Our Los Angeles-based fire and life safety unit, MySafe:LA has expanded the role of its advisory board during the past few months. The board, which meets every 60 days includes a variety of experts who share their opinions, expertise, and experience to help MySafe:LA better execute its mission of teaching fire and life safety.

“The advisory board is an essential part of our educational process,” Cameron Barrett, Director of Education stated. “We discuss important topics, and the input we receive helps guide future programs and decisions.” The chair of the advisory board is also a Director of The Safe Community Project and served the LAFD for 32 years. Retired Assistant Chief Dean Cathey echoes the sentiment that group collaboration is essential in today’s rapidly changing world. “Many of the kids we speak to are completely involved with video games and technology. If we were to show up with paper documents, diagrams, and instructions, they’d turn us right off. They love firefighters, but once their gone, it’s back to the TV or video game,” Dean remarked after a recent advisory meeting. “These meetings help us focus on engagement, and on changing these student’s behavior. It’s essential for us.”

The advisory board includes a variety of specialists, including:

Dean Cathey — Retired Assistant Chief with the LAFD, Safe Community Project Director, Advisory Board Chairperson

Greg Gibson — Battalion Chief & Head Chaplain, LAFD (B1-A), and former LAFD Education Manager

John Drake — Battalion Chief, LAFD (B-14A)

Jayson Johnson — Firefighter/Paramedic, LAFD (76-C)

William Whitney — CERT Trainer and Battalion 1 Coordinator, MySafe:LA Presentation Communications Manager

Terry Sanders — Two-time Academy Award winning Producer, Former UCLA Professor, CalArts Film School co-founder

George Rajacich, MD, FACS — Physician, Electronic Health Records expert, CEO, Entrepreneur