021: Day 2: PANEL: Business Recovery Post-Megafire: The Crucial Role of Private Sector Support
Release Date: 10/14/2024
032: Day 3: Closing Remarks with Jennifer Gray Thompson
How to Disaster
2024 WILDFIRE LEADERSHIP SUMMIT Episode Description: “We are not hopeless against mega-fires. We are not hopeless against the era of climate change. We can do these things together because we are daring to hope and to help each other.” —Jennifer Gray Thompson As we bring this transformative event to a close, we are filled with an overwhelming sense of gratitude. Each and every one of you has played a vital role in making this summit a resounding success. Whether you traveled from near or far, volunteered tirelessly behind the scenes, or tuned in from your homes and...
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031: Day 3: KEYNOTE: Aloha, Hello and Goodbye with Kuʻuleinani Maunupau
How to Disaster
2024 WILDFIRE LEADERSHIP SUMMIT Episode Description: “Aloha does not mean hello and goodbye. Aloha has a much deeper meaning of love and respect. Hello to the return of our Indigenous kupuna knowledge and goodbye to the profit-making capitalistic colonization types of thinking that put profit over people.” —Ku’uleinani Maunupau Colonization has disrupted the deep connection between the land and its indigenous people in Hawaii. The once-thriving Hawaiian land management practice that fostered a harmonious relationship between the people and the environment, has been...
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030: Day 3: TALK STORY: IBHS Wildfire Prepared Home Program: The Road to Implementation with Amanda West and Mark Vaughn
How to Disaster
2024 WILDFIRE LEADERSHIP SUMMIT Episode Description: “We're not powerless. We are not powerless against wildfire. We know what we need to do.” —Amanda West “I try not to use the word remove. Just move them. You can have plants. You can have a beautiful landscape. We want that five feet for the fire break.” —Mark Vaughn Wildfires pose a serious threat to homes and communities, but we don't have to be helpless in the face of these disasters. By implementing proven mitigation strategies, homeowners can take proactive steps to protect their properties and create...
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029: Day 3: KEYNOTE: Funding Disaster Recovery Through a CDFI with Emily Nilsen
How to Disaster
2024 WILDFIRE LEADERSHIP SUMMIT Episode Description: “As the recovery process continues, you have to continue to adapt.” —Emily Nilsen Disaster recovery is a complex challenge, but innovative lenders are stepping up to the plate. Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) like Impact Development Fund are providing flexible financing, coordinating resources, and creating tailored programs to support communities in rebuilding and becoming more resilient. In this talk, we hear from Emily Nilsen, the Chief Program Officer of . Listen in as Emily shares IDF’s...
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028: Day 3: KEYNOTE: Empowering Heirs: Fannie Mae's Program for Retaining Ownership and Returning Home After Disaster with Tim Carpenter
How to Disaster
2024 WILDFIRE LEADERSHIP SUMMIT Episode Description: “Home ownership is about stability. Homeownership is about building wealth. Homeownership is about families. But if you don't have a clear title, you don't know if that stability is going to be there.” —Tim Carpenter Disaster strikes, but for some, the real battle is just beginning. Millions of homes across the US are caught in a tangled web of heirs property— families without clear title to their generational land. This legal limbo leaves them vulnerable to losing everything. Thus, understanding the challenges of...
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027: Day 3: PANEL: Federal Advocacy: Championing Megafire Communities and Raising Awareness in DC
How to Disaster
2024 WILDFIRE LEADERSHIP SUMMIT Episode Description: “How you frame your argument is how you get them to listen.” —Jeff Okrepkie “We're willing to help anybody out that is going through this now or in the future.” —Steve Crowder “There's no playbook when it comes to a wildfire… Be ready, because you know this is going to impact you at some point, maybe not directly but you will be.” —Kevin Goss “There is a next step, and we just have to keep moving forward.” —Jenn Kaaoush Disaster can strike anyone, even those sworn to...
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026: Day 3: TALK STORY: State-Level Perspectives: Future-Proofing Recovery Senator Angus McKelvey and Senator Troy Hashimoto
How to Disaster
2024 WILDFIRE LEADERSHIP SUMMIT Episode Description: This recovery is slow, it's painful, and it's costly. We need patience, and aloha, and support because we're all in this together.” —Angus McKelvey “We have a lot of challenges moving forward, and it's figuring out the strategy of how we're going to approach it. And once you get that strategy, you have to figure out how do we get it to implementation.” —Troy Hashimoto Disaster recovery is not just about the visible on-the-ground efforts - it also involves complex state-level decisions and...
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025: Day 3: WORKSHOP: Paying It Forward: Creating a Community of Practice for Long-Term Fire Recovery
How to Disaster
2024 WILDFIRE LEADERSHIP SUMMIT Episode Description: “Trust is so important to building a community of practice. And part of that trust comes from understanding where people are and where they stand.” —Michael McCormick “Once the scene is stabilized and we start to clean things up, and then there comes a point where we start rebuilding things… and that's when the long-term recovery begins.” —Matt McRae “There are simultaneous disasters occurring at the same time everywhere, and you never know what's going to hit you at that time, and you have to be...
