Aimery Thomas has more than 25 years of experience in delivering outcomes across market and social research, strategy, organizational development and design, change, process improvement, and transformation, guiding executives and managers of public and private sector organizations in the United States, Australia, and the Asia-Pacific region to achieve quality, efficiency, and­ effectiveness in operations and service delivery. Aimery earned a Master of Public Administration from the University of Southern California, a Master of Arts in International Relations from the Australian National University, and is currently undertaking an Ph.D. in Political Science and Psychology (Public Policy / Organizational Behavior) from the Claremont Graduate University - a member of the Claremont Colleges Consortium. His principal practice areas include applied research, strategy, organizational development and design, change management, process improvement, evaluation, and facilitation.

Alexis Rivas is the CEO and cofounder of Cover, a Los Angeles based technology company that designs, permits, manufactures and installs custom backyard homes. His passion for building started in preschool, where his teacher found it necessary to create building block height limitations as a result of his structures. Today, Alexis continues to push the boundaries of the built environment through Cover, using software and manufacturing technology to streamline the entire home building process – from design and permitting, to manufacturing and assembly. His, and Cover’s mission is to make thoughtfully designed and well-built homes for everyone. 

Cover is backed by top tier investors including Founders Fund, Lennar (the largest homebuilder in the USA), Valor Equity Partners, General Catalyst, and Fifty Years, and graduated from the Y Combinator Fellowship program, a leading Silicon Valley startup incubator. 

Andrew King is a seasoned educator and former charter school principal in DTLA with nearly two decades of experience advancing equity and student-centered leadership. After losing his home in the January Eaton Fire, Andrew became deeply engaged in disaster recovery. Now, working with the Department of Angels, Andrew brings a focus on community resilience, adult learning, and trauma-informed recovery, centering joy and justice in every facet of his work.

Angela Giacchetti is a communications leader with more than a decade of experience building teams, growing communities, and driving impact across government, tech, and nonprofits. She currently leads communications for the Department of Angels, bringing the perspective of both a seasoned strategist and an Eaton Fire survivor. Previously, Angela served as Director of Engagement and Interim Executive Director at the Open Mobility Foundation. Her career spans high-growth startups like Bird and Eventbrite, nonprofit leadership, and public service as a District Director for a Member of Congress, where she built strong coalitions and delivered results for one of California’s most diverse districts.

California State Senator Ben Allen represents the 24th Senate District, covering the Westside, Hollywood, South Bay, and Santa Monica Mountains communities of Los Angeles County. Ben was first elected in 2014 and is now serving his third term in the State Senate. He has authored nearly 60 new laws in various areas, from environmental protection to electoral reform.

Ben grew up in the 24th Senate District and attended public schools, graduating from Santa Monica High School in 1996. Ben has a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Harvard University, a Master's degree from the University of Cambridge, and a Juris Doctor degree from UC Berkeley. Fluent in Spanish, Ben is a Senior Fellow with the international human rights organization Humanity in Action. He and his wife Melanie, an attorney, have a son, Ezra, and a daughter, Ena.

Brenda Aguirre serves as the Assistant General Manager for the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks, bringing over 19 years of dedicated public service to the city. Throughout her career, Brenda has held a wide range of leadership roles, including Park Services Supervisor, Emergency Management Coordinator, and Superintendent of Recreation and Parks Operations. Her diverse experience also includes serving as the department’s film liaison to the entertainment industry and as the homeless services coordinator, where she has worked to address critical community needs with compassion and effectiveness.

A native Californian, Brenda holds a bachelor’s degree in Organizational Management and a master’s degree in Public Administration. Her commitment to public service is rooted in a deep passion for creating safe, vibrant, and inclusive public spaces for all Angelenos.

