Team Members

Jeff Dill

Founder, CEO & Instructor

North America Region

  • (847) 209-8208 jdill@ffbha.org

In 2009, founder Jeff Dill, organized Counseling Services for Fire Fighters. CSFF was established based on the tragic events that surrounded Hurricane Katrina. When speaking with firefighters who returned after serving the community of New Orleans, he heard the pleas of firefighters who had a difficult time talking with counselors who did not have any firefighting experience. They became frustrated and never did seek the help they needed. It was CSFF mission to offer behavioral health workshops to support firefighters, train senior officers and educate clinicians on the benefits of understanding the life and emotions of firefighters. On 12/31/14, CSFF donated all of their intellectual property to FBHA.

In 2011, Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance was organized based on the decreasing funds available for training at the Fire Department level and the staggering number of firefighter suicides. FBHA was established to directly educate firefighters/ Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel and their families about behavioral health issues such as depression, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), anxiety and addictions, as well as firefighter suicides. Through businesses, community support and sponsorships, it is our hope that the workshops and services will be offered at low cost or no charge to those in need.

Jeff holds a master’s degree and is a NBCC Licensed Counselor. He is a retired Captain from Palatine Rural Fire Protection District in Inverness, Illinois and is a member of the American Counseling Association and National Board of Certified Counselors.

As of July 1, 2021, Jeff accepted a position with the Las Vegas Fire & Rescue as their Behavioral Health Administrator.

Jeff Dill, and those working with FBHA, are dedicated to educating firefighters and emergency service personnel on the importance of behavioral health and suicide awareness.

Robert C. Simmons

Outreach Team & Instructor

National Region

  • (931) 625-2346 rsimmons@ffbha.org

Robert is a 21 year veteran of the fire service, and currently serves as an Deputy Chief in a career fire department in Alabama. His career has taken him around the globe as a volunteer and paid firefighter.  He began his service as a volunteer in his home of Lincoln County, TN.  Shortly after high school, he enlisted in the Army as a firefighter.  Subsequently, he has served in various capacities as a career firefighter.

Robert holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Fire Service Administration from Waldorf University and a Master’s Degree in Pastoral Counseling with a concentration in crisis response and trauma from Liberty University. He is passionate about helping first responders and veterans build coping skills and resiliency and stopping suicide amongst their ranks. He believes that stress management programs and practices are an essential part of building a resilient first responder.

Robert currently resides in Alabama with his beautiful wife Kristi and their rambunctious sons, Baylor and Cash. If he’s not enjoying the blessing of being a fire service professional, you can usually find him with his boys sneaking into a tree stand somewhere looking for a big whitetail buck.

Paul Bearce

Outreach Team & Instructor

North America Region

  • (505) 321-5562 pbearce@ffbha.org

Paul has recently retired as Chief of Rio Rancho Fire Rescue after serving the community for the past 25 years.

Paul has always been a life-long learner and pursued training and education throughout his life, especially during his fire service tenure. Paul has attained a Bachelor’s Degree (journalism) from University of Utah, Paramedic Training Academy from the University of New Mexico, Master’s Degree (Emergency Services Management) from Columbia Southern University, Executive Fire Officer from the U.S. Fire Administration/National Fire Academy, Chief Fire Officer designation from the Center for Public Safety Excellence, Graduate Certificate (Disaster Mental Health) from the University of South Dakota. His proudest achievements include supporting behavioral health initiatives at Rio Rancho Fire Rescue and throughout New Mexico, and across the country.

Paul resides in New Mexico with his wife of over 40 years. They have two sons and four grandchildren. He enjoys spending time with family, fly fishing, camping, hiking, backcountry travel, and staying active. He is also focusing on learning the importance of self-care.

Kirk Gitt

Outreach Team
North America Region

  • (717) 601-4387 kgitt@ffbha.org

Kirk lives in Carlisle, PA with his wife and attend the Carlisle Alliance Church. They have 2 daughters and 4 grandchildren. Kirk enjoys playing golf, while his is not an avid golfer, he enjoys taking his clubs for a walk on the course. Kirk has been serving in fire and EMS for well over 45 years. During those years, he has served on the Cumberland County Haz-Mat team for 10 years. He was a deputy chief for the Cumberland County Mass Casualty Response Team and is currently a full time EMT and Instructor for Penn State Health Life Lion. Kirk has also earned a bachelor’s degree in theology and Christian counseling through Northwestern Theology and Seminary. He serves on the Cumberland County CISM team, and I is the
Chaplain for Silver Springs Twp. EMS and Carlisle Fire and Rescue. Kirk is also involved with helping out at the local Salvation Army soup kitchen and The American Red Cross on the spiritual care team. Kirk says, “God has called me to help my community and my fellow emergency services brothers and sisters as a chaplain to help them through trying times.”

Julie Bevers

Resident Chaplain

North America Region

  • (916) 671-9788 juliebevers@gmail.com

Julie Bevers has been the resident Chaplain for FBHA for a few years now and is an integral part of our Fire, EMS and dispatch survivor families program. Here is a little information about Julie and her vast experience.

Julie wants to live in a world where people allow themselves to laugh like a loon when something is funny, and cry as much as they want to cry when they feel sad, judgement-free from others and themselves.

Julie’s mission to serve 1st Responders and their families needing support began years ago when she saw the need in the fire service. She combines her experiences as the wife of a firefighter for 25 years, a Life Coach (she is affectionately known as “The Marriage Whisperer”), and a Trauma & Crisis Chaplain. As if these skills weren’t enough, Julie continually seeks out the very best training opportunities and resources so she can stay relevant and ready to serve 1st Responders.

When she’s not working as a Coach or Chaplain, Julie loves to spend time with her friends and family. She especially enjoys date nights with her husband, making her 3 adult children’s eyes roll, and giggling with her granddaughter.

Emily Stakes

Office Assistant

North America Region

  • (480) 271-5380 estakes@ffbha.org

Emily is a 2007 graduate from The University of Illinois Chicago with a degree in Marketing Communications.
During her college years, she had multiple internships specializing Marketing and Customer Communication. She spent the following years after college working as a Flight Attendant for United Airlines.

Emily is also a custom floral designer and enjoys traveling, watching football and spending time with her family and friends. She currently resides in Phoenix, Arizona with her 4 children and 2 dogs.