WLS 2024 program schedule header (1)

11:00 AM - 12:15 PM Registration + Coffee on the patio

Welcome to Day 1

Jennifer Gray Thompson, CEO, After the Fire USA

KEYNOTE: Opening remarks with Richard Bissen, Mayor of Maui

Richard Bissen, Mayor of Maui

TALK STORY: The Maui Fires and Leadership with ʻĀina at the Center

PANELISTS:

  • Laurie Degama, Maui Mayor Advisory Committee
  • Archie Kalepa, Maui Mayor Advisory Committee
  • Kaliko Storer, Maui Mayor Advisory Committee
  • Nestor Ugale, Maui Mayor Advisory Committee

MODERATOR:

  • Reno Franklin, Kashia Pomo Indian Tribe
KEYNOTE: Disrupting FEMA - Innovating Service Delivery in the Era of Climate Disasters

Brock Long, Executive Chairman, Hagerty Consulting

Empower and Thrive: Knowledge and Well-being for Fire-Impacted Community Leaders

Jolie Wills, CEO, Hummingly

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

PANELISTS:

  • Matt Henderson, NorCal Director, Team Rubicon
  • Jacqui Jorgeson, Executive Director, Volunteer Fire Foundation
  • Noelani Ahia, Founder, Maui Medic Healers

MODERATOR:
Jolie Wills, CEO, Hummingly

Talk Story with The Little Dozer

Ken Donnell, Author, The Little Dozer That Did

Nance Presser, Case Manager ReCoverCA, LeSar Holdings Inc.

KEYNOTE: Enhancing FEMA's Individual Assistance - Adapting to Unprecedented Climate Disasters

Chris Smith, Director, IEM

TALK STORY: From Crisis to Community: Good360 and GEM Discuss Service and Integration Post-Maui Fires

Jim Alvey, Vice President Disaster Recovery, GOOD360

Danielle Dreis, Executive Director, Global Empowerment Mission

KEYNOTE: Embracing Personal Responsibility and Future Thinking with Watch Duty

John Mills, CEO & Co-Founder, Watch Duty

5:30 PM - 8:00 PM Evening wine tasting event at the Sonoma Plaza

9:00 AM - 9:45 AM Registration + Coffee on the patio

Welcome to Day 2

Jennifer Gray Thompson, CEO, After the Fire USA

Opening Keynote with Supervisor James Gore: Embracing Relentless Imperfect Progress in Disaster Recovery

James Gore, Supervisor, County of Sonoma

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

PANELISTS:

  • Mike Renner, Director of Development Recovery Services, 4LEAF Inc.
  • Karl Fippinger, Vice President: Fire and Disaster Mitigation, International Code Council
  • Jane Riley, Director: Advance Planning & Housing, 4LEAF Inc.
  • Reese May, Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer, SBP

MODERATOR: Dave Reid, Director: County of Santa Cruz / Office of Response, Recovery and Resilience

KEYNOTE: Innovative Living: ICON Build’s Vision for 3D Printed Homes and AI-Driven Architecture Focused on Humanity

Andrew Rothgaber, Senior Director: Public Sector, ICON

Bungane Mehomakulu, Director of Building Science and Performance, ICON

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

PANELISTS:

  • Paul Lowenthal, Deputy Fire Chief, City of Santa Rosa
  • Scott Westrope, Fire Chief, City of Santa Rosa
  • John Smith, Highways Chief, County of Maui
  • Josiah Nishita, Managing Director, County of Maui: Office of the Mayor

MODERATOR: Reva Feldman, After the Fire USA

12:30 PM - 1:15 PM Break for lunch: Meals provided

TALK STORY: Revolutionizing Wildland Management: Integrating Technology and Wisdom for Better Mitigation

PANELISTS:

  • Elizabeth Christy, Education Programs Manager, US Green Building Council California
  • Caitlin Cornwall, Senior Project Manager, Sonoma Ecology Center
  • Joe Nordlinger, CEO, Napa Communities Firewise Foundation

MODERATOR: Molly Curley O'Brien, Senior Community Resilience Planner, WRA, Inc

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

PANELISTS:

  • Lisa Micheli, Executive Board Member, After the Fire USA
  • Marko Bey, Executive Director and Founder, Lomakatsi Forest Restoration Project
  • Belinda Brown, Tribal Partnerships Director, Lomakatsi Forest Restoration Project
KEYNOTE: Future-Proofing Our World: Nanotech's Innovations in Climate Resilience for Homes, Vehicles, and Beyond

Mike Francis, CEO/Co-Founder, NanoTech Materials

TALK STORY: Caring for Kids: Effective Strategies for Supporting Children After Megafires

PANELISTS:

  • Kasey Earnest, CEO, Boys & Girls Club of Malibu
  • Henry Meier, Director of External Affairs, Project:Camp
  • Alfy Basurto, Executive Director and Founder, Rebuild Maui Org

MODERATOR: Jen Goodlin

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

PANELISTS:

  • Lynn Knight, Director of Economic Development & Resilience Programs, NOVACES
  • Kalikolehua Storer, Area Hawaiian Culture/Training Specialist, HYATT Hotels
  • Tim Zahner, Executive Director, Sonoma Valley Tourism

MODERATOR: Mark Bodenhammer, CEO, Sonoma Chamber of Commerce

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

PANELISTS:

  • Melissa Baurer, Integrated Health and Outreach Director, Santiam Hospital & Clinics
  • Amber Ferguson, Executive Director/CEO, Rogue Food Unites
  • Nicole Huguenin, Co-Director and Founder, Maui Rapid Response

MODERATOR: Lorez Bailey

5:15 PM End of Day 2

9:00 AM - 9:45 AM Registration + Coffee on the patio

Welcome to Day 3

Jennifer Gray Thompson, CEO, After the Fire USA

TALK STORY: State-Level Perspectives: Hawaii State Senator Troy Hashimoto

Troy Hashimoto, Senator, Hawaii 5th District

PANEL: Federal Advocacy: Championing Megafire Communities and Raising Awareness in DC

PANELISTS:

  • Steve Crowder, Council member, Town of Paradise
  • Jenn Kaaoush, Trustee, Town of Superior
  • Jeff Okrepkie, Council member, City of Santa Rosa

MODERATOR: Jennifer Gray Thompson, CEO, After the Fire USA

KEYNOTE: Empowering Heirs: Fannie Mae's Program for Retaining Ownership and Returning Home After Disaster

Tim Carpenter, Director of Disaster Recovery & Resilience, Fannie Mae

12:15 PM - 1:00 PM Break for lunch: Meals provided

KEYNOTE: Funding disaster recovery through a CDFI

Megan Ferguson, CEO, Impact Development Fund

TALK STORY: IBHS Wildfire Prepared Home Program: The Road to Implementation

PANELISTS:

  • Amanda West, Director of Product Services, IBHS
  • Mark Vaughn, Operations Manager - Wildfire Prepared, IBHS

MODERATOR: Christa Lopez

KEYNOTE: Aloha Means Hello and Goodbye

Kuʻuleinani Maunupau, CEO, Native Hawaiian Philanthropy

2:30 PM End of Day 3

Thank you to our sponsors!