Board & Staff

Brian Colbert grew up in Bethel, Connecticut, as part of the first African-American family to live in the area. He attended Oberlin College, earning degrees in political science and theater, and later pursued advanced studies at the University of Chicago, obtaining both a law degree and a degree in public policy. After practicing law for five years, Brian explored entrepreneurial ventures before moving to Turkey with his wife, Nihal. There, he taught in the Department of International Relations at the Izmir University of Economics for three and a half years. In 2007, Brian and Nihal moved to San Francisco, embracing the Bay Area’s vibrant community, and settled in San Anselmo in 2011.

Brian has played an active role in regional efforts to improve public spaces and support local businesses. Notably, he spearheaded the Reimagining Creek Park project, transforming a flood mitigation effort into a dynamic community park that revitalized San Anselmo’s downtown. During the pandemic, he worked with local organizations to assist businesses and served on the inaugural Economic Vitality Strategic Plan steering committee. Brian also holds leadership roles with the Transportation Authority of Marin and Marin Transit, focusing on sustainable transportation and community connectivity. His commitment to community service and professional excellence reflects his dedication to fostering inclusive, thriving environments in both his personal and professional endeavors.

Bill Tyler served as Fire Chief of the Novato Fire Protection District in Marin County, leading the agency from 2018 until his retirement in March 2025 after a distinguished 30-year career in the fire service. Throughout his tenure, Chief Tyler was instrumental in advancing wildfire prevention and community safety initiatives, including spearheading major projects such as the creation of a citywide shaded fuel break to protect thousands of homes in Novato. He was a strong advocate for regional collaboration, working closely with the Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority and Fire Safe Marin to promote fire-adapted communities and innovative wildfire mitigation strategies. Chief Tyler’s legacy is marked by his commitment to public safety, leadership in emergency preparedness, and dedication to making Marin County more resilient in the face of wildfire.

Jennifer grew up in the Midwest, graduating from Miami University (Ohio) with a degree in Communications. She has held diverse roles in advertising, financial services and government, including 4 years as a legislative aide for Marin County during the organizing for Measure C. Currently, serving as Director of Operations, Jen is recognized for her ability to drive organizational excellence, manage cross-functional teams, and coordinate diverse initiatives. Her commitment to building strong, interconnected, and resilient communities is at the heart of her work. Jennifer lives in San Anselmo with her family, where she continues to contribute to her community both professionally and personally.

Brendan joined Fire Safe Marin in 2021 and was appointed CFO in 2022.  In his role, Brendan works closely with FSM staff and FSM’s Treasurer to oversee a budget that funds award-winning programs and initiatives that increase wildfire safety preparedness, reduce fuel loads, and support the groundbreaking work of the Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority (MWPA). When he’s not crunching numbers, Brendan enjoys spending time with his family.  You might find him on a baseball diamond coaching his son’s Little League team or in the stands at a local gym cheering on his daughter’s volleyball squad.

Stuart Tanenberg, a Marin County resident for 50 years, brings over 30 years of leadership and community engagement experience to Fire Safe Marin. His extensive service on numerous local boards, commissions, and committees is complemented by his active involvement in community disaster preparedness and emergency response, including leadership roles with the Central Marin CERT Leadership Team and the Marin Medical Reserve Corps. For the past three years, Stuart has served as a Wildfire Defensible Space Inspector for the Marin County Fire Department, conducting over 2,500 home inspections.

Stuart holds a BS in Business Administration from San Jose State University and an MBA in Strategic Leadership from Dominican University of California. Stuart is dedicated to Fire Safe’s mission of reducing fire hazards, promoting fire safety awareness, and assisting Marin residents in adapting and preparing for wildfires through education and engagement.

Jessamyn holds a degree in Environmental Science and Wildfire Science and Mitigation from the University of Montana. She has worked for the Wildfire Community Preparedness Division of the Montana Department of Natural Resources Conservation (DNRC) and worked as a Defensible Space Inspector for Marin County Fire Department.  In her role with Fire Safe Marin, Jessamyn brings a wealth of experience in wildfire mitigation and community education. She’s passionate about ecology, forestry, hiking, and enjoying time at the beach.

Kaya Halpern grew up in Sonoma County surrounded by redwoods and the morning fog. She graduated from University of California, Berkeley with a B.S. in Conservation and Resource Management. Driven by a passion to connect people with nature, she has dedicated her career to environmental education in many different forms. She spent 4 years working as a Naturalist at Marin’s Outdoor School Walker Creek Ranch and fell in love with everything that West Marin has to offer. Living in Marin and Sonoma County, wildfire has become personal and she hopes at Fire Safe Marin she can help create a culture of empowerment to take action to prepare and be ready.

