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Santa Clara County FireSafe Council Thoughts & Thanks From Seth Schalet, CEO
As 2023 closes out and 2024 is in our sights, I'd like to reflect on everything our team and organization has accomplished this past year.
It would be an understatement to say I am in awe of everything our Santa Clara County FireSafe Council team has accomplished. Whether it was completing the Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) project, our work increasing our Firewise capabilities—and bringing on new Firewise USA communities, the work on our COE program, and the various events we attended this year, the creation of the Fire Adapted Santa Clara Newsletter, the building out of our technology consulting and product sales practices with several successful partnerships and customers across a range of AI based early wildfire detection technologies, the escape routes and fuel breaks like Mt. Madonna, East Dunne and others we’ve accomplished, our collaborative partnerships with the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors, CAL FIRE, Santa Clara County Fire Department and all the fire service agencies in Santa Clara County, and with Los Altos Hills County Fire District. We have made terrific progress on our first $7,500,000 Forest Health Grant project, winning a second $6,500,000 Forest Health Grant, and creating a collaborative group of partners that will lead us into the future. Focusing on forest health as a core organizational competency positions us well for future endeavors.
Most important, to the team we have built together, a combination of seasoned FireSafe talent and new skills and staff that I genuinely believe makes SCCFSC the leader among all our terrific fellow Fire Safe Council brethren. I am honored for your input, feedback, and collaboration. Yes, we have had our share of challenges, every organization does. It’s not the challenges, but how we conquer them, learn from them, that separates good organizations from great organizations.
The holidays are a time for reflection that remind me to be thankful for the change we can make
together, the partners, board members and people I get to work with throughout the year, and to
acknowledge all we’ve done together so far.
Wishing each of you a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. I look forward to further
collaboration together in the New Year.
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