TEAM

Strong Water Tech is the professional nexus of Jeff's entrepreneurial spirit and passion for the first responder community. It was through Jeff’s experiences operating as a USFS Engine Contractor working the worst fires in US history, where Jeff recognized that the firefighting industry was in urgