Ready for Wildfire | Smart Strategies for Fire-Safe Living

Steve Windhager, Ph.D. Santa Barbara Botanic Garden’s Executive Director 

Steve Windhager, Ph.D., brings a lifelong passion for conservation, native plants, and ecological restoration to his role as executive director of Santa Barbara Botanic Garden. His love for the natural world began in childhood, deepened through the Boy Scouts, and became a professional calling during his tenure at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Texas, where he led the research program and co-founded the Sustainable Sites Initiative. With degrees in philosophy and environmental science, Steve blends theoretical insight with hands-on experience, championing sustainable landscapes and the restoration of damaged ecosystems. His leadership continues to shape the Garden as a national model for native plant conservation and ecological design. 

Supervisor Laura Capps, Chair, Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors  

Supervisor Capps has devoted her career to public service, serving as a White House speechwriter for President Clinton, a communications director on John Kerry’s presidential campaign, an advisor in the United States Senate to Senator Edward Kennedy, and part of Al Gore’s climate change organization.  For six years, she served on the Santa Barbara Unified District School District board of trustees; here, she led the charge from the board to create a more sustainably powered school district. Capps has deep roots in Santa Barbara County, specifically the district she is now serving. The Supervisor was born at Cottage Hospital and spent her early years in Goleta before her family moved to Santa Barbara. 

Capps previously served on the Santa Barbara County Commission for Women, as President of the Community Environmental Council, and on the Board of Trustees for her alma mater, the University of California, Berkeley. She has a Masters from the London School of Economics. 

Fire Captain Chris Olmstead, Santa Barbara County Fire Department  

Chris Olmstead is a seasoned Fire Captain with the Santa Barbara County Fire Department, bringing over 30 years of experience in fire service and emergency response. Throughout his distinguished career, he has served as both a firefighter and a paramedic, demonstrating exceptional expertise in fire code compliance, fire investigation, wildland firefighting, and emergency medical services.

As the Supervising Captain for the Planning and Engineering Section of the Santa Barbara County Fire Department, Chris plays a pivotal role in ensuring fire safety across the region. He oversees fire code reviews, plans assessments, zoning compliance, and fire life safety inspections, ensuring that new developments and construction projects meet state codes, local ordinances, and fire safety standards. His leadership in this domain directly contributes to safeguarding the community and promoting responsible development.

Chris holds a Master’s degree in Fire Protection Engineering from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and is a California State Licensed Engineer in Fire Protection Engineering. His deep technical knowledge, combined with decades of frontline experience, makes him an indispensable asset in the field of fire safety and emergency preparedness.

Matthew Caligiure, Vice President of Allen Construction

Matthew has worn many hats during his 15 years with Allen Construction, and lead various construction projects after the Jesusita Fire, Thomas Fire, and Montecito Debris Flow tragedy.  He is passionate about resiliency and believes that builders in our unique region need to be educated and committed to crafting durable and healthy homes.  Matthew lives in Santa Barbara with his family and is a birder and backcountry enthusiast.   

Scot Pipkin, Director of Education and Engagement

As director of education, Scot Pipkin oversees Santa Barbara Botanic Garden’s educational programs, spanning school field trips, interpretation, digital education, and community classes/tours. He was born and raised in San Diego, where he fell in love with California’s chaparral and other plant communities. After graduating from the University of California, Los Angeles, with a bachelor’s degree in geography and an emphasis in biogeography, Scot worked to share his love for the natural world across the Southwest region. This work included providing environmental education to elementary students, training volunteers to participate in research projects, developing management plans, and developing regional educational efforts. Along the way, he also earned a master’s degree in landscape architecture from the University of Arizona