Our Team

Two women smiling and wearing floral leis, standing in front of a backdrop with the words 'Hawai'i's UHAM' and various logos, at a celebratory event.

Elizabeth Pickett


Elizabeth Pickett (pictured left), Co-Executive Director at Hawaiʻi Wildfire Management Organization since 2008, leads wildfire mitigation efforts in Hawaiʻi and the Pacific. She emphasizes collaboration, coordination, and inclusivity for wildfire readiness.

Additionally, she serves as Vice President of the Big Island Wildfire Coordinating Group and co-founded the Pacific Fire Exchange project. Elizabeth holds a Master of Environmental Science from Yale and a Bachelor's Degree from UC Berkeley. Beyond work, she enjoys kitesurfing, painting, and family time with her son, Laith.

Nani Barretto


Andrea "Nani" Barretto (pictured right), HWMO's Co-Executive Director since September 2019, leads with collaboration, inspiration, and clarity. With experience in public service and social science, she holds a Master's from Johns Hopkins and a Bachelor's from Emory. Nani enjoys parenting three children, caring for five backyard chickens, a new puppy, and a happy marriage.

  • Stephen Van Bueren

    Stephen Van Bueren

    Internal Operations Manager

  • A woman smiling at sunrise or sunset on a mountain, wearing a red-orange flower crown and jewelry, with volcanic landscape and clouds in the background.

    Amanda Uowolo

    Executive Assistant for Technical Programs & Partnerships

  • A woman smiling outdoors with trees and green foliage in the background, wearing a purple cap, a gray athletic jacket, a patterned neck gaiter, and a backpack.

    Harriet Parsons

    Firewise Program Coordinator
    Hawaiʻi Island

  • A smiling woman with shoulder-length dark hair outdoors with lush green foliage in the background.

    Cassandra Smith

    Firewise Program Coordinator
    Maui County

  • A smiling woman with long blonde hair, wearing a black blazer and pearl necklace, standing indoors near a window with a blurred green landscape in the background.

    Erin Conway

    Firewise Program Coordinator for Oʻahu and Kauaʻi

  • A woman with dark hair tied back, smiling, wearing a pink blouse with a white ruffled collar, standing outdoors with trees and greenery in the background.

    Anuhea Kānealiʻi

    Firewise Support Specialist for Homestead Communities

  • A woman smiling outdoors wearing a white cap, surrounded by green foliage.

    Erin Peyton

    Firewise and Outreach Coordinator for Molokaʻi

  • A woman with dark hair and a white flower in her ear, smiling softly in an indoor setting with bookshelves in the background.

    Liliana Napoleon

    Community Engagement & Outreach Specialist

  • Beach Naupaka

    Jasmyn Welch

    Community Engagement & Firewise Support Specialist

  • A woman smiling outdoors in a mountainous area with lush green vegetation, a blue sky with clouds, and distant mountains in the background.

    Sara Gabrielson

    Pacific Fire Science Exchange Program Coordinator

  • A woman taking a selfie near the coast with rocky cliffs, the ocean, and green grassy land in the background during sunset.

    Heather Forester

    Community Wildfire Planner

  • A smiling woman with long dark hair, wearing a pink top with a orange fern pattern, standing in a lush jungle with dense trees and green foliage.

    Melissa Kunz

    Wildfire Collaborations Manager

  • Two smiling people taking a selfie outdoors under a rainbow in a cloudy sky, with trees in the background. One person is wearing a teal cap and a bright green shirt, the other is wearing a wide-brimmed hat and glasses.

    Dana Aina

    Home Assessment Program Coordinator

  • A woman with curly brown hair, smiling, in a gray blazer, wearing a striped shirt and a layered pearl necklace, standing indoors near large windows.

    Jen Myers

    Communications and Outreach Manager

  • Eric Moller

    Eric Moller

    Wildfire Mitigation Program Support Specialist

  • A woman with short dark hair and a septum piercing smiling and leaning against a tree in a forest setting.

    Ashley Bare

    Geospatial Fire Data Specialist

  • Man with dreadlocks wearing a gray suit smiling indoors with wooden paneling and a framed floral picture in the background.

    Orlando Smith

    Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Specialist

  • Mike Mundon - Wildfire Mitigation Specialist

    Mike Mundon

    Wildfire Mitigation Specialist

  • Karen Pang

    Karen Pang

    Bookkeeper

View our Staff Bios

Board of Directors

  • A smiling middle-aged man with gray hair, wearing a black collared shirt, sitting indoors with leafy plant in the background.

    Jack Minassian

    HWMO Chair

    Associate Professor & Fire Science Program Coordinator, Hawaiʻi Community College

  • A smiling man wearing a light-colored shirt and earphones taking a selfie outdoors with mountains and a cloudy sky in the background.

    Dan Dennison

    HWMO Vice-Chair

    Conservation Communications LLC

  • A male police officer wearing a gray cap and blue uniform, smiling, indoors with a window showing greenery and parked cars in the background.

    Troy D. Gibson, Sr.

    HWMO Secretary

    Incident Commander, Hawaiʻi Fire Department

  • A young man with blonde hair and blue eyes wearing a colorful, patterned Hawaiian shirt, standing outdoors in front of a large green palm leaf and a building.

    Cody Winchester

    HWMO Treasurer

    Senior Planner  G70

  • Smiling woman wearing sunglasses and a patterned top, standing outdoors in front of a wooden fence.

    M. Carolyn Stewart

    HWMO Co-Founder

    Environmental Planner

  • A man with a beard and short hair standing outdoors in front of green foliage, wearing a plaid shirt.

    Mark Thorne, Ph.D.

    HWMO Co-Founder

    Range and Livestock Specialist - UH-Manoa Cooperative Extension

  • A man with gray hair and a mustache standing outdoors near a green fence, holding a sign with partial text visible.

    Patrick Durland

    HWMO Board Member

    Wildland Fire Manager & Consultant

  • Woman with long wavy brown hair wearing a white shirt, a yellow flower in her hair, and jewelry including necklaces, smiling outdoors with a greenhouse in the background.

    Sofia Luczak

    HWMO Board Member

    Community Planning Specialist, Shake Energy Collaborative

  • Close-up of a smiling, middle-aged man outdoors with trees and sky in the background.

    Troy Whitman

    New HWMO Board Member - Welcome!

    Electric Utility Wildfire Expert

View Our Board of Directors Bios

HWMO Organization and Operations Chart:

A chart titled '2025 HWMO Program/Org Chart' shows organizational structure for an administrative and programmatic framework. It is divided into two main sections: 'Administrative' and 'Programmatic.' The administrative section lists contract services, financial processes, and governance details, while the programmatic section lists various fire and community safety programs, outreach efforts, grants, and partnerships. There are also key circles with the names 'Nani' and 'Elizabeth' indicating leadership, and a green side label highlighting 'Resilient Landscapes Safe & Effective Response.'