Meet the Fire Safe Team

Stephen Watson Head Shot

Stephen Watson Executive Director

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Stephen Watson

Stephen stepped into the role of Executive Director of VRFSC in March 2023. He joined the VRFSC team in 2021 as Director of Operations, eager to restructure and reorganize the grant management, financial, and administrative aspects of the Fire Safe Council.

Stephen started his career in the nonprofit world while getting his Masters in Psychology and Counseling. After working as a therapist for many years, Stephen went on to manage a therapy center for troubled teens. He even aided in the creation of a new nonprofit community mental health center that provided low-cost therapy for teens and families who couldn’t otherwise afford it. He had served as the Secretary and Treasurer at this nonprofit for over two years. It was during this time that Stephen realized he had a passion for working in nonprofits and serving those in need. 

The VRFSC Board of Directors takes great pride in Stephen's leadership, recognizing his deep-rooted understanding of the challenges and opportunities within the nonprofit landscape. Under his guidance, the Fire Safe Council has witnessed significant growth, as Stephen spearheaded the restructuring of key operational areas, including grant management and financial administration. His unwavering dedication, strategic vision, and profound empathy have fostered a culture of collaboration, innovation, and community engagement within the organization.

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Portrait of Sarah Wortman

Sarah Wortman Finance & Admin Manager

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Sarah Wortman

Sarah joined the Ventura Regional Fire Safe Council team in February of 2022. She has lived in Ventura County her whole life and in 2020 she received a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science and Resource Management from CSU Channel Islands, emphasizing Resource Management. Working with VRFSC has given Sarah a deep understanding and appreciation for how nonprofits seek to improve knowledge and awareness throughout our communities. As the Finance and Administration Manager, Sarah is responsible for all accounting, financial and fiscal management aspects of VRFSC’s operations, and she provides leadership and coordination to our partners and our community.

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Portrait of Mason Thurmond

Mason Thurmond Programs Manager

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Mason Thurmond

Mason has joined the VRFSC team after serving as the Resource Conservation Coordinator at Ventura County Resource Conservation District and the Lead of the Ventura County Wildfire Collaborative, which is a working group that includes VRFSC. As Coordinator and Lead, Mason took on a broad range of tasks including project management, subcontractor and team oversight, internal training, community outreach and education, grant writing and reporting, budget writing and management, and large event planning. She had the honor of planning and hosting the inaugural California Wildfire Conference in October 2023 and launching the Ventura County Wildfire Coordinating Group. Prior to delving into the Ventura County community wildfire resilience world, Mason spent 8 years as an environmental educator, living in places like Yosemite National Park, the mountain ranges of Southern California, and traveling to Peru all the while teaching students 3rd grade to 12th grade. She also served as an inaugural California Climate Action Corps Fellow on the Programs and Outreach team at California Fire Safe Council in 2021. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Chemistry from U.C. San Diego. 

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Max Young Head Shot

Max Young Head of Wildfire Safety

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Max Young

Max came to the Ventura Regional Fire Safe Council in February of 2022 wanting to combine the passions developed as a Consulting Utility Forester, working in Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties as a Southern California Edison contractor, and as a Conservationist 1 at the Camarillo Fire Center for the California Conservation Corps. There he became certified through CAL FIRE to work wildfires locally, and throughout the state, on a Type 1 Handcrew. The experience led him towards wanting to help develop community resiliency to wildfires and educating the public on how we can and need to adapt to living with them. 

He has a passion for resource conservation, and land management and studied Environmental Science within the College of Agriculture at the University of Nevada, Reno. A native Californian, Max has lived, worked, and studied in many different areas of the State, but holds a special relationship with Ventura and its many wonderful communities. You may see Max running on Ventura’s trails on the weekends, or surfing its many breaks.

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Mayra De Leon Head Shot

Mayra De Leon Communications & Outreach Specialist

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Mayra De Leon

Mayra joined VRFSC in February of 2022 after having completed her Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Communications from California State University Channel Islands.

Prior to her degree, Mayra worked in nonprofits for over a decade helping provide educational programming throughout her career. With the Ventura Family YMCA, she started an English as a Second Language program for migrant families. At the Santa Barbara-Ventura County Dental Society, Mayra facilitated continuing education programs for dentists and their staff. While pursuing her degree, Mayra worked for the Santa Rosa Island Research Station and led their SRIRS Speaker Series program for students pursuing environmental careers. 

Born and raised in Ventura County, Mayra cares deeply about contributing back to the communities she grew up in and making education as accessible and inclusive as possible. She hopes to make an impact in her community by encouraging people to learn and teach others about the impacts of our changing climate. She believes it is necessary for VRFSC, as a wildfire-focused organization, to break down scientific and cultural knowledge in ways the community can understand in order to learn to live with wildfire rather than fear it. 

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Natasha Saxena Head Shot

Natasha Saxena Regional Firewise Coordinator

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Natasha Saxena

Natasha studied Environmental Communications and minored in Environmental Science and Resource Management at CSU Channel Islands. With her experience climate action planning at her University, she cultivated a love for the environmental field. She enjoys connecting with people and engaging communities, making her a perfect fit to lead Ventura Regional's Firewise USA efforts. She has worked with certified B corporations and nonprofits and brings skills in marketing, facilitation, and event planning.

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Photo of Sara Rodriguez

Sara Rodriguez Operations Assistant

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Sara Rodriguez

Sara joined the Ventura Regional Fire Safe Council in August of 2024. As a daughter of immigrants, she has always dreamed of being able to connect and educate others while also representing her own community. Coming into the VRFSC organization, it was important for her to really focus on reaching out to communities that are often overlooked and ensuring that genuine connections and mutual trust are being built. Educationally, she pursued a degree in Anthropology in 2013 but would soon after move to the East coast to intern for the Walt Disney Company. It was during this time that she was able to understand people on a deeper level as well as find her passion for helping others.

Fast forward to 2024, she left the San Fernando Valley and started to grow roots in Ventura County. It was during this time that she began volunteering with Ventura County Animal Services and wanted to do more with nonprofits. Given her love of working with the community as well as wanting to work for a nonprofit, she soon found herself working for the VRFSC. She strives to be the first point of contact between the VRFSC and the community so that she can provide any and all resources while also establishing positive relationships.

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Headshot of Alissa Goldberg

Alissa Goldberg Fuels & Chipper Coordinator

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Alissa Goldberg

Alissa joined the Ventura Regional Fire Safe Council in August of 2024. She received her degree in Environmental Science and Resource Management from CSU Channel Islands in 2020 and aspired to use her knowledge and experience to help her lifelong community: Ventura County.

Prior to her degree, Alissa worked in the education and research fields flying drones, assisting students with research, and mapping areas of Ventura County. On weekends you can find Alissa hiking with her family, bird watching, and beachcombing. With a passion for helping people and the environment, she is excited to bring her skills to VRFSC as the Chipper and Fuels Coordinator.

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