Linked by Fire, United by Hope

October 13, 2025

The Power of Connection: Friendship and Trust in Recovery. In this heartfelt closing panel, two leaders—John Smith, Administrator of Maui’s Office of Recovery, and Paul, Division Chief Fire Marshal from Santa Rosa—share how tragedy sparked an enduring partnership. Moderated by Lorez Bailey, a Sonoma County recovery leader, the conversation explores the human side of disaster recovery: the friendships, humor, and trust that sustain communities long after the headlines fade. Together, they reveal how empathy, cultural respect, and authentic relationships are the true foundations of resilience.

 

 

MODERATOR:

Smiling woman beside text: “Linked by Fire, United by Hope – Lorez Bailey, 2025 Wildfire Leadership Summit.”.Lorez Bailey

Lorez Bailey is the founder of Lorez Bailey Consulting, known for her expertise in community organizing, youth leadership, and nonprofit development. She brings deep expertise in community organizing, youth leadership, and nonprofit development, offering services in fundraising strategy, organizational capacity-building, and community engagement. Her leadership spans media, workforce development, and education, including roles as Executive Director of Chop’s Teen Club and Director of College and Career Readiness at Social Advocates for Youth. A Woman of the Year honoree recognized by Congressman Mike Thompson, Lorez serves on multiple boards and was recently appointed to the State of California Board of Behavioral Sciences. She holds a B.A. in Communication Studies and Telecommunications from Sacramento State and a master’s in education technology from Sonoma State.

 

PANELIST:

Paul Lowenthal, Division Chief Fire Marshal, smiles in uniform beside text about a wildfire leadership summit.Paul Lowenthal
Paul Lowenthal is the Division Chief Fire Marshal for the City of Santa Rosa Fire Department. Paul has been involved in fire and disaster recovery since 2017 when he first led the Debris Task Force for the City of Santa Rosa following the Tubbs and Nuns Firesand then moved into long term recovery. Paul has assisted several communities across the country based on his involvement and expertise with post wildfire recovery. Most recently, Paul has been assisting Maui County and Los Angeles communities. Paul has been on the island of Maui numerous times and has continued to support Maui County staff remotely and regularly since 2023. He has also supported numerous jurisdictions along with their respective departments and elected officials from across Los Angeles County following the Eaton and Palisades Fires. Paul is a Board Member for Fire Safe Sonoma, the Fire Safe Council for Sonoma County. He managed the development of Santa Rosa’s Vegetation Management Program and led to the adoption of Santa Rosa’s new Vegetation Management Ordinance. Paul was instrumental in developing the City’s first Community Wildfire Protection Plan and helped bring prescribed fire to within the City of Santa Rosa.

 

Headshot of a man in a suit with summit text: Linked by Fire, United by Hope. John Smith, County of Maui.John Smith

John Smith is the Recovery Administrator for the County of Maui, serving as the top executive responsible for the overall direction, strategy, and effectiveness of recovery efforts. He oversees a comprehensive and unique recovery operation following the devastating 2023 Maui wildfires. With over 22 years of experience in infrastructure design and management, John’s work emphasizes robust and resilient recovery efforts. His role includes prioritizing development projects, ensuring inter-agency awareness, and communicating critical plans to the Mayor’s Office. During the response phase of the disaster, Smith led the coordination of debris removal and infrastructure restoration and served as the County’s Department of Public Works Highways Division Chief. Originally from Ohio, Smith earned his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Ohio University.

Posted in 2025