About The Collective.
The Wildfire Industry Collective (WIC) is a non-profit business league founded by former wildland firefighters and industry professionals. WIC aspires to make tangible changes.
Who We Are.
Wildfire management is in need of modernization. Change comes by providing wildland firefighters with advanced equipment, innovative products, and state-of-the-art services. 21st-century solutions mean better planning tools for fire prevention, mitigation, and preparedness. These advancements not only benefit the firefighters but also safeguard the communities and natural resources they protect from wildfires.
WIC’s multifaceted mission includes safeguarding federal discretionary budgets related to wildfires, and ensuring firefighters have access to necessary tools, products, and services each season. Simultaneously, WIC seeks to bridge the communication gap between industry and federal and state customers, fostering a dialogue platform for knowledge exchange and addressing concerns.
Crucial to WIC’s approach is its emphasis on collective action. By uniting stakeholders from local communities to federal offices, industry leaders, and frontline firefighters, WIC enhances mutual understanding and collaboration. This unity aims to spur innovation, encourage best practices, and effectively tackle the escalating wildfire challenges.
At its core, WIC is a proactive collective committed to championing a unified response to one of the most formidable challenges we face today.
What We Do.
1.
Proactive
Solutions
WIC offers a unified and proactive approach to the escalating issue of wildfires.
2.
Collective
Action
WIC firmly believes in the power of unification. By bringing together stakeholders together.
3.
Resource
Protection
WIC is committed to safeguarding federal discretionary budgets.
4.
Communication Facilitator
WIC fosters an interactive platform for knowledge exchange and resolution.
5.
Unified
Advocacy
Above all, WIC is committed to championing a collective, proactive response against the formidable challenges of wildfire management.
Meet Our Team.
In addition to her field experience, Kat holds a Bachelor’s degree in Interpersonal Communication and a Masters of Business Administration. She has spent the last 13 years in sales and strategy within the private sector and currently serves as the Director of Government Development at Pano, a state of the art wildfire detection solution.
As the spouse of a 20+ year wildland firefighter, Kat is deeply committed to advancing the well-being of wildland firefighters. She is passionate about advocating for equitable pay, improved mental health resources, affordable housing, and access to cutting-edge tools and technology to support those on the front lines of wildfire response.
Brittany Black is an executive leader driving innovation at the intersection of technology and wildfire management. At BurnBot, Inc., she spearheads operations with a dual focus on transforming fuels management through cutting-edge robotics while accelerating market adoption of new solutions. Her leadership approach combines operational excellence with strategic vision, drawing on her extensive background in international forestry and fire management to develop purpose-built solutions that address critical wildland fire challenges.
Her career spans executive roles across fire technology and aerial firefighting organizations, including Intterra, Overwatch Imaging, Erickson Incorporated, and Columbia Helicopters, where she consistently partnered to deliver advancements in fire detection, monitoring, and suppression capabilities. Brittany has been a champion of integrating precision robotics and automation into traditional forestry practices, creating safer and more efficient methods for reducing hazardous fuels.
Brittany excels at bridging operational innovation with market growth, leveraging her deep understanding of wildfire management ecosystems to identify high-impact technological interventions. Her work with international fuels and forestry programs has positions her as a thought leader in fire resilience strategies across diverse landscapes and fire regimes. At BurnBot, she leads cross-functional teams developing autonomous solutions that are transforming how agencies and landowners approach fire prevention at scale. She holds an MBA from the University of Washington's Michael G. Foster School of Business.
With a fierce commitment to bettering the conditions of firefighters, Michelle continues to speak about her experience and the issues facing wildland firefighters in front of legislators and federal agencies. She continues to push for a national conversation about the issues facing our federal wildland firefighters and works to improve their pay and wellbeing.
Michelle works in the natural resources industry and holds a Master’s Degree in Business from the University of Findlay and a Master’s of Financial Planning from the University of Alabama.
Executive Team.
As the founder and Executive Director of the Wildfire Industry Collective, a non-profit business league dedicated to supporting wildland firefighters and the industry as a whole, he is deeply committed to the welfare of wildland firefighters, natural resources, and the communities that rely on both. Leveraging his boots-on the-ground expertise, strategic communication skills, and understanding of the policy space, Jonathon consistently secures desired outcomes for his clients. His work focuses on advancing tangible international and domestic conservation objectives on behalf of NGOs, tech start-ups, and Fortune 500 companies, forging strong partnerships with state and federal government agencies, legislatures, community leaders, and other stakeholders.
Jonathon holds a master's degree in international studies from the University of Washington and graduated Summa Cum Laude from Oregon State University with a degree in political science.