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024: DAY 3! From Flames to Futures: Navigating Wildfire Leadership with Hope and Resilience with Jennifer Gray Thompson
How to Disaster
2024 WILDFIRE LEADERSHIP SUMMIT Episode Description: “It's not enough just to give, you have to always receive as well with the same grace and gratitude and aloha.” —Jennifer Gray Thompson “Aloha is boundless, and we know that Aloha reaches all shores and all states. Even in the most trying of times together, we are one team.” —Mahina Martin Welcome to the final day of the 2024 Wildfire Leadership Summit. We're so glad you could join us for this last session— it's been an incredible few days filled with insightful discussions, powerful...
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023: Day 2: KEYNOTE: Ohana Means More Than Family: Maui's Response Through the Lens of Cultural Values with Kainoa Horcajo
How to Disaster
2024 WILDFIRE LEADERSHIP SUMMIT Episode Description: “Indigenous values can shift how we deal with disasters.” —Kainoa Horcajo Disaster recovery isn't just about rebuilding infrastructure— it's about honoring the deep connections between people and place. Principles like reciprocity, collective responsibility, and deep connection to the land can shape a more compassionate and community-centered approach to rebuilding after crises. By honoring these time-tested philosophies, we unlock powerful pathways to healing and resilience. Kainoa Horcajo is a cultural...
info_outline2024 WILDFIRE LEADERSHIP SUMMIT
Episode Description:
“It is becoming a cheerleader for the community that we're [private sector] back.” —Tim Zahner
“It takes all of us to make a recovery. There are no heroes after the disaster itself. We all have a role to play.” —Lynn Knight
“The Kupuna up there in that forest are so alive more than ever. They're just needing conduits. And those conduits are us.” —Kalikolehua Storer
When disaster strikes, the human toll is immense, but the economic impact can be just as devastating. Businesses shut, jobs lost, and entire industries disrupted— the ripple effects can cripple a community for years. Hence, rebuilding the local economy is essential for restoring normalcy and resilience.
In this episode, Mark Bodenhammer, the CEO of Sonoma Chamber of Commerce leads a panel of experts, including Sonoma Valley Tourism Executive Director Tim Zahner, NOVACES Director of Economic Development & Resilience Programs Lynn Knight, and HYATT Hotels Training Specialist Kalikolehua Storer.
Tune in as they share their experiences and insights on navigating the complex landscape of post-fire economic recovery— from balancing human needs with business support to diversifying industries and communicating with visitors, plus much more.
Connect with After The Fire USA:
- Website: https://afterthefireusa.org/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AfterTheFireUSA
- X: https://twitter.com/AfterTheFireUSA
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afterthefireusa/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/atf3r
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuTefxZgWUJkDVoZGZQpxgQ
Highlights:
- 00:22 Meet Our Panel: Tim, Kalikolehua, Lynn
- 03:03 The Role of Economy in Recovery
- 10:41 Balancing Economy and Human Aid
- 18:35 Supporting the Business Economy
- 22:21 Facilitating a Healthy Relationship Between Businesses and the Government
- 25:03 Open for Business
- 29:40 A Cause for Pride
Meet the Moderator:
👨🏻💼Mark Bodenhammer, CEO, Sonoma Chamber of Commerce
Mark Bodenhamer is the CEO of the Sonoma Valley Chamber of Commerce. He is a native of Santa Rosa and has a strong passion for helping businesses succeed. Mark has served in various roles with Chambers of Commerce and other non-profit organizations12. He also hosts the “Sonoma Chamber Chat” on KSVY 91.3 FM, where he discusses local businesses, nonprofit organizations, and events in and around Sonoma12.
- Website: https://www.sonomachamber.org/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sonomachamber
- X: https://twitter.com/sonomachamber
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sonomachamber/
Meet the Panel:
👩🏻💼 Lynn Knight, Director of Economic Development & Resilience Programs, NOVACES
Lynn Knight is an economic developer with extensive experience working in disaster recovery. She has worked in 23 states and U.S. territories that have faced serious disasters. Lynn became passionate about disaster recovery work starting in 2014 when she was the Vice President of the International Economic Development Council and placed economic development volunteers in communities across the country that needed assistance.
As an economic recovery expert, Lynn now works as a contractor for the U.S. Economic Development Administration, managing the economic recovery support function for FEMA. She brings deep expertise in understanding the economic impacts of disasters and helping communities develop strategies to support business recovery and long-term resilience.
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lynnknight08/
- Connect with Novaces:
- Website: http://www.novaces.com/
👩🏻💼 Kalikolehua Storer, Area Hawaiian Culture/Training Specialist, HYATT Hotels
Kalikolehua Storer is a dedicated community member with a passion for both cultural preservation and environmental stewardship. As an area training and cultural advisor for Hyatt Resorts, she shares her knowledge of Hawaiian traditions and values with visitors and employees alike. She also serves as the Pu’u Kukui Watershed operations supervisor, playing a vital role in protecting this critical ecosystem. Her diverse roles reflect her commitment to connecting people with the land, its history, and its future.
Connect with Hyatt Hotels:
- Website: https://www.hyatt.com/
👨🏻💼Tim Zahner, Executive Director, Sonoma Valley Tourism
Tim Zahner is the representative from the Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau. His role is to promote the Sonoma Valley area, encourage people to visit, support local businesses, and help the community recover after disasters. Tim has worked closely in disaster-affected communities, leveraging his expertise in tourism and marketing to aid in the recovery process. With experience navigating the balance between supporting residents and welcoming visitors, Tim brings valuable insights to the discussion on reviving the local economy after emergencies.
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timzahner/
Connect with Sonoma Valley Tourism:
- Website: https://www.sonomavalley.com/