Join us in our mission to create lasting social change in Ember's Paws of Hope and beyond.
Building a Brighter Future Together
Join us in our mission to create lasting social change in Ember's Paws of Hope and beyond.
A Special Thank You to...
Ember's Paws of Hope
Ember's Paws of Hope: Serving First Responders and Veterans
We are a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing emotional and mental support to first responders and veterans through the use of future certified therapy dog(s). Members of our team have a diverse background which include being trained in critical incident stress management and peer support, and we visit fire stations, police stations, hospitals, and veterans facilities to offer comfort and companionship to those who serve our communities.
Moments of Hope: Our Journey in Photos
Get To Know Our Team!
Disclaimer
We are not clinically trained professionals and do not assume legal responsibility for clinical decisions. As a peer support group, our goal is to provide valuable resources and support to fellow first responders, healthcare workers, and veterans.
If you are experiencing an immediate crisis, please call 911.
Timothy 'Tim' Nickels- Founder
Timothy Nickels is the founder of Ember’s Paws of Hope, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing comfort and support through therapy dog visits to fire stations, police stations, and VA homes. Inspired by his own journey with complex PTSD, Tim strives to create a compassionate space for first responders and veterans who may need emotional support. A seasoned entrepreneur, Tim has a history of growing businesses, including a successful landscaping company, and he credits his involvement in Business Network International (BNI) for helping him build strong connections and drive growth. His mission is to bring hope and healing to those who serve our communities.
Halligan 'Hallie' Nickels
Halligan, or ‘Hallie,’ Nickels is Ember’s Paws of Hope’s first dog in training to become a therapy dog. With her loving personality and natural ability to bring joy to any room, she’s the perfect fit for the role. Named after Ember’s mom, she’s got big shoes to fill—but she’s more than ready for the challenge. Hallie enjoys food, snuggles, and napping in the sun. Though we suspect she’s completely deaf, her disability doesn’t slow her down. She’s excited to meet many new friends along the way!
Odelle Bowman- President
Stephen 'Steve' Plympton Jr. - Vice President
Steve has over 30 years of Public Safety experience, starting out in 1993 as a volunteer Firefighter and EMT and also as a 911 Dispatcher. He retired as a Dispatcher after 20 years of service and chose to continue his career as a Firefighter and Paramedic. He currently works as a Career Lieutenant with Buxton Fire-Rescue in Buxton, Maine.
He has been married to the love of his life, Tracey, since 2007 and they have 2 successfully grown children (Chelsea and Matt) along with the sweetest Golden Retriever (Emma), and 3 wicked cool cats (Stewart, Oliver and Smudge).
Steve got involved with Ember’s Paws of Hope at the request of our Founder Tim Nickels. Steve has known Tim since they worked together at Sebago EMS in 2012, and based on Steve's extensive history in the Public Safety realm and a long held desire to focus on the mental health of Public Safety professionals, Steve knew it would be a perfect fit!
Get to Know Our Team- Continued
Hannah-Bea Robbins- Secretary
Hannah-Bea is a Maine native. She is a graduate of University of Maine at Augusta in Mental Health & Human Services. She has worked in the
mental health field for fifteen years in a variety of capacities. One of the unique experiences she has been a part of was volunteering with some of her peers after Hurricane Katrina in rebuilding efforts. While living in Texas, Hannah-Bea worked as a Victim Advocate for a Police
Department, while working with the Police Department, Hannah-Bea serviced as a Peer Support member in the PD’s Peer Support Team. She also served as a Mental Health Peer on the
County’s CISM (Critical Incident Stress Management) Team.
Why Ember’s Paws? Knowing Tim for nearly a decade and seeing the benefits of a therapy dog and the positive impact Hallie and other dogs have had on his life. Hannah-Bea feels like Tim’s mission will have a lasting positive impact on others! She have also seen therapy dogs with the victims that she has worked with as well as these dogs participate in CISM debriefs and Hannah-Bea believes that Ember’s Paws of Hope can make a difference.
Sibylle Kinley- Treasurer
Sibylle has over thirty years’ experience in corporate life, with a focus on Corporate Travel Management & Commercial Real Estate sectors. Throughout her career, Sibylle worked with senior level executives of Fortune 500 companies including American Express, Thomas Cook, Xerox and UST. She was a longtime Wilton, Connecticut resident where she was active in the community by volunteering and holding board positions for various organizations. Sibylle was President of the Wilton, CT High School PTSA and Co-Chaired the Wilton PTA Council.
She has been a member of the Wilton Student Financial Aid Committee (WSFAC) since 2012, a non-profit that helps fund need-based college education for any eligible Wilton, CT student. She served as Chair for WSFAC from 2015-2020 and is now serving as the Committee’s Account Manager.
In 2021 she moved to Maine and has since retired from corporate life but continues to be active in three non-profit organizations. Sibylle continues to represent WSFAC as Account Manager, serves as the Assistant Treasurer for Team Long Run - a registered non-profit that uses active play and reading to give kids living in rural Maine communities a brighter future and has joined the Team for Ember’s Paws of Hope as Treasurer hoping to bring support to all of our first responders whenever needed.
Sibylle lives with her husband, Dan. In her spare time, she enjoys birding, photography and exploring State and National Parks.
Kimberly 'Kim' Nickels
A proud New Hampshire native, Kim now calls Steep Falls, ME home, where she lives with my husband, two kiddos, two Dalmatians, an exchange student, and a set of in-laws—keeping life anything but quiet! She is a PICU nurse and pediatric clinical instructor, balancing shifts, patient care, and teaching. Outside of work, she stays deeply engaged in her community through various hospital committees and local organizations. Kim also spent 15 years in public safety, trained as a paramedic, and was actively involved in the fire service. Her nursing career has kept her busy since 2006, with experience in various ICU settings.
Kim thrives on being busy—whether it's managing a dynamic household, meeting new people, or diving into the latest project her husband has dreamed up. In her rare moments of downtime, she loves reading, traveling, crafting, and spending quality time with her family.
After years of navigating mental health challenges within their family, Tim and Kim recognized the importance of giving back. Tim’s background as a first responder, combined with Kim's family's history in public service, made it clear that many others in similar fields were facing their own struggles. When Tim’s diagnosis came to light after a year of unexplained symptoms, everything began to make sense. From there, they made it their mission to raise awareness and share their knowledge, hoping to help others—and perhaps even save lives in the process.
Life may be chaotic, but it’s incredibly fulfilling, and Kim wouldn’t have it any other way!
Support Ember's Paws of Hope
Help us make a difference by making a donation to Ember's Paws of Hope. Every contribution counts!
Our Organization is a 501(c)(3) and can accept check donations. Please mail them to the address below, made payable to Ember's Paws of Hope.