Brent is the Chairman and CEO of the Los Angeles Emergency Preparedness Foundation and the Community Brigade pilot program. He has led crisis management teams in response to over 70 events in 49 countries, working with heads of state, elected officials, and military commanders in helping countries and local communities address the loss of life, operational challenges, and collaborative efforts needed to stabilize and manage catastrophic events. As a negotiator and advisor, Brent has been called upon to work with multiple government agencies, including the US Department of State, the Department of Defense, FEMA, UN agencies, and foreign governments. In 2023, Brent created the the LA County Fire Dept. Community Brigade, supported by the County Board of Supervisors. In 2024 the Community Brigade responded to the Franklin Fire and the Palisades Fire in 2025.

Brian Rothschild created the non-profit John Lennon Educational Tour Bus with Yoko Ono Lennon and has since expanded the project around the world with support from corporate sponsors including Apple, Dolby, NVIDIA, Montblanc, Blackmagic Design, Avid, Taylor Guitars, Roland, SSL, Genelec, Adobe, Juniper Networks, and many more. Today, Lennon Bus Europe and Lennon Bus U.S. focus on career path development and provide young people with free hands-on opportunities to create original digital media projects, including music, videos, short films, documentaries, and live productions reflective of their ideas and concerns.  

Brian has been a frequent spokesperson, appearing on the Today Show, CBS Evening News, Good Morning America, ITV, BBC, Fox News, MTV, E! News, countless local market TV and radio shows and at events and conferences including NVIDIA GTC, SXSW, UNESCO Youth Forum, NAMM Show, TED, NAB, IBC, Apple ADE, CES, Salzburg Global Seminar, AES, and Musikmesse.

Anthony (Andoni) Kastros is a 32-year veteran of the fire service and Battalion Chief with Sacramento Metro Fire District (ret). He brings a wide variety of experiences, a high level of energy, and a sincere passion to his instruction.

He is the author of the Fire Engineering book and video series, Mastering the Fire Service Assessment Center – 2nd Edition. The curriculum covers an extremely comprehensive scope of the knowledge, skills, and abilities that span the dimensions of leadership, management, and emergency operations.  It is used widely throughout the United States for officer development.

Chief Daniel Berlant was appointed California’s State Fire Marshal by the Governor in 2023. In this role, he leads the state’s fire prevention efforts, overseeing programs that include building and fire code development, state building inspections, fire protection licensing, wildfire prevention, pipeline safety, and firefighter training and certification. Chief Berlant has served with CAL FIRE since 2001, holding a variety of leadership positions throughout his career.

Chief Bigelow began his CAL FIRE career in 2004 as a Fire Fighter I at the Ahwahnee station in the Madera-Mariposa-Merced Unit (MMU). In 2013, Chief Bigelow promoted to Fire Captain at the Columbia Air Attack Base in the Tuolumne-Calaveras Unit (TCU) working as the Air Tanker Base Manager. At the end of the 2013 fire season, he accepted a permanent Fire Captain position in MMU as the Pre-Fire Engineer. In 2020, Frank then promoted to the Deputy Chief of the then-called Wildfire Prevention Engineering Division in the Office of the State Fire Marshal, where he oversaw five statewide programs. In 2021, he accepted a Staff Chief position in the newly created Community Wildfire Preparedness & Mitigation Division, overseeing eight statewide programs. Most recently, Chief Bigelow was the Assistant Deputy Director (ADD) of Community Wildfire Preparedness & Mitigation, the ADD of Fire Engineering & Investigations, and oversaw the division’s support services section.

Chief Bigelow began his CAL FIRE career in 2004 as a Fire Fighter I at the Ahwahnee station in the Madera-Mariposa-Merced Unit (MMU). In 2013, Chief Bigelow promoted to Limited Term Fire Captain at the Columbia Air Attack Base in the Tuolumne-Calaveras Unit (TCU) working as the Air Tanker Base Manager. In 2017, he promoted to Battalion Chief as the Southern Region Pre-Fire Coordinator. In 2020, Frank then promoted to the Deputy Chief of the then-called Wildfire Prevention Engineering Division in the Office of the State Fire Marshal, where he oversaw five statewide programs. In 2021, he accepted a Staff Chief position in the newly created Community Wildfire Preparedness & Mitigation Division, overseeing eight statewide programs. Most recently, Chief Bigelow was the Assistant Deputy Director (ADD) of Community Wildfire Preparedness & Mitigation, the ADD of Fire Engineering & Investigations, and oversaw the division’s support services section.

Jose de Jesus (J.) Lopez, was named to the State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection by Governor Gavin Nersom in 2021. Lopez was Assistant Chief of the Forestry Division at the Los Angeles County Fire Department from 1987 to 2020. He is a member of the California Fire Safe Council Board of Directors, Society of American Foresters, California Fire Science Consortium Advisory Committee, California Licensed Foresters Association and the California Urban Forests Council. He currently serves as the Executive Director of the California Wildfire Mitigation Program.

Kim Zagaris or Chief Z as some call him, is currently the Wildfire Policy and Technology Advisor for the Western Fire Chiefs Association. His position is new, created in response to the destructive wildfires that have unfolded across the West.
 Zagaris retired as State Fire and Rescue Chief for the State of California, Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), a position he held for 18 years. He has an extensive background in fire service, emergency management, and homeland security, which includes working with local, state, federal, and international agencies over his 48-year fire service career. During his time, he served under six Governors and has been actively involved in every major and catastrophic emergency in California, as well as several in the nation.

Chloe Canton is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and owner of Beach Cities Child and Family Therapy, a private practice located in the South Bay area of Los Angeles. Her practice specializes in therapeutic services for children, adolescents and families. In addition to her clinical work, Chloe works with local school districts and community organizations to provide mental health education and support through speaking engagements, assemblies and workshops.

Chris Nevil is Captain and Public Information Officer for MySafe:LA. He has been a member of the organization for 15 years, and has a 35 year background in emergency preparedness through prior volunteer leadership roles with the American Red Cross and LAFD CERT.

Chris Stine is a Fire Captain with the Los Angeles City Fire Department, currently serving as the President of the Los Angeles Firemen’s Relief Association (LAFRA) and the Widows, Orphan’s and Disabled Firefighters' Fund.  Chris was born and raised in Los Angeles and has served the citizens of Los Angeles for the past 24 years.  Chris is married to his wife, Lauren, and has two daughters, Caitlyn and Christa.  Chris has served as a trustee for LAFRA for the past 20 years and has been president for the last three.  Even though Chris has had the opportunity to serve in many capacities with the LAFD, his work with LAFRA has been the most impactful and rewarding by far.  Chris looks forward to many more opportunities to serve the community and the men and women who protect the great city of Los Angeles. 

Dante Cornejo is a Captain in the Safe Community Project and is responsible for wildfire mitigation in Los Angeles. 

David Barrett is the Executive Officer of the Safe Community Project.

Dr. Christopher Potter is an Earth Scientist with 35 years of experience working at NASA Ames Research Center.  He has published more than 200 scientific articles in peer-reviewed research journals on wildfires, carbon cycling, and satellite data analysis.  He is currently a Principal Investigator on the NASA Soil-Moisture-Active-Passive satellite mission science team, and on NASA’s Climate Adaptation Science Investigators program, which was awarded the 2024 Blue Marble award that recognizes excellence demonstrated in environmental and energy management in support of NASA's mission.

Dr. Nicole Maccalla lives in Altadena, California. She was displaced from the Eaton Fire and has recently been able to return home after it was structurally repaired and remediated. She is deeply invested in long-term fire recovery efforts with Eaton Fire Residents United (EFRU), the Eaton Fire Collaborative (EFC), and the Fire-Resilient Bioremediation and Landscape Recovery Consortium. She is a Master Lecturer for the University of Southern California (USC) and the Director of Evaluation and Improvement for the Southern California Clinical Translational Science Institute (SC CTSI). 

Dr. Seth John is a Professor in the Earth Sciences Department at the University of Southern California. Seth is an oceanographer whose scientific research explores the role of metals as micronutrients for life in the ocean, including the use of metal stable isotopes to track sources of metals to seawater and the role of iron in stimulating nitrogen fixation and carbon drawdown in the oceans.

