Our Team
Our dedicated team of volunteers is the driving force behind the Wildfire-Ready Coalition. From organizing community events to supporting wildfire preparedness and education, they bring passion, commitment, and local knowledge to everything they do. United by a shared goal of creating a safer, more fire-resilient community, these individuals exemplify the power of neighbors helping neighbors.
Board of Directors
President
Jo Ann Fites-Kaufman
Retired Fire Scientist with the U.S. Forest Service, with more than 30 years of experience in wildfire and prescribed fire. She served as an Advanced Fuels Instructor at the California Federal Fire Academy, and has led 30+ workshops on prescribed fire, wildfire safety, and Firewise Communities. A California Certified Burn Boss, she has volunteered for 10+ years in community wildfire safety, leads the Salmon Mine–East Sages Firewise Community, and has helped 50+ Firewise Communities form in Nevada County. She has also served on the boards of the North San Juan Fire Protection District, the Fire Safe Council of Nevada County, the Nevada County Resource Conservation District, and the California Fire Safe Council.
Treasurer
Bob Long
Bob is a fifth-generation Californian who has lived in Grass Valley for 28 years. A retired healthcare executive and U.S. Army Lt. Colonel, he brings over 40 years of leadership experience. He has served on several non-profit boards, including the YMCA, United Way, and Hartnell College. Bob currently chairs the Finance Committee at Dignity Health Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital and serves as Treasurer of the Rotary Club of Grass Valley. He is especially proud of founding the Miners Community Clinic, now Western Sierra Medical Clinic. Bob enjoys backpacking, trekking in Spain, and skiing with his six grandchildren
Secretary
Terry Hastings
Passionate about helping organizations tell their stories. She has worked in non-profit communications for over 40 years, responsible for media relations, publications and websites for organizations in the fields of health care, public health, education research and higher education. A native Californian, she moved to Nevada County in 2018. Recognizing the high risk of wildfire in her neighborhood and determined to be part of the solution, she started Harmony Firewise Community in 2020.
Director
Linda Ferguson
Linda is recently retired from the US Forest Service, with 34 years in wildland fire management. Her experience included working as a hotshot, on an engine, Fire Prevention Officer and Fuels Officer. Most of her career has been on the eastside of the Tahoe National Forest, out of the Truckee Ranger District. She is still active in fire as a Fire Behavior Analyst and Long-Term Analyst for one of the California Federal Incident Management Teams. She is a qualified federal burn boss. Linda is currently leading the Eastern Regional Firewise Coalition.
DIRECTOR
Bill Greeno
William "Bill" Greeno has resided in Truckee, CA for 38 years. His forestry-related work experience began at the age of 19 with the US Forest Service (USFS), starting in recreation and transitioning to fire management, culminating in his role as a member of the Plumas Hotshots. He later worked for Quality Enterprises, managing large-scale USFS projects involving pre-commercial thinning and prescribed burning. Additionally, he oversaw Power Line Compliance tree and brush removal and herbicide application for PG&E, Western Power Administration, and SoCal Edison.
Vice President
Marcia Salter Board
Marcia brings extensive financial and leadership expertise to the organization. She is the former Elected Nevada County Auditor/Controller, serving from 2006 to 2023. She has been a long-time member and lead of the Rotary Club of Grass Valley, where she served as past President and past Treasurer. Marcia is currently Area Governor for the Rotary District 5190
Director
Erin Tarr
Erin is the Executive Director of the Bear Yuba Land Trust. She brings her expertise in volunteer-driven organization development and management, land stewardship including fuels reduction and fire resilience, as well as fund-raising and endowment management. Her career has spanned work with the California Department of Fish and Game, the Nature Conservancy, and Placer Land Trust. She also serves as the President of the Sierra Cascade Land Trust Council.
Director
Monty East
Monty East
Monty brings extensive leadership expertise to the organization. Originally from Chico, he worked for PG&E for 32 years, starting as a lineman and working his way up to district manager. On retirement, he began working in real estate in Nevada County, where he has demonstrated his passion for community by becoming involved in a wide range of community organizations, including Rotary Club of Grass Valley, the Sierra Nevada Community Foundation, Sierra Nevada Hospital, Nevada County Law Enforcement and Fire Protection Council, Nevada County Association of Realtors and the Salvation Army.
FIREWISE COALITION COMMITTEE
Kristen Cook "KC"
Firewise community organization & engagement, NFPA 3-year action plans & annual reporting, wildfire mitigation best practices, defensible space/ home hardening, emergency communication systems [GMRS radios], messaging/ communication / outreach, meeting facilitation / public speaking, project management
Jeff Peach
Long-time Nevada County resident. Leader of Banner Mountain Firewise Community. FWC mentor and workshop co-lead. Member of the Firewise Coalition Committee. Volunteer at large, especially technical support and music.
susan rogers
25-year Nevada County resident. Seven years on the leadership team for the Nevada County Coalition of Firewise Communities; now on the Firewise Coalition Committee. Co-lead of the Glenwood Road Firewise Community. 45-year career in marking communications, writing and editing.
Sandie Hewston
Volunteer Coalition quarterly meeting coordinator. Co-founder and resident leader for Casa Loma Fire Wise Community. Defensible Space advisor volunteer for Fire Safe Council.
Karen Wcislo
Retired from 35 years of direct patient care and health care management, I moved to Nevada City permanently 10 years ago. With increasing awareness of the responsibilities those of us living in a high fire risk area have, I became involved with Greater Cement Hill Firewise Committee 3 years ago. Our large fire wise community encompasses over 500 dwellings, and runs 7 miles up 49 from the South Yuba River to Cement Hill Road. I became the Firewise Lead 2 years ago, and use my management experience to assess and analyze the needs of our community and work to increase our safety.
mentors & volunteers
Volunteer
paul tebbel
Co-founder and volunteer board member for Greenhorn Fire Wise Community; volunteer Defensible Space advisor for FSC; frequent volunteer for FSC fundraising events and the Green Waste Days. Retired from nonprofit administrative work.
Workshop lead instructor
Dario Davidson
Registered Professional Forester (#2314) and volunteers to help with forestry issues and mentoring Firewise Communities.
mentor
Mo Graber
FWC mentor on project management, communications, and training materials.