Christine Abela is an alumna of The State University of New York at Albany with a B.A. in Political Science. While deeply rooted in her New York heritage, she was drawn to the stunning beauty and adventurous spirit of Northern California. Dedicated to serving her community, Christine has spent much of her career working and volunteering within the non-profit sector. With expertise in administration and accounting, she excels at managing complex office operations and event planning. Driven by a passion for detail and a commitment to Fire Safe Marin’s mission, Christine is dedicated to providing all residents and visitors of Marin County with clear, effective messages to keep our community safe.

Asst. Deputy Chief, San Francisco Fire Department, Retired
President, Sleepy Hollow Fire Protection District. (2020)

Richard Shortall is a retired San Francisco Fire Department Assistant Deputy Chief. He has also served as the SFFD EMS Chief, Deputy Director of the San Francisco Office of Emergency Services, and General Manager of the Bay Area SUASI Homeland Security Program. Rich is currently a member of the Board of the Ross Valley Fire Department and is an elected Director of the Sleepy Hollow Fire Protection District. He joined Fire Safe Marin as a Director in 2015 and currently resides in San Anselmo with his wife Diana.

Battalion Chief, Wildfire Hazard Mitigation Specialist
Central Marin Fire Department

Todd is a West Marin native with more than 34 years of experience in the fire service, including frontline firefighting, wildfire operations, and community risk reduction. He serves as a Battalion Chief with Central Marin Fire Department and as a Wildfire Hazard Mitigation Specialist with the Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority. Todd has led wildfire preparedness efforts across Marin and San Mateo counties for more than two decades, helping build Fire Safe Marin into a nationally recognized leader in community wildfire adaptation and driving record growth in Firewise USA® participation. He studied Forestry and Wildfire Management at the University of Montana and earned a degree in Environmental Studies and Urban Planning from Sonoma State University, focusing on natural resource conservation and fire ecology. Todd is an NFPA Certified Wildfire Mitigation Specialist and currently lives in San Rafael.

University of California Cooperative Extension Advisor, emeritus
Chief Scientist for Wildfire and Durability (retired), Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS)

Steve served 26 years with the University of California (retired 2011), and 7 years as Chief Scientist for Wildfire and Durability with the Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) (retired 2018). His research and outreach focused on wildfire protection for residential and light commercial buildings.  Steve earned a bachelor’s in wood science from Virginia Tech, and a master’s and a doctorate in wood science from the University of Minnesota. Steve is a member of the American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) where he is chair of the Subcommittee on Exterior Fire; the Forest Products Society, and former Editor-in-Chief of the Forest Products Journal (2010-2017); the National Fire Protection Association, where he was a member of the Technical Committee on Forest and Rural Fire Protection (2013-2018); the International Association of Wildland Fire and the American Wood Protection Association.  Steve joined the Fire Safe Marin Board of Directors in 2019.  He lives in Mill Valley.

Fire Chief, Retired
Ross Valley Fire Department

Roger began his fire service career as a volunteer firefighter with the San Anselmo Fire Department in 1979, and in 1981, he was the last firefighter hired by the San Anselmo Fire Department before the Department consolidated with Fairfax in 1982, creating the Ross Valley Fire Department JPA. He rose through the ranks and was appointed Fire Chief in 2005. Under his leadership, the Ross Valley Fire Department JPA expanded to include the Sleepy Hollow Fire Protection District in 2010, and the Town of Ross in 2012. Chief Meagor retired in 2013. Roger is a long-time Board Member for Fire Safe Marin and serves on the Board of Directors of the Ross Valley Paramedic Authority. A third-generation Ross Valley native, he resides with his wife in the unincorporated area of Fairfax.

Marin County Office of Emergency Services, Retired

Eva retired in 2018 from a long career in Emergency Services with the Marin County Sheriff’s Office.  She received her B.A. from Dominican University in Humanities before settling into several careers in Editing and Program Management for Book and Electronic Publishers.  She was an active member for twenty years of the Larkspur Association of Volunteer Firefighters.  There, she served for most of her years as an Officer on the Executive Committee. She was awarded Volunteer Firefighter of the Year and also received several service awards from her fellow volunteer firefighters.  Eva joined Fire Safe Marin as a Director in 2003, and has served continuously as a member of the Executive Committee. She and her husband, Bruce, also retired from the Sheriff’s Office, have dedicated their retirement to volunteering for Canine Companions for Independence in Santa Rosa.  Bruce and Eva have three adult sons, and currently reside in West Petaluma as empty nesters with their cat, Hank, and retired service dog, Nino. They are raising a golden lab/retriever puppy named Wilbur to be a Service dog.

Retired Fire Captain
Marin County Fire Department (2023)

Pete retired as a Senior Fire Captain for Marin County Fire Department where he served as the department’s de-facto wildfire historian. As a Fire Captain, Pete responded to the 1991 Oakland Hills “Tunnel” Fire, and later was instrumental in the founding of Fire Safe Marin. After retirement, Pete worked as the Vegetation Management Specialist for Sonoma County Department of Emergency Services, Fire Division, where he authored the Fountaingrove II CWPP and Wildfire Mitigation recommendations.

Emergency Manager
City of San Rafael

Quinn Gardner is the Emergency Manager for San Rafael. She is a dedicated public servant, with over a decade of experience in disaster response and emergency management. She has designed and delivered multiple disaster-related classes focused on individual and community preparedness and volunteer coordination. Adding to an extensive list of completed courses, she recently graduated FEMA’s four-week long National Emergency Management Advanced Academy (NEMAA). Prior to leading the Office of Emergency Services in San Rafael she worked for the UC Berkeley Office of Emergency Management, the Missouri State Emergency Management Agency, and AmeriCorps St. Louis Emergency Response Team. She holds an MPA from the University of Missouri and a BA from Webster University.

Marin Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) (2023)

Adriana Rabkin is the Director of Marin VOAD (Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster), a collaboration of the nonprofit organizations and government agencies that provide disaster response and recovery services. She also sits on the Executive Committee of the state CA VOAD. Adriana has helped coordinate resources and services during winter storms, power shutoffs, wildfires, the Covid pandemic, and most recently the wildfires in Los Angeles, ensuring those impacted by disasters are getting the help they need.

Adriana and her husband raised their two boys in Marin where she coached their soccer teams and volunteered at their schools. She has served on the Corte Madera Project Homekey advisory committee and is involved with the Mariner Cove Neighborhood Response Group and the Corte Madera Community Foundation. Adriana has a background in nonprofit work as well as in finance and management consulting. She holds an MBA in finance from Haas School of Business UC Berkeley and a BS in psychology from Bates College and can often be found training jiu jitsu in her spare time.

Watershed Resources Manager
Marin Municipal Water District (MMWD)

Shaun Horne, MMWD’s new Natural Resource Program Manager. Shaun comes to us from Napa County Flood Control and Water Conservation District where he managed natural resources focused on flood control, habitat restoration, and invasive species management. Shaun has a bachelor’s degree from SF State in Environmental Sustainability and Social Justice and a Master’s from Sonoma State in International Water Resources Management. He holds certificates in GIS from SF State and Water Conflict Management from Oregon State.  His work experience includes a stint as a Stream Biologist with Sonoma County Water Agency and as an arborist for a tree company. Shaun is running MMWD’s watershed vegetation management program and will shepherd our Biodiversity, Fire and Fuels Integrated Plan EIR to its conclusion.

At large member (2023)

Jerry Meral has a Ph.D. in Zoology from UC Berkeley. He was staff scientist for the Environmental Defense Fund, Deputy Director of the California Department of Water Resources, Executive Director of the California Planning and Conservation League, and Deputy Secretary of the California Natural Resources Agency. He serves on the Boards of the Environmental Action Committee of West Marin and the Inverness Association. Fire projects he is working on include a fire and water parcel tax for the Inverness Public Utilities District, setting up Firewise Inverness, fuel reduction along Highway 1 and Sir Francis Drake Blvd, getting approval for a French Broom predator, experimental reduction of yellow Starthistle, and pyrophyte removal at Point Reyes National Seashore.

Marin Realtors Association

Chris Backer has a background in real estate law and over 15 years in the real estate industry. His early career in the legal field, focused on contracts and land use, gave him a deep understanding of disclosures and transactions, which continues to benefit both buyers and sellers today. Known for his personable and enthusiastic approach, Chris transitioned into real estate to combine his legal expertise with his passion for helping people make smart, meaningful home investments.

In addition to his work as a Realtor, Chris has served in leadership roles with the Marin Association of Realtors (2019/2020 President), the California Association of Realtors, and the UC Davis Young Alumni Board. He advocates for private property rights and mentors emerging professionals.

A Bay Area native and UC Davis graduate, Chris enjoys the outdoors with his wife Grace, a local high school science teacher, and their two daughters, Amelia and Rebecca. You’ll often find them biking trails, attending Giants games, or barbecuing oysters on Tomales Bay.

Johnson’s Tree & Garden Service

Bio coming soon.

Marin Valley Mobile Country Club

Bio coming soon.

Fire Department Captain
Marin County Fire Department

Chief Jordan Reeser serves as the Vegetation Management and Fire Crew Division Chief for Marin County Fire Department, bringing over 25 years of experience in the Federal Fire Service before joining the department in 2018. Chief Reeser leverages his diverse expertise in fire operations, prescribed fire, fuels management, and aviation operations to lead multiple critical programs, including the Tamalpais Fire Crew, Foundry Crew, and Vegetation Management initiatives.

Chief Reeser plays a key role in developing cross-jurisdictional vegetation and prescribed fire projects that enhance wildfire resilience throughout Marin County. He collaborates with regional organizations such as the Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority, Fire Safe Marin, and Firewise Communities to advance strategic planning and implementation of fire prevention efforts.

A graduate of California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo, with a degree in Forestry, Chief Reeser brings a passion for resource management and community safety to his leadership. His contributions reflect a commitment to protecting Marin’s natural landscape and its residents.