Dr. Travis Longcore is Adjunct Professor and Co-Chair of the Environmental Science and Engineering Program at the UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, Science Director of The Urban Wildlands Group, a Los Angeles-based conservation nonprofit, and an independent ecological design and environmental policy consultant.  He is a 28-year member of the Los Angeles County Environmental Review Board.  Longcore has also served as President of the Board of Directors of the Los Angeles Audubon Society (2010-2015, 2020-present) and on the Board of the Bel Air-Beverly Crest Neighborhood Council, where he represents custodians of open space and also serves as President (2021–present).  Dr. Longcore’s research is focused on urban ecology, and makes use of diverse statistical tools, fieldwork, and geographic information systems.

A Southern California native and a dedicated mental health professional, Dr. Veronica Viesca has a deep understanding of the diverse communities she serves. With a profound commitment to helping individuals and families thrive, she provides personalized therapy experiences at The Center for Mental Health Excellence (CFMHE), guiding clients on paths of growth and healing.

Dr. Viesca earned a Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of San Diego and a PhD in Marriage and Family Therapy from Loma Linda University. As an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Pepperdine University, she brings her research expertise and clinical acumen to both the classroom and her clinical practice, ensuring that her work is grounded in the latest advancements in the field. As the founder of CFMHE, she is dedicated to advancing the field of mental health through research and innovation.https://cfmhe.org/

Enid Arana is a wildfire coordinator for the MySafe:Riverside, a division of the Safe Community Project.

Erica Peng has worked with over 1500 business leaders, social entrepreneurs, and change agents as a faculty lecturer at UC Berkeley Haas School of Business and an executive coach. She helps leaders and teams understand – and interrupt – how our automatic and unconscious fight-flight-freeze reactions like defensiveness, resistance, blame, criticism, withdrawal, etc. can undermine leadership, communication, morale, and team results, especially in destabilizing conditions of crisis and uncertainty. Drawing on her personal experience organizing neighbors to be more prepared amidst on-going wildfire threats, Erica is partnering with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) to apply neuroscience and behavioral psychology to efforts focused on reducing wildfire risks, as well as recovering from the trauma of wildfires and other disasters. More information go to her website: www.ericapengconnects.com. Erica can be reached at erica@ericapengconnects.com

Eunisses Hernandez is a community organizer, a daughter of Mexican immigrants, and a lifelong District 1 resident. Since taking office in December 2022, Councilmember Hernandez has prioritized a Care First agenda that focuses on investing in community care, workforce development, social services, and harm-reduction programs that help make our neighborhoods safer and healthier places for all Angelenos.

Ford Ainslie is the Director of Partnerships and Growth at BurnBot, where he leads the charge in building relationships and collaborations that bring innovative wildfire prevention technology to the people and organizations that need it most. Ford’s work sits at the intersection of sustainability, technology, and impact - helping utilities, land managers, and public agencies adopt smarter, safer, and more scalable ways to manage vegetation and reduce wildfire risk. With a background in business development and a passion for climate resilience, Ford focuses on driving growth through meaningful partnerships that create both environmental and community benefits.

Gadi founded FireDome in early 2024 and holds the position of CEO. The company is developing an HW/SW system to safeguard assets from wildfires by providing multiple layers of protection. Before FireDome, Gadi founded a Climate Tech startup (Carbon Twist) that tackled methane emissions. Gadi had a 14-year-long career in the Israeli Defense Intelligence (Lieutenant Colonel Res.), holding key senior positions in multiple units. During his service, Gadi commanded over a hundred top-tier engineers and scientists to initiate and execute dozens of projects at the core of Israel’s defense strategy. Gadi has two degrees in chemistry and several awards granted during his military service.

Greg Doyle is a veteran wildfire photographer whose work has been featured in fire service magazines and websites. He is the official photographer of MySafe:LA.

Jason Brooks is the CEO and co-founder of Fire Aside, a public-private technology platform helping communities adapt and prepare for wildfire.    Fire Aside is now used by local fire agencies, non-profits and Home Owner Associations in 10 states and has delivered millions of personalized recommendations to property owners.   Jason has previously been an executive and founder in several data and technology companies.  He has an MBA from the University of Florida and was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Uzbekistan. 

