Staff

Hedi Jalon

Hedi is the Executive Director for California Fire Safe Council. She grew up on the East Coast and started her career in Hollywood assisting industry leaders in various areas of talent representation and film development. Ms. Jalon most recently served as experience includes Executive Director at the non-profit organization, the California Fire Foundation for several years, and Director of Development and Communications for The Unusual Suspects Theatre Company, a theatre-arts non-profit. Hedi is committed to furthering the mission of the California Fire Safe Council, bringing a well-established background in both non-profits and private industries with nearly 15 years of leadership experience in core areas of large-scale organizational growth and management including fundraising, financial planning and management, community and external relations, communications and marketing, program and event management, board development, and community advocacy. Hedi holds both her BA and MPA degrees from the University of Southern California. When she is not at work, she enjoys a good game of chess, hiking, and spending time with her rescue dog Stewy.

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 Recently, Amber led a major upgrade of CFSC’s outdated grants system to new, improved grant management software.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

Elizabeth Lamar

Elizabeth started her career at CFSC in 2017, as a Grants Specialist. In May of 2020 she was promoted to the position of Lead Regional Coordinator/Central CA Regional Coordinator.

Elizabeth came to CFSC with a wide range of skills and talents honed through her experience working in the world of Non-profit organizations, beginning with the ultimate non-profit, public education, (as a High School Theatre Arts teacher). In 2003 she accepted the position of Executive Director for the historic Visalia Fox Theatre. Following her tenure there she served as the VP of Public Relations for the Visalia Chamber of Commerce until 2010 when she was offered the opportunity to combine her love of education and non-profit work in the role of State Youth Mentoring Program Manager for the California Friday Night Live Partnership.

Elizabeth lives in a small town, located in the foothills of Central CA, just below Sequoia National Park. She has experienced first-hand the devastating effects of wildfire. Living in 3 Rivers has taught her that prevention and preparation are key to keeping lives and property safe in wildfire prone areas.

Elizabeth studied at Ashford University and has a Masters of Arts degree in Communications, with an emphasis on Interpersonal Communications.

The best tip to be prepared is – Pack a Go-bag! Make sure you have what you need and keep it ready at all times.

Michaela Martinez

Michaela is the Executive Assistant for the California Fire Safe Council. She joined CFSC in July 2019 and brought with her over 20 years of experience in providing high-level administrative support to all management levels in all environments. Her organizational skills, positive can-do attitude, and professionalism have proven paramount since she arrived.

Her productive collaborations with other individuals have allowed her to build strong relationships that always enhanced all business objectives, both internally and externally.

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.

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.

Bethany Perez

Business Manager

Becca Joyner

Becca has dedicated her career to service and improving the lives of others by working with programs to meet the needs of all Californians. She has experience working with nonprofits, the California State Assembly, was the Project Manager for the Youth Investment Center AmeriCorps program from 2015-2018 and was a Program and Compliance Officer for California Volunteers from 2018-2020. Becca brings experience with managing statewide programs, data analysis and development, overseeing budgets, legislative processes, advocacy, and supporting federally funded programs.

Thomas Shumaker

Thomas Shumaker comes to the California Fire Safe Council (CFSC) after having served five years as grants administrator for the New Mexico Historical Records Advisory Board (NMHRAB). Born and raised in Pennsylvania, Thomas attended undergraduate school at Ohio University, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in history; he earned a Master of Divinity from Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana; and received his doctoral degree from the University of New Mexico in 2018, with a specialization in early modern European and Ottoman history. Thomas is the proud father of Alexander and enjoys hiking and picnicking, fiddle playing, reading, and running. Dr. Shumaker has a passion for public service and is thrilled to be a part of the CFSC team.

Liron Galliano

Liron is a grant specialist and has worked for CFSC since 2009. She grew up in Humboldt County and studied forestry and range management at Humboldt State University.  As a student she worked for the US Forest Service and the National Park Service.  Liron believes that many people are afraid to manage their properties to be fire-adapted, because they think they will harm nature.  She sees the projects that CFSC funds as an opportunity to demonstrate that the land can be managed to be fire-adapted and healthy at the same time.  She looks forward to a day when all California residents support thinning, prescribed fire, and grazing methods to maintain fire-adapted communities.

Christopher Baker

Christopher serves as the Northern Regional Coordinator for the California Fire Safe Council.  He’s a caring and compassionate public safety servant with 14 years of experience in operational, training, and public information positions in both wildland and structural fire service organizations. 

Christopher attended graduate level studies in Emergency Services Administration at California State University, Long Beach.  He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with a concentration in Cultural Anthropology at Pacific Lutheran University in 2002 and an Associate of Science degree in Fire Service Command, Company Officer at Shasta College in 2010.

Christopher is a volunteer advocate, Region IX advocate manager (Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada) for the Everyone Goes Home Program® through the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation.  He serves as a volunteer technical grant reviewer for the Federal Emergency Management Agency and he has previously served as a member of the board of directors of a national non-profit organization.  Christopher is certified as a health and safety officer (HSO) through the Pro Board and holds a graduate grade (GIFireE) membership through the Institution of Fire Engineers.  He has a passion for community wildfire risk reduction, public safety education, and firefighter health and safety.

Mala Arthur

Mala grew up in the semi-rural Los Angeles County area of La Habra Heights, and participated in fuel reduction, preparing for evacuation, and community emergency planning from an early age. She earned a BS from Harvey Mudd College and has since worked as an Engineer, Computer Programmer, Network Support, and eventually settled into higher education to support technology in education.

After living in Altadena’s LA County community for over 20 years, Mala and her family moved to the WUI community of Pasadena Glen in the foothills above Pasadena, partially within the Congressional Boundary of the Angeles National Forest.

As the 2009 Station Fire approached, Mala and her neighbors started building their own Fire Safe Council to prepare for future fires. The Pasadena Glen Fire Safe Council has been very successful both in mitigating flammable fuel and in educating residents about defensible space, home hardening, and other disaster prep topics, especially communication. Mala has also completed CERT training and regularly writes articles and posts for publication on social media or in local on-paper media.

Lara Popyack

Lara Popyack is the Communications and Outreach Coordinator and comes to the CFSC with more than 20 years of film, television, and digital media experience. With a background in storytelling, Lara has worked on a wide variety of projects from National Geographic and Spanish Television to Make-A-Wish and World Central Kitchen. Most recently Lara worked with firefighters on creating content for behavioral health in the fire service and active shooter drills and training for responding agencies. She was also the producer of the award-winning, multi-lingual campaign for Firefighters on Your Side video series from California Fire Foundation. She believes her work at CFSC is critical to reach the under-resourced communities to educate, and inspire change for wildfire mitigation, and prevention.