Meet The Team

Founder & CEO

Rick D. Martinez

With over four decades of leadership in public safety, Rick Martinez brings unmatched experience in disaster prevention, wildfire response, and crisis management. A former fire chief of both Sacramento Metropolitan and West Sacramento Fire Departments, he led the historic consolidation that formed the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District and later directed emergency services for both Sacramento and Yolo Counties.

Appointed by Governors Gray Davis and Arnold Schwarzenegger, Rick served as Chief Deputy Director and interim Director of California’s Office of Homeland Security, shaping statewide strategies for domestic security and disaster preparedness. His leadership was recognized when he was named California Fire Chief of the Year and appointed to the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Fire Commission following the devastating 2003 Southern California wildfires.

Nationally, Rick has led FEMA Incident Support Teams through some of the country’s most significant emergencies—including 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, and most recently, the wildfires in Maui and Los Angeles. From 2020 to 2025, he served as Executive Director of the California Fire Foundation, supporting fallen firefighters' families and disaster-impacted communities across the state.

A trusted advisor to local governments and national organizations, Rick continues to shape the future of public safety and resilience planning throughout California and beyond.

Founder & COO

Jessica A. Powell

Ms. Powell brings over 15 years managing complex service projects, including disaster prevention, government policy and process reform, and inclusive service delivery. Her work spans local and federal government support, business development, and NGO management in some of the world's most difficult environments, including Afghanistan, Iraq, and Nigeria, as well as here at home. 

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Ms. Powell most recently led government consulting firm GRI as President. At Ardenis Solutions she is responsible for all aspects of the firm's operational, administrative, and financial work. 

Founder & CMO

Nigel A. Thomson

Nigel has 25 years of experience working domestically and internationally, primarily in post-disaster environments. He is a master program manager and 'go-to' program crisis management expert.

Nigel is a lawyer who has worked across the world from East Timor (with the United Nations Dept of Peace Keeping Operations), Iraq (with the International Rescue Committee), and Tajikistan and Afghanistan through numerous US Government-funded programs touching on land use and land rights.