Jennifer Gray Thompson is a resident of Sonoma County, a Tubbs Fire survivor, and the founder and the Founder and CEO of the non-profit, After the Fire.

Jerry Puga is a Captain with the Los Angeles Fire Department. He lives in Altadena with his wife and two children.

Jessica Fernandez is a visionary storyteller at the forefront of cybersecurity, AI, and digital transformation. Previously, as Head of Technology Communications at Amazon Studios, she led global campaigns showcasing groundbreaking advancements like Amazon's virtual production at Stage 15.

Jessica is deeply connected to her roots in Altadena, where she was born and raised. With the destruction of her family's home, she has experienced firsthand the devastation of the Eaton Fire. In response, she has dedicated herself to philanthropy, working with Lift International to spearhead relief efforts, support affected families, and preserve Altadena’s historically Black community. Passionate about both innovation and community resilience, Jessica is committed to shaping the future—whether through groundbreaking technology or meaningful social impact.

Jim Kniss was raised in West Covina, and after a stint in the U.S. Army he moved to Ventura and where he's been a resident for 50 years. Jim started his mapping career with the Ventura County Public Works agency in 1980. 

In 1995 he moved to the Ventura County Fire Department as the GIS analyst responsible for the integrity of the 911 centerline used for emergency response. Jim has responded to many wildfires, floods and hurricanes throughout his career.

In 2016 Jim started working with Ventura Regional Fire Safe Council designing and developing Ranch Plans. In 2020 Jim joined Team Rubicon, a veteran disaster volunteer organization. He is currently the Metro Administrator for the central coast. In 2023 Jim became the sales manager for Beacon Boxes. Jim feels very strongly that  Beacon Boxes can truly assist incoming engines with their situational awareness as they enter unfamiliar neighborhoods in a fire fight.

Joel founded Bright Harbor after witnessing a close friend lose their home in a wildfire, exposing the overwhelming challenges of disaster recovery. As Founder & CEO, he is using technology to transform how individuals and communities recover from crises. A seasoned entrepreneur, Joel has built and sold multiple companies and has invested in and advised more than 50 early-stage ventures across climate adaptation and resilience, health, and AI. His work is driven by a passion for leveraging cutting-edge technology to solve some of the world’s toughest challenges and build companies that create real impact.

Councilmember John Lee is a lifelong public servant, the son of Korean immigrants, and a resident of Council District 12 for over 40 years. He has dedicated his career to the City of Los Angeles and was first elected to serve as Councilmember for the Twelfth District of Los Angeles in a Special Election in 2019. He was elected to his first full term in 2020 and was re-elected in 2024. John’s priorities for Council District 12 and its residents are to increase public safety, support local businesses, deliver core city services and bring quality of life improvements to the community.

Jon Brown is a long-time Pacific Palisades resident, entrepreneur, and community leader with deep roots in the area. A dedicated family man, he built his life here alongside his wife and two children, who attended Palisades Elementary and Methodist Preschool—both of which were tragically lost in the fires. When they weren’t at school, you could often find them at the beach, where Jon, an avid surfer, spent several days a week in the water. For 25 years, Jon has been a DJ, working with some of the biggest names in music and entertainment. He has also spent the past decade building a successful real estate business.

In January 2025, the Palisades Fire destroyed his home, along with 170 others in the Palisades Bowl Mobile Home Park. Since then, he has stepped up as a leading voice for displaced residents, co-chairing the Palisades Bowl Community Partnership and working tirelessly to get his neighbors back home.

JOY CHEN is CEO of the Multicultural Leadership Institute and a former Deputy Mayor of Los Angeles. She has served as a Fortune 500 CEO and Board recruiter, and as a bestselling author in China, where her work empowered millions. Today, she delivers keynotes and training programs that help people everywhere lead with greater authenticity and impact. Her work has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Harvard Business Review, Financial Times, and Vogue China. Chen’s leadership blog went viral in China, propelling her to fame as a bestselling author. Her book, Do Not Marry Before Age 30, became a cultural phenomenon.

