We Are Hiring!

POSITION: Administrative Assistant

YWPFSC seeks a passionate and organized Administrative Assistant to work directly with the Executive Director, Board of Directors, and staff to ensure smooth and cohesive operations of the
organization.

The ideal candidate will have a passion for community wildfire preparedness and a
drive to grow the reach and impact of our existing programs. This is a part-time temporary position reporting to the YWPFSC Executive Director.

View complete job description, essential duties, and qualifications required Here (PDF)

To Apply: Please submit a resume and cover letter to admin@yubafiresafe.org by August 23, 2024

Executive Director

Allison Thomson

Allison grew up in neighboring Nevada County, with family ties to the forest products industry in both Yuba and Santa Cruz Counties, all of which instilled in her a deep respect and excitement for our natural resources. After receiving BS degrees from UC Berkeley in Forestry and Environmental Sciences, she worked for multiple environmental non-profits, timber companies, and private forestry consultants across Northern California. Most recently, she has worked with local stakeholders on multiple large-scale forest health projects across the Yuba River Watershed, all focused on building critical relationships and economic stability, and improving forest health and wildfire resilience for our communities.

When she’s not working in the forest (or in the office thinking about the forest), Allison can be found enjoying it: hiking, running, swimming, botanizing (and photographing said botany), cloud- and star-gazing; or snuggled at home with her fuzzy cat, cooking, baking, knitting, trying to learn to paint, and growing more vegetables than she can eat.

President/Chairperson: Director Streight

Vice President: Director Griffis

Chief, Smartsville Fire Protection District Battalion Chief, Retired Cal Fire

Bachelor of Science Degree, Forest Management, Utah State University, 1986 – Forest Technician Certification, Sierra College, 1984 Experience: – Chief/Deputy Chief, Smartsville Fire Protection District – Chairman, Yuba Watershed & Fire Safe Council (Volunteer) – Field Battalion Chief, Nevada-Yuba-Placer, CALFIRE – Battalion Chief, Vegetation Management, CALFIRE – Battalion Chief, Emergency Command Center Chief, CALFIRE

Treasurer: Director Bortz

Douglas Bortz born and raised in Oroville, CA. Passionate about sustainable use of natural resources and a curious explorer of open space and water. Avid hiker and mountain biker. Background – graduated CSU, Chico in1999 with a BA in Geography-Planning. Worked for the City of Marysville as an Assistant Planner before transitioning to Caltrans Right of Way. Developed a wealth of project delivery skills over the next 22 years in right of way, planning, environmental, and surveys disciplines.

Having recently joined the Yuba Water Agency as a Lands Management Program Coordinator I am excited to learn more about our local watershed and landscapes. I am interested in building relationships with the local communities, working toward a healthy and resilient forest ecosystem.

Secretary: Director Cook

Pamela (Pam) Cook earned her Bachelor of Science in Education degree from Northern Illinois University in 1974 and has been working with children and families since that time as a teacher, social worker, vocational counselor, Program Manager, and Executive Director. Pam retired in 2018 after working with Yuba County Children and Adult Protective Services for 19 years.

Local volunteer activities have included secretary for the Dobbins-Oregon House Community Action Committee (DOACT) and bookkeeper for the Dobbin Volunteer Fire Department. She has been a CalFire Volunteer in Prevention (VIP) doing fire watch at Oregon Peak every Sunday since 2000. She is also a Council of Directors member for the Yuba Environmental Sciences Charter Academy and an active participant with the Camptonville Community Partnership Biomass Project. Pam has lived in Dobbins since 1999 and lives on her grandparent’s property. Two months after arriving the Pendola fire destroyed much of our community. Her property was also devastated (all except the house) and since that time she has been working to return/improve her property to a natural balance. She has worked hard to become a “country mouse” after being a “city mouse” for most of her life.

Environmental issues are very important to her, she loves the out of doors and has turned her small property into a haven for our local flora and fauna. It has been a challenge to find the balance between trying to grow fruit trees, veggies and native plants and “sharing” with local creatures. However, it is definitely a labor of love. She looks forward to working with Yuba Watershed Protection and Fire Safe Council to help keep our forests healthy and prevent wildfires.

Project Coordinator: Sandie Marotti-Huckins

Sandie is a native Californian born in the bay area. She attended the University of Michigan as a scholarship student-athlete where she received a BS in Kinesiology.  After a long coaching career, she added a Masters in College Admissions Counseling from UCLA and helped hundreds of student athletes realize their dream of attending college. 

In 2021 she became a full-time resident of the Yuba foothills where she ranches and enjoys the outdoors with her husband, Jeff, their dogs, cat, donkey and cows.

Outreach Coordinator: Daniella Ortizharo

Pending