee
Commander ORO VALLEY AMERICAN LEGION POST 132
Grew up on a dairy farm in western New York. Joined the US NAVY IN 1969. Lived/worked on Aircraft Carriers 14 years of my 20-year career. 3 children 6 grand kids. I married my high school sweetheart (46 years after HS) Part of the American legion for 25 years.
Presently the Commander of Oro Valley American Legion Post 132. In our post we have about 550 members. We are veterans helping veterans, we go to the VA hospital in Tucson, retirement communities in around Oro Valley, we go to schools, Churches wherever there are Veterans Our Honor Guard oh, performs funeral honors, our Color Guard, presents the colors, flag, folding’s explaining what each flag fold means.
Email Address: roblee.thomas@yahoo.com
Company Website: www.ovamericanlegion132.com
Company Facebook: facebook.com/ovamericanlegionpost132
BIO ~ Lisa M. Hopper
Executive Director of the Arizona Heroes Memorial.
Born in south Chicago and veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces, she received her B.S. in Radiology Administration/Physics from George Washington University, D.C.
She was the founder/CEO of World Care International Disaster Relief Organization. After 21 years coordinating disaster efforts in over 85 countries and raising over $125 million in aid, she retired from World Care in 2015.
The Arizona Heroes Memorial is set to officially open on November 16, 2024, marking a significant milestone in honoring those who have served and sacrificed for our safety. The story of its inception is one of dedication, resilience, and community spirit that began with a vision held by Dick Egger ding, a devoted volunteer in the Town of Oro Valley since 1991.
In 1996, Dick co-authored a code that allocated 1% of new construction costs to public art, ensuring that Oro Valley would always celebrate creativity. However, his vision expanded in 2015 when he envisioned a memorial dedicated to honoring veterans, first responders, and healthcare workers. Standing on the Naranja Park plateau, with the majestic Catalina Mountains in the background, Dick declared, “This would be the perfect location for a memorial.” His determination led him to successfully advocate for the donation of 2.58 acres of land from the town, setting the stage for the Arizona Heroes Memorial.
In 2016, the groundwork for the memorial took shape with a feasibility study and the creation of initial conceptual drawings, which featured a ground star, seated walls, and a striking central monument. A passionate group of volunteers formed the Board of Directors, including Dick Egger ding as Chairman, Kay Williams, Alan Dankworth, Steve Dido, and Vickie Shoop man. They adopted by-laws and began laying the foundation for what would become a decade-long journey filled with milestones and challenges. By January 2017, excitement grew as the team organized its first major fundraising event at El Conquistador, attracting over 200 attendees, including local officials and first responders. The event sparked enthusiasm and support, with Bill Walker of WLB Group stepping in as the primary sponsor to jumpstart the engineering efforts alongside Bill Assenmacher of CAID Industries.
In 2018, the organization achieved a critical milestone by obtaining 501(c)(3) status, allowing it to pursue funding opportunities more effectively. However, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020 brought many initiatives to a halt, creating uncertainty for the project. Yet, the Board persevered, and by July 2021, they renamed the organization the Arizona Heroes Memorial to honor not only veterans and first responders but also healthcare workers who had risen to the occasion during the pandemic.
In January 2022, Lisa Hopper was appointed as the first Executive Director. Immersing herself in every aspect of the project, she worked closely with the Board to revitalize the organization and forge a renewed vision. With a fresh strategy in place, the momentum began to build once again, culminating in a pivotal moment. By February 28, 2023, the groundbreaking ceremony drew over 300 attendees, signaling strong community support. As preparations continued, the Spencer Construction team began removing 900,000 lbs. of concrete from the site.
As the Arizona Heroes Memorial prepares to open its doors, it stands as a beacon of hope and gratitude—a lasting tribute to the heroes among us. With the holiday season approaching, the community is invited to make a pledge in honor of a loved one or contribute to the ongoing efforts to maintain and preserve this sacred space for future generations. The Arizona Heroes Memorial represents the unyielding spirit of Oro Valley and the heroes it honors, a testament to the power of community and resilience.
The Arizona Heroes Memorial is dedicated to honoring and celebrating Arizona’s heroes, past and present, for their selfless service and sacrifice. The memorial is a place of education where future generations can learn about the courage of the heroes who put themselves in harm’s way to preserve our health, safety, and freedom. The memorial is a solemn place for reflection and remembrance, a refuge for families and friends whose loved ones paid the ultimate price. The Arizona Heroes Memorial ensures that their legacy of valor and sacrifice will continue to inspire us for years to come.
Company Website: Azheroesmemorial.org
Phone Number: (520) 975-7477
Email Address: Lmhopper@aol.com
Barbara McClure, Executive Director 
IMPACT of Southern Arizona
3535 E Hawser Street
Tucson, AZ 85739
Phone: 520-825-0009
barbara@impactsoaz.org
www.impactsoaz.org
SOCIAL MEDIA: Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Twitter |
Barbara McClure wakes up each morning passionate about going to work at a place that improves lives and inspires futures every day! She has been the Executive Director of a Tucson social service nonprofit called IMPACT of Southern Arizona, for ten years. What is it that keeps you passionate about your role Barbara?
Barbara has been a visionary and planner with decades of experience as a small business owner and in nonprofit leadership; her innovative ideas and strategic thinking, along with a talent for bringing the community together, has helped grow IMPACT five-fold in a very short time. Her talents and interests are diverse but all center around helping people, improving the community, bolstering education, building capacity and sustainability, being vocal about the rights and conditions of others, experiencing art, nurturing all inhabitants of your garden, and enjoying life to the fullest.
And now Barbara is about to experience another exciting chapter in her life with hosting a brand-new Radio Show Podcast here on the Tucson Business RadioX Network starting in November.
IMPACT of Southern Arizona is a 20 – year old social service nonprofit stabilizing families and seniors, and moving people out of poverty. IMPACT’s programs are designed to stretch household budgets so earned income can be spent on necessities such as improved housing conditions, fuel to get to work, utilizes, and needed medical attention and prescriptions. Its clients are your neighbors! People come to IMPACT because it is a welcoming place where they are always treated with dignity and respect, and where they find resources, referrals, coaching, and help to attain the skills that can move them forward into self-sufficiency.
Barbara grew up in Pasadena CA, moved to Long Beach for college, got married and started our family then moved to Seattle area ten years later. Took our youngest son on an 11-month motorhome trip to get to Tucson – Homeschooled for 10th grade.
We vacationed at a rustic cabin when I was growing up, where we had no phone or television; and spent all our time outside fishing, hiking, horseback riding, listening to old radio shows, playing pool, reading comic books from the local small grocer, and using our imaginations all day long. I always admired the superheroes who defended people and cities like Gotham and Metropolis, so when our three boys were born, we named them after familiar character: Colin (Bryce for an overlay of Bruce Wayne, Kent, and Parker. Our first grandchild was born last year, and as in the family tradition, named Logan, after the Wolverine. I used to always tell them they were my superheroes – and they still are today!
Barbara loves working with numbers and has always loved math and the organization of things, so accounting seemed perfect, but I soon realized that I if I became a CPA I would have to spend many months inside doing tax returns, and that did not appeal to me as a long–term career! I have a great imagination and enjoy creating things, so thought I should find a better path that might nurture that side of my personality. I was working in the shipping industry in SoCal at the time and fell in love with import and export, so shifted my majors to Marketing and International Business. Those were wonderful fits, and I imagined graduating and moving to the largest port on the planet, in Germany; then, I met my future husband and things took a different turn.
A little bit about how Barbara got into Nonprofit work:
All along with my husband and I were always involved in nonprofits and community volunteer opportunities, and often said it was too bad we could not make a living doing those things we loved so much. Leadership roles in PTO, Boy Scouts, Historical Societies, Junior League, Elks, Rotary and more. Then when we moved to Tucson I looked for a local opportunity to impact my community. A Board position was about to open at IMPACT, and my local bank branch manager, Peggy Smoot, suggested I would be very passionate about getting involved in the mission work there. I worked in the Food Bank.
There are thousands of nonprofits in Tucson. What makes IMPACT Unique is that they bring the community together to stabilize families and move people out of poverty. Our true success lies in partnering with a large number of businesses, agencies, social clubs and other nonprofits. We invest $2.5 million in the community each year, and we do it all with a lean staff of amazing professionals supported by more than 170 volunteer shifts each week! We have put great systems in place to run efficiently, effectively and with a commitment to sustainability and integrity, protecting the community’s investment in our work, striving for perfect audits, being innovative, building capacity and most importantly – treating everyone with dignity and respect. We are an award-winning nonprofit with numerous nods to incredible customer service. Our clients are your neighbors… We improve lives and inspire futures of people living in Southern AZ.
So, IMPACT is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, and you have been at the helm half that time. Share with me the things IMPACT has accomplished over the years, and the things you have planned for this celebratory year.