She started the Eaton Fire Survivors' Network in the wake of her evacuation in January from her home in Altadena. Their are over 2,500 families in the network to date. 

Justice Tricia Bigelow is a retired municipal and superior court judge as well as a Presiding Justice for the Court of Appeals, Justice Bigelow now works as a mediator for the company Signature Resolution.

Kari Weaver is an Ohio native, mother of three, and a survivor of the Palisades Fire. She is also a successful interior designer who built her business on the belief in the profound impact of people’s surroundings. She joined the non-profit Resilient Palisades to help make her community more resilient to climate change and natural disasters.

Kelly Lynch, a character actor drawn as a leading lady, is celebrated for her varied, challenging roles. She received early praise (and the first of two Independent Spirit Award nominations) as Diane, Matt Dillon’s strung-out girlfriend in Gus Van Sant’s critically acclaimed Drugstore Cowboy. Other notable roles include the sleek villainess in Charlie’s Angels, the sweetly glamorous country doctor opposite Patrick Swayze in Roadhouse, and the Grace Kelly-like 1950’s heiress in Magic City. Currently, Kelly can be seen as the mother of a serial killer in Stephen King and David E Kelly’s Mr. Mercedes on the Peacock Network, and opposite Al Pacino in Gus Van Sant’s feature Dead Man’s Wire.

Lynch, currently President of the Oaks Neighborhood Association, has recently focused on wildfire education and home hardening in her historic Hollywood hillside community, culminating in the Oaks qualifying as an NFPA Firewise USA site.

CAL FIRE Aviation Public Information Officer

President of the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Los Angeles

Marianne Riggins was elected to the Malibu City Council in November 2022. Her term will expire in November 2026. For 17 years, Marianne worked at the City of Malibu in both the Planning and Environmental Sustainability Departments.

Marianne's family moved to Malibu permanently in 1968 when she was 18 months old. She attended Point Dume Elementary School (now Malibu Elementary), Malibu Park Junior High School (now Malibu Middle School) and Santa Monica High School. She also lived in Mammoth Lakes and Bishop, California. 

Marianne is married and has one child who attended Malibu public schools. She has volunteered for many community organizations, including Girl Scouts, Malibu High School Athletic Booster Club, and the SMMUSD Bond Oversight Committee and Facility District Advisory Committee, and she has been involved in many other community activities.

Michele Steinberg is the Wildfire Division Director at the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA®). Since 2002, she has guided the development and growth of the Firewise USA® recognition program, the Wildfire Community Preparedness Day campaign, and Outthink Wildfire™, a policy initiative to end the destruction of communities by wildfire. Michele served on the presidential Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission (2022-2024), developing comprehensive policy recommendations and strategies on better ways to prevent, manage, suppress and recover from wildfires. Michele is a past officer of the International Association of Wildland Fire and a co-founder of the Hazard Mitigation and Disaster Recovery Membership Division of the American Planning Association. She holds a Master of Urban Affairs degree from Boston University, has served as an adjunct professor of emergency management, and as a guest lecturer at numerous universities, including UCLA.

Nicole Vazquez is a wildfire coordinator for the MySafe:Riverside, a division of the Safe Community Project.

Oscar Hood is a government relations and external affairs professional specializing in wildfire prevention and natural resource policy in Southern California. He serves as the Wildfire Prevention County Coordinator for Orange County, working closely with CAL FIRE, OCFA, local governments, and state legislators to advance regional wildfire mitigation strategies.

Oscar helps lead COAST, a multi-agency working group dedicated to proactive wildfire prevention, vegetation management, and community safety. Through his work with the Irvine Ranch Conservancy, he supports large-scale restoration projects, state and federal grant programs, and policy initiatives that bridge the gap between land management, legislation, and on-the-ground resilience.

