OUR TEAM

Tim Rochford

EXECUTOR ROCHFORD FOUNDATION

Kate Salvesen

DIRECTOR ROCHFORD FOUNDATION-BURRAGE MANSION

Ellen Timothy

DIRECTOR EMERITUS ROCHFORD FOUNDATION-BURRAGE MANSION

Leonard Smith

FOUNDING SUPERINTENDENT BURRAGE MANSION

Laura Leyves

MANAGER BURRAGE MANSION

Dianna Lawson

VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR BURRAGE MANSION

OUR TEAM

Tim Rochford

EXECUTOR ROCHFORD FOUNDATION

Tim grew up in Redlands and graduated from Redlands High School in 1965.

He founded and developed multiple, successful oil and natural gas companies, most notably Texas-based Arena Resources and RING Energy, Inc., both NYSE-listed companies.

Tim has purchased and restored several historic buildings in downtown Redlands. He acquired the Burrage Mansion in 2007 and soon thereafter established the Rochford Foundation.

Tim married his high school sweetheart, Carol Drewitz, in 1967. Their primary residence is in Rancho Mirage, but both consider Redlands their “hometown.” Tim and Carol have two children, two grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren

Kate Salvesen

DIRECTOR ROCHFORD FOUNDATION-BURRAGE MANSION

Kate has her MBA from the University of Redlands. She is new to the team at the Rochford Foundation and has previously been the Board Chair for Redlands Community Hospital and the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Redlands-Riverside. A previous winner of the Town & Gown Award of Distinction, she cares deeply about underserved youth in the communities we serve. Kate was president of La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries for 30 years and wants the next phase of her life dedicated to making a difference. Kate has two married daughters and three granddaughters and loves “Girl Power,” family activities, and travel.

Ellen Timothy

DIRECTOR EMERITUS ROCHFORD FOUNDATION-BURRAGE MANSION

Ellen met Tim Rochford in 2008 and soon after became director of the newly established Rochford Foundation-Burrage Mansion. She implemented and managed the children’s programs and adult activities, suggested toys and equipment Tim should buy for the kids and served as the foundation’s liaison to the Redlands community for 14 years.

Ellen holds master’s degrees in theater arts and multicultural education and a Ph.D. from the University of Washington in philosophy of education. She taught theater and directed plays for both universities and community theaters, and later taught women’s studies, education and teacher training.

Ellen married her high school sweetheart, John Farley, in 2004 and moved from Seattle to Redlands. She has two children and four grandchildren.

Leonard Smith

FOUNDING SUPERINTENDENT BURRAGE MANSION

When Tim bought the Burrage Mansion, he asked his childhood friend Leonard to be superintendent in charge of the restoration, upgrades, and maintenance of the mansion and grounds.

Leonard’s family moved to Redlands when he was 12 years old. He attended Redlands High School and then worked as an auto technician for General Motors throughout the Inland Empire for 30 years.

Leonard married his high-school sweetheart, Sandra Fey, in 1965. They live in Yucaipa and have three children, 11 grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.

Laura Leyves

MANAGER BURRAGE MANSION

Laura is the manager at the Burrage Mansion. She supervises the grounds crew and maintenance of the Burrage as well as overseeing events activities held here. Laura previously served as the manager of Martha Green’s Dough’Lectibles as well as O’ Flanary’s Emporium, both in Redlands.

Laura is married and has four children. She is very active with girls softball programs at all the local high schools and the Youth Softball Program in Redlands, and is a long-time leader of the Redlands Chapter of the National Charity League. Laura is very active throughout the Redlands community and helps everyone she knows in some capacity or another.

Dianna Lawson

VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR BURRAGE MANSION

Dianna has been a valuable part of the Rochford Foundation for several years. She coordinates volunteer programs at the Burrage Mansion and assists with A Burrage Christmas and the yearly flag-raising ceremony. She recruits volunteers for Christmas decorating and recently initiated Garden Workdays and Adopt-a-Flower-Bed programs to help beautify the grounds around the Burrage property. Dianna was the long-time Director of Micah House Chapel, and seven years ago, she founded the nonprofit Mansion Memories. Born and raised in the Inland Empire, Dianna married her high school sweetheart Brian. They have two grown children.

She loves to serve her community and is a member of the Noon Rotary, Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, and the Redlands Conservancy Outdoor Ambassadors.