Our Board of Directors
Board Members:
Helen Mendelsohn - President
Helen joined the Top Dog in 2014. She is currently serving as President of the Board as well as Training Director. Helen moved to Tucson from New York in 1973. She has an Associate degree from Pima Community College and attended the University of Arizona. She worked as an EMT for an ambulance company, a Process Planner Estimator for a private company, and a Corrections Officer for the State of Arizona. She became disabled in 1993 and was lucky enough to find Top Dog in 2008. Helen trained her service dog, a German Shepherd named Hope, and were certified as Team #105 in 2010. Relying on her long experience raising and training German Shepherds, she has served as a Top Dog Evaluator for Certification, Certification Chairman, Class Instructor, and a Demonstration Team. She enjoys embroidery, visiting friends, and playing with her dogs.
Helen joined the Top Dog in 2014. She is currently serving as President of the Board as well as Training Director. Helen moved to Tucson from New York in 1973. She has an Associate degree from Pima Community College and attended the University of Arizona. She worked as an EMT for an ambulance company, a Process Planner Estimator for a private company, and a Corrections Officer for the State of Arizona. She became disabled in 1993 and was lucky enough to find Top Dog in 2008. Helen trained her service dog, a German Shepherd named Hope, and were certified as Team #105 in 2010. Relying on her long experience raising and training German Shepherds, she has served as a Top Dog Evaluator for Certification, Certification Chairman, Class Instructor, and a Demonstration Team. She enjoys embroidery, visiting friends, and playing with her dogs.
Leo Enfield - Treasurer
Leo has been on the Top Dog’s Board since 1994. Leo’s expertise in electronics and computer technology was instrumental in getting Top Dog’s office up and running. He still consults whenever there is a Management-Information System challenge. Leo generously donates his time, talents, and resources to Top Dog in spite of his full-time employment with the University of Arizona’s College of Engineering. Since 1991, Leo has done everything from providing general maintenance to assisting in development of the Volunteer class. As a Training Assistant (TA), Leo has one Certified Team to his credit.
Leo has been on the Top Dog’s Board since 1994. Leo’s expertise in electronics and computer technology was instrumental in getting Top Dog’s office up and running. He still consults whenever there is a Management-Information System challenge. Leo generously donates his time, talents, and resources to Top Dog in spite of his full-time employment with the University of Arizona’s College of Engineering. Since 1991, Leo has done everything from providing general maintenance to assisting in development of the Volunteer class. As a Training Assistant (TA), Leo has one Certified Team to his credit.
Joshua Beal - Director
Joshua has been associated with Top Dog since 2011. He grew up in Spokane, Washington and moved to Tucson in 2008. He worked as a crew lead installing natural gas distribution pipeline for businesses and residences. He also worked installing for Direct TV and Cox. In September 2010, Josh had a motorcycle accident leaving him a paraplegic with a traumatic brain injury. He wanted to keep his beloved Rottweiler, Damion. That is when he became involved in Top Dog. Joshua and Damion are Top Dog team #120, certified in 2012. Josh joined the Top Dog board members in 2014, he wanted to help Top Dog in any way he could. Josh and Damion have demonstrated many times how a service dog can help in everyday life. Josh has now trained his second Rottweiler, Vettel. They are Top dog team #145, certified in 2016.
Joshua has been associated with Top Dog since 2011. He grew up in Spokane, Washington and moved to Tucson in 2008. He worked as a crew lead installing natural gas distribution pipeline for businesses and residences. He also worked installing for Direct TV and Cox. In September 2010, Josh had a motorcycle accident leaving him a paraplegic with a traumatic brain injury. He wanted to keep his beloved Rottweiler, Damion. That is when he became involved in Top Dog. Joshua and Damion are Top Dog team #120, certified in 2012. Josh joined the Top Dog board members in 2014, he wanted to help Top Dog in any way he could. Josh and Damion have demonstrated many times how a service dog can help in everyday life. Josh has now trained his second Rottweiler, Vettel. They are Top dog team #145, certified in 2016.