Passionate about aviation and driven by the desire to fight wildfires in Quebec, Duclos began his aviation career in 1998. To gain the necessary experience, he worked for several bush aviation companies across Canada, honing his skills and developing valuable expertise in the field. His ultimate goal became a reality in 2010 when he joined the Government Air Service. For eight seasons, he has served as an air tanker pilot, playing a crucial role in protecting Quebec’s forests from wildfires. His dedication and experience led him to join the training team, and by the end of 2022, he was promoted to Chief Pilot of the air tanker fleet.

His career has given him the opportunity to experience significant moments, including the 2023 wildfire season—one of the most intense in Quebec’s history—as well as the historic fires that ravaged Los Angeles County last winter. These events highlight the immense challenges faced by the aviation sector in wildfire suppression.

Anthony McFarland is a professional with more than 28 years of experience in corporate training, relationship counseling, and pastor. He teaches multitudes to live high-impact lives as a direct result of his educational and life journey. He is ordained and joined in ministry with his wife of over 34 years, Dr. Micheline McFarland, and pastors with her at Abundant Harvest Christian Center. Now known  as Lift International in Pasadena, CA. His aim is to support people interested in reaching a whole new level of sustainable success spiritually and mentally in their kingdom assignments whether that be ministry, family, personal and or marketplace business.

Pat Hanley is a real estate broker with Berkshire Hathaway, a Director with the California Association of Realtors, the Treasurer of the Ventura Regional Fire Safe Council and a member of Team Rubicon.

Rich Thompson graduated from Penn State in May 1992 with a BS in Meteorology. He joined the National Weather Service in January 1993 as an intern at NWS Chicago. In June 1995, he became a forecaster with NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard  and has been at the Los Angeles/Oxnard office ever since. In 2006, Rich joined the Incident Meteorologist (IMET) program and has been an NWS IMET ever since. In his IMET career, Rich has been dispatched to over 80 wildfires, including the Thomas, Woolsey and Palisades fires. 

Richard Halsey is the Director of the California Chaparral Institute, a non-profit research and educational organization dedicated to the preservation of California's native chaparral ecosystem and supporting the creative spirit inspired by Nature. The Institute promotes an understanding of California’s chaparral ecosystem, the preservation of shrubland habitats, and the critical role nature can play in creating fire-safe communities in a fire-prone environment.

Halsey works with the San Diego Museum of Natural History and teaches natural history throughout the state. He taught biology for over twenty years in both public and private schools, was honored as the Teacher of the Year for San Diego City Schools in 1991, and was awarded the Christa McAuliffe Fellowship in 1994. He is the author of Fire, Chaparral, and Survival in Southern California. Halsey has also been trained as a Type II wildland firefighter.

Ryan Maye Handy is an urban planner whose work has included development permitting, workshop facilitation, and running technical assistance programs to help communities plan for the effects of a changing climate. Connecting with people, learning about their worldviews and challenges, and helping them live well within their chosen landscapes are guiding principles in her work.

Ryan’s expertise supports Headwaters Economics’ Community Planning Assistance for Wildfire program, which has helped more than 80 communities across the country increase their wildfire resilience. Thoughtful urban planning can help communities reduce the threats of wildfire and also rebuild more resilient infrastructure after a disaster. With a master’s degree in urban and regional planning and certified by the American Institute of Certified Planners, Ryan has a particular interest in watershed-level solutions to problems such as post-fire flooding.

Sean Scott is a second-generation restoration contractor and disaster recovery consultant who has spent over 45 years in the construction and restoration industry.  Most of his experience has been involved in the rebuilding of homes and businesses damaged by fires, floods, storms, earthquakes and other natural or man-made disaster events.  Sean has witnessed first-hand the struggles people go through to rebuild their lives and how daunting this process can be, especially for those who have lost their home or become displaced.  Sean embarked on a mission to write a simple easy-to-read disaster recovery road-map to walk survivors step-by-step through the recovery process and raise awareness of the many pitfalls that accompany post-disaster scenarios. Now first responders and disaster relief organizations can have a tool to hand out to people after a disaster event that will not only expedite the recovery process, but also make communities more resilient.

Shari Sinwelski, MS/EdS, LPCC, NCC, is Vice President of Crisis Care at Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services and a nationally recognized leader in suicide prevention and crisis response. With more than 25 years of experience, she has played a pivotal role in shaping crisis care systems across the country, including leadership positions at major hotlines in Florida, Louisiana, and California, and as Deputy Director of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

Sinwelski oversees all suicide prevention services and co-created the widely adopted Survivors of Suicide Attempts (SOSA) support group curriculum. A licensed professional clinical counselor with graduate degrees in mental health counseling from Florida State University, she is a sought-after expert who has advised national media and creative productions on crisis intervention. Her work is driven by a commitment to compassion, resilience, and expanding access to skilled, stigma-free care for people in crisis.

Sierra Kos is the Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer of Extreme Weather Survivors, a critically acclaimed filmmaker, and an award-winning advertising creative known for transforming complex policy into compelling human stories. A veteran of two presidential campaigns, she previously served as President Obama’s Video Director and Producer, where she earned national acclaim for uncovering the personal narratives credited with helping popularize the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare). She later served as Director of Video for the Hillary Clinton campaign, leading a team that produced over 1,000 videos, garnering 1.2 billion views.

In addition to her political work, Kos executive produced a documentary that premiered at Sundance, oversaw a $200 million winning ad campaign for a crucial California ballot measure, and has built and led creative, communications, and public affairs teams in tech and progressive politics.

Silvio Lanzas spent 25 years with CAL FIRE, rising through the ranks from Fire Explorer to Operations Assistant Chief. In that capacity, he served as the de facto Fire Chief for the Cities of Norco, Eastvale, Jurupa Valley, and the Rubidoux Community Services District. For 15 years, Lanzas served on CAL FIRE’s Incident Management Teams where he played a critical role in managing some of California’s most devastating wildfires. In 2017, Silvio joined the Glendale Fire Department as Deputy Fire Chief. He was appointed Fire Chief in 2018.

In 2022, Silvio retired from public service and transitioned into the private sector, accepting a leadership role as Chief Operating Officer of MFIRE. MFIRE is a global fire inhibitor company dedicated to preventing fires in high-risk environments, including wildland-urban interfaces, multi-family wood-frame construction, and lithium-ion energy storage systems.

Spencer Glendon is working to make the consequences of climate change more vivid, intuitive, and useful. Collaborating with scientists, designers, technologists, and other concerned generalists like him, he founded Probable Futures, a non-profit initiative that aims to change how we think about, talk about, and plan for the future of our society and our planet. Probable Futures offers frameworks, tools, and storytelling to help people understand, prepare for, and choose between the futures that the climate offers us. The online platform provides educational materials about the workings of Earth’s systems and climate models as well as local and global projections of heat, cold, precipitation, drought, wildfire, and shifting climate zones. All Probable Futures materials are free to anyone in the world. He holds a BS in Industrial Engineering and a PhD in Economics and is an Executive Fellow at Harvard Business School and a Senior Fellow at the Woodwell Climate Research Center.

Sue Larson Pascoe was raised on the Rosebud Indian Reservation in Mission, South Dakota. After graduating from the University of South Dakota, she moved to New York City where she did standup comedy. She moved to Los Angeles in 1992, and worked part-time for a local newspaper, while she raised her three children. In 2018, she started an online-newspaper Circling the News, which can be found at circlingthenews.com.

Sujeet Rao currently serves as the Director of the Health and Well-being practice for USC Dornsife Public Exchange, where he manages partnerships to deliver research-based insights for local government agencies, major healthcare systems, Hollywood media companies, and more. His team is currently leading the USC CLEAN project, the largest post-wildfire soil testing program in L.A. County. 

Earlier in his career, Sujeet was Chief Operating Officer of Elucd, a venture-backed govtech startup, and from 2021-2022, served as a Senior Policy Advisor on the White House COVID-19 Response Team, coordinating federal efforts to distribute new COVID therapeutics and mobilize thousands of doctors and nurses to help the country’s strained health systems. 

Sujeet earned a bachelor's in business administration from the University of Michigan and a law degree from Yale Law School.