Staff

Tracy Katelman

Tracy Katelman joined the California Fire Safe Council as Executive Director in February 2019. She is a Registered Professional Forester with a strong background in forest restoration and conservation, after receiving her master’s degree in Wildland Resource Science from UC Berkeley. Her diverse background includes being a co-founder in 1990 of the international Forest Stewardship Council to certify “good wood” products.

Tracy began working in community wildfire preparedness back in 2000, while at the Mattole Restoration Council on the Lost Coast, where she was also a volunteer firefighter. The Forest Service approached the Restoration Council with funding to write a community fire plan and start a Fire Safe Council. The plan Tracy wrote—the Lower Mattole Fire Plan—quickly became a state and national model for how a community can prepare itself for wildfire, and as such, it was included as an example in the national Community Wildfire Protection Plan—or CWPP—handbook in 2004.

She joined the California Fire Safe Council board in 2004 and helped us to launch our Grants Clearinghouse, under the direction of the California Fire Alliance. Tracy left the board in 2007, when she moved to Chile.

While in Chile, Tracy developed the national methodology for Chile’s community fire planning and Fire Safe Council model while working with CONAF, their national forest service. She also facilitated the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between CONAF and CAL FIRE to support each other in their wildfire prevention efforts.

Tracy returned to Humboldt County in 2016 and helped the County develop the ground-breaking Humboldt County Community Wildfire Protection Plan. While in Humboldt she was also a founding board member of the pioneering Humboldt County Prescribed Burn Association.

Amber Gardner

Amber is the Clearinghouse Manager for California Fire Safe Council. She joined CFSC in 2003 as Grant Manager for the Coast Region after working for several years with local Fire Safe Councils in the Bay Area. Amber was promoted to Clearinghouse Administrator in 2009 and paved the way for significant upgrades to the Grants Clearinghouse in response to changing federal regulations and technology. Recently, Amber led a major upgrade of CFSC’s outdated grants system to new, improved grant management software. She manages the year-round Clearinghouse activities, from application to grant closeout and provides support to grantees and grant managers. A senior staff member, Amber has ten years of experience in helping to shape and improve CFSC’s efforts to meets its mission.

Amber holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Resource Management with an emphasis in fire ecology from the University of California at Davis. Her studies propelled her to travel after graduation throughout the U.S. with The Nature Conservancy promoting fire ecology on prescribed fire crews and as a fire management planner. Amber is a certified Master Gardener and enjoys hiking, camping, painting and of course, gardening

Dan Lang

Dan worked for the California Fire Safe Council as a grant specialist from July 2008 through March 2015, and then returned to the CFSC in October 2017.

Prior to that he worked for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) from 1967 to 2007 as a Firefighter, Fire Apparatus Engineer, Fire Captain, Battalion Chief, Division Chief, Deputy Chief, and Chief. From the start he was involved in fire prevention, defensible space, and hazardous fuel reduction projects. As a Division Chief he planned and directed many hazardous fuels reduction projects, utilizing both CCC and inmate conservation camp crews. As Deputy Chief he was responsible for several statewide fire prevention programs, including open burning, defensible space inspections, and powerline and railroad fire prevention. At various times during his 17 years as a Chief he oversaw the department’s statewide Conservation Camp Program, Fire Protection Operations Program, and Fleet Administration Program.

Thelma Clark

Thelma is the current Senior Grant Specialist for the northern region. She brings grant management experience in Community Service Block Grants (state level), Housing and Urban Development grant experience with Hope VI projects (State and Federal level).

Additionally, Thelma has worked with other nonprofits in the areas of supportive services and program development.

Elizabeth Lamar

Elizabeth LaMar lives in California’s Central Valley and is one of 2 Grant Specialists in our Ontario Office. Elizabeth’s past experience includes non-profit management, grant writing & management, philanthropy and program development. Throughout her career as a grant writer she has successfully raised funds for youth development projects, several Central Valley non-profit organizations and most recently for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services Technology National Parks Pilot Program, Sequoia National Park. Elizabeth has worked collaboratively with federal, state and private foundations in project development and grant management. Elizabeth has a Bachelor’s Degree in Organizational Management and a Master’s Degree in Communications.

Dalonna Scott

Dalonna is the Data Administrator for California Fire Safe Council. Since joining CFSC 2009, she has played a critical role in growing and adapting CFSC’s online Grants Clearinghouse and data collection systems to meet changing needs of federal grants management. Dalonna provides technical support to grantees and staff alike, utilizing her strong skills and knowledge of software systems. She played a major role in the recent transition of CFSC’s database and grant management systems. She has completed federal grant management certification courses to provide support to the grants management teams and grantees. With her background in graphic design, Dalonna led a major redesign of the CFSC website in 2014 and continues to serves as CFSC’s in house website manager.

Dalonna holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Visual Communications with special focus on Graphic Design, Video Production and Web Design, She has experience in managing systems upgrades and has a knack for developing processes to improve efficiency through the use of technology. She recently completed a computer animation course and has plans to incorporate new skills into CFSC’s website and training materials. Dalonna is an avid moviegoer who enjoys dazzling CFSC staff with film trivia.

Bethany Perez

Business Manager