WLS 2024 SPEAKERS
Mayor Richard Bissen_Headshot cropped

Richard Bissen

Mayor, County of Maui
Opening Keynote
(c) Phil Dziedzic 847.345.8686

Brock Long

Executive Chairman, Hagerty Consulting, FEMA Administrator (2017-19)
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Jolie Wills

CEO, Hummingly
Chris Smith Headshot

Chris Smith

Director of Individual Assistance and Disaster Housing, IEM / FEMA Director of Individual Assistance (2015-2022)
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John Mills

CEO, Watch Duty
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James Gore

Supervisor, County of Sonoma / President of NACO
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Andrew Rothgaber

Senior Director - Public Sector, ICON
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Bungane Mehomakulu

Director of Building Science and Building Performance, ICON
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Josiah Nishita

Managing Director, County of Maui: Office of the Mayor
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Carrie Horazeck

Chief Commercial Officer, NanoTech Materials
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Hani Taan

Chief Technology Officer, NanoTech Materials
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Kainoa Horcajo

Owner, The Mo'olelo Group / Community Leader
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Tim Carpenter

Director of Disaster Recovery & Resilience, Fannie Mae
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Emily Nilsen

Chief Program Officer, Impact Development Fund
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Kuʻuleinani Maunupau

CEO, Native Hawaiian Philanthropy

Talk Story:

The Maui Fires and Leadership with ʻĀina at the Center

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Laurie Lei DeGama

Community Leader, Maui Mayor's Advisory Committee
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Archie Kalepa

CEO, Lele Aloha / Maui Mayor's Advisory Committee
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Earle Kukahiko

Community Leader, Maui Mayor's Advisory Committee
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Kaliko Storer

Maui Mayor's Advisory Committee / Operations Supervisor – Pu’u Kukui Watershed
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Mish Shishido

Staff, Lele Aloha / Former Teacher
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Reno Franklin

After The Fire USA Board Emeritus, Tribal Chairman, Kashia Band of Pomo Indians
Moderator

Panel:

Enduring the Crisis: Ensuring Personal Sustainability for Leaders in Disaster Management

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Noelani Ahia

Founder/Director, Maui Medic Healers Hui
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Jacqui Jorgeson

Founder and Executive Director, Volunteer Fire Foundation
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Matt Henderson

NorCal Administrator, Team Rubicon
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Jolie Wills

CEO, Hummingly
Moderator

Talk Story:

With The Little Dozer

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Ken Donnell

Author, The Little Dozer That Did
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Nance Presser

Editor, The Little Dozer That Did / Consultant, ReCoverCa

Talk Story:

From Crisis to Community: Service and Integration Post-Maui Fires

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Jim Alvey

Vice President of Disaster Recovery, Good360
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Danielle Dreis

Executive Director - Hawaii, Global Empowerment Mission
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Vidya Sampath

Senior Product Manager, Disaster Relief Program, Amazon
Moderator

Talk Story:

Rebuilding Stronger: Climate Resilience with Equity and Community at the Center

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Jane Riley

Director, Advance Planning & Housing, 4LEAF Inc.
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Karl Fippinger

Vice President, Fire and Disaster Mitigation, International Code Council
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Mike Renner

Director of Development Recovery Services, 4LEAF Inc.
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David Reid

Director, Office of Response, Recovery & Resilience (OR3)
Moderator

Talk Story:

From Ashes to Allies: County Leaders Discuss Mutual Aid and Best Practices Post-Megafires

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Paul Lowenthal

Division Chief Fire Marshal/PIO, Santa Rosa Fire Department
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Josiah Nishita

Managing Director, County of Maui: Office of the Mayor
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John Smith

Highways Chief, County of Maui
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Scott Westrope

Fire Chief, Santa Rosa Fire Department
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Reva Feldman

City Manager (2016-2021), Malibu / Advisor, After the Fire USA
Moderator

Talk Story:

Revolutionizing Wildland Management: Integrating Technology and Wisdom for Better Mitigation

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Elizabeth Christy

Education Programs Manager, US Green Building Council California
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Caitlin Cornwall

Senior Project Manager, Sonoma Ecology Center
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Joeseph Nordlinger

CEO, Napa Communities Firewise Foundation
Lisa Micheli

Lisa Micheli

Executive Board Member, After the Fire USA
Moderator

Talk Story:

From Past Lessons to Future Innovations: Climate Resilience and Land Management in the Age of Megafires

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Marko Bey

Executive Director & Founder, Lomakatsi Restoration Project
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Belinda Brown

Tribal Partnerships Director, Lomakatsi Forest Restoration Project
Lisa Micheli

Lisa Micheli

Executive Board Member, After the Fire USA
Moderator

Talk Story:

Caring for Kids: Effective Strategies for Supporting Children After Megafires

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Alfy Basurto

Executive Director and Founder, Rebuild Maui Org
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Kasey Earnest

CEO, Boys & Girls Club of Malibu
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Henry Meier

Director of External Affairs, Project:Camp
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Jen Goodlin

Executive Director, Rebuild Paradise Foundation
Moderator

Panel:

Business Recovery Post-Megafire: The Crucial Role of Private Sector Support

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Lynn Knight

Director of Economic Development & Resilience Programs, NOVACES
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Kaliko Storer

Maui Mayor's Advisory Committee / Operations Supervisor – Pu’u Kukui Watershed
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Tim Zahner

Executive Director, Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau
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Mark Bodenhamer

CEO, Sonoma Chamber of Commerce
Moderator

Panel:

Leading from the Frontlines: Supporting the Most Vulnerable Through Grassroots Leadership After Megafires

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Melissa Baurer

Integrated Health and Outreach Director, Santiam Hospital & Clinics
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Amber Ferguson

Executive Director/CEO, Rogue Food Unites
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Nicole Huguenin

Co-Founder and Director, Maui Rapid Response
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Kukui Keahi

Community Care Navigator Lead, Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement
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Rebekah Uccellini-Kuby

Executive Director, Makai Foundation
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Lorez Bailey

Community Leader
Moderator

Workshop:

Paying It Forward: Creating a Community of Practice for Long Term Fire Recovery

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Heather Buch

Commissioner, District 5, Lane County
Michael McCormick Headshot

Michael McCormick

President, Farallon Strategies
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Matt McRae

Long Term Recovery Manager, Lane County

Talk Story:

State-Level Perspectives: Future-Proofing Recovery

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Troy Hashimoto

Hawaii State Senator - District 5
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Angus L. K. McKelvey

Hawaii State Senator - District 6
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Rebecca Hermosillo

Supervisor Elect, County of Sonoma
Moderator

Panel:

Federal Advocacy: Championing Megafire Communities and Raising Awareness in DC

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Steve Crowder

Councilmember, Town of Paradise
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Kevin Goss

Supervisor, County of Plumas
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Jenn Kaaoush

Councilmember, Town of Superior
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Jeff Okrepkie

Councilmember, City of Santa Rosa / Founder of Coffey Strong
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Jennifer Gray Thompson

CEO, After the Fire USA
Moderator

Talk Story:

IBHS Wildfire Prepared Home Program: The Road to Implementation

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Amanda West

Director of Product Services, IBHS
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Mark Vaughn

Wildfire Operations Manager, IBHS
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Christa López, PhD

Senior Advisor, CTEH
Moderator