Meet the Team
Meet the Faces Making a Difference for First Responders
At the Colorado Firefighters Foundation (COLFF), our dedicated team works tirelessly to support Colorado’s firefighters and first responders. From leadership to program coordinators, each member brings a passion for safety, health, and community.
Meet, Stephen
Stephen John Trujillo is a 39-year veteran of the Del Norte Fire Department from a family with over 150 years of combined service. He also served ten years as an EMT for Del Norte Ambulance and ten years with the Rio Grande Sheriff’s Office as Dispatch Detention Sergeant, including six years as Emergency Manager. A longtime leader in the Colorado State Firefighters Association—including serving as President—he was also the first Hispanic president of the San Luis Valley Fire Fighter Association. Stephen is married with two daughters and several rescue pets and now focuses on supporting Colorado firefighters with equipment, gear, and mental health resources.
Meet, Paul
Paul Acosta is a 32-year retired veteran and past Chief of the Brush Volunteer Fire Department, now active at the national level. He completed four terms as President of the Colorado State Firefighters Association and served on the National Volunteer Fire Council from 2014–2024, finishing as Second Vice Chair. Paul also serves on NFPA Technical Committees, represents the fire service on NFPA 3000, and has appeared in national campaigns with First Alert, Anheuser-Busch, and NBC’s Today show to promote volunteer firefighting. He holds numerous firefighting and rescue certifications, is an instructor for safety and emergency management courses, and teaches CPR and Safesitter in his community. Paul and his wife Teresa have three married children and seven grandchildren.
Meet, Sherri
Sherri Delozier-Trujillo serves as Board Secretary of the Firefighters Foundation, where she supports governance, records, and communication while advancing initiatives in fire prevention, training, safety, and mental health. She brings 42 years of federal service, leadership in nonprofit organizations, and decades of community involvement. Sherri previously led a Southern Colorado animal rescue, transforming it into a no-kill shelter, and later served as president of “Cats Alive,” a group dedicated to rescuing and rehoming cats. She has also supported the fire service for over 30 years as a firefighter’s wife and as part of a U.S. Forest Service wildland firefighting team.
Meet, Ray
I was born and raised in Wiggins, Colorado, where small-town values shaped my life. After studying Criminal Justice, I began my career with the Colorado Department of Corrections in 2003 and joined the fire service the same year.
I served with the Wiggins and Brush Volunteer Fire Departments, becoming Assistant Chief in 2012 and Fire Chief in 2025. Along the way, I married my wife Michelle and became a proud stepdad to Hanna and Mollie.
I’m passionate about the fire service, especially mental health and wellness for firefighters, and I’m honored to serve on the board of the Colorado Firefighters Foundation.
Meet, Tad
I have dedicated 33 years to the Fire Service, including 19 years with the Castle Rock Fire Department as a career firefighter, Lieutenant and Captain. I have served 33 years as a volunteer firefighter with Brush Volunteer Fire Department. Holding leadership roles, Captain for 10 years and Chief of the Department for 12 years.