Bette Immel - Communications Director
Born in Queens, New York, Bette watched her parents give back to the community. Her various relocations provided her opportunities to dispense her own “give back” attitude. During her life, Bette always had dogs, cats, and horses. Her passion for animals and youth, and her deep seeded desire to contribute time and effort, led her to “like” organizations. Bette has pitched in, using her talents and experience as a former journalist for 25-years, to help at number of organization. Her efforts include Special Equestrian Riding Therapy, where her abilities doubled both the client and volunteer base, while she also worked with the horses and disabled clients as an equine therapy assistant. Bette’s aspiration also led her to work with the youth and animals for her local 4H organization, where she developed and led the first-ever Literature Project for 4H youth to improve their writing skills. At Top Dog, Bette has designed the organization’s newsletter for which she edits and writes. Her goal is to promote the organization, and bolster its name recognition, search out grants, as well as design and develop Top Dog’s pamphlets and training materials. Disabled herself, Bette is grateful for the opportunity to work with Top Dog.
Born in Queens, New York, Bette watched her parents give back to the community. Her various relocations provided her opportunities to dispense her own “give back” attitude. During her life, Bette always had dogs, cats, and horses. Her passion for animals and youth, and her deep seeded desire to contribute time and effort, led her to “like” organizations. Bette has pitched in, using her talents and experience as a former journalist for 25-years, to help at number of organization. Her efforts include Special Equestrian Riding Therapy, where her abilities doubled both the client and volunteer base, while she also worked with the horses and disabled clients as an equine therapy assistant. Bette’s aspiration also led her to work with the youth and animals for her local 4H organization, where she developed and led the first-ever Literature Project for 4H youth to improve their writing skills. At Top Dog, Bette has designed the organization’s newsletter for which she edits and writes. Her goal is to promote the organization, and bolster its name recognition, search out grants, as well as design and develop Top Dog’s pamphlets and training materials. Disabled herself, Bette is grateful for the opportunity to work with Top Dog.
Judy Mendelsohn - Bookkeeper
Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Judy first worked for Chase Manhattan Bank and later as an Assistant Manager in the accounting department of a wholesale meat company. In 1972, she moved to Tucson, Arizona with her family. Utilizing her accounting background, Judy worked for the largest building company in Tucson, and subsequently a local accounting firm. After taking some time off, she worked for a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization. Her personal life was centered on her German Shepherd dogs, which she raised and showed for 28-years. During that time, Judy learned how to run dog shows and matches. Additionally, she did all of the financials for the German Shepherd Dog Club of America Futurity System, which consisted of nine separate futurities per year. She held this position for 5-years, ending in 2012. Judy’s 30-years of accounting experience is invaluable to the organization.
Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Judy first worked for Chase Manhattan Bank and later as an Assistant Manager in the accounting department of a wholesale meat company. In 1972, she moved to Tucson, Arizona with her family. Utilizing her accounting background, Judy worked for the largest building company in Tucson, and subsequently a local accounting firm. After taking some time off, she worked for a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization. Her personal life was centered on her German Shepherd dogs, which she raised and showed for 28-years. During that time, Judy learned how to run dog shows and matches. Additionally, she did all of the financials for the German Shepherd Dog Club of America Futurity System, which consisted of nine separate futurities per year. She held this position for 5-years, ending in 2012. Judy’s 30-years of accounting experience is invaluable to the organization.
Tim O’Leary - Director
Tim and his wife Joyce Ann relocated to Arizona in 2001, leaving behind New England, where they had lived for many years. Tim’s background includes Education, Sales and Marketing. He was a College Department Chairman, President of the Faculty Association and taught several courses in the History Department at the University of Arizona. He also had an extensive career with several Fortune 500 Companies. Following his retirement in 2001, he joined Long Realty Company as a Senior Housing Specialist where he first became aware of Top Dog. Tim retired from Long Realty in 2012; his second retirement, last one! Tim is committed to Top Dog and its mission and is proud to be associated with an extraordinary group of staff, volunteers, and Board Members.
Tim and his wife Joyce Ann relocated to Arizona in 2001, leaving behind New England, where they had lived for many years. Tim’s background includes Education, Sales and Marketing. He was a College Department Chairman, President of the Faculty Association and taught several courses in the History Department at the University of Arizona. He also had an extensive career with several Fortune 500 Companies. Following his retirement in 2001, he joined Long Realty Company as a Senior Housing Specialist where he first became aware of Top Dog. Tim retired from Long Realty in 2012; his second retirement, last one! Tim is committed to Top Dog and its mission and is proud to be associated with an extraordinary group of staff, volunteers, and Board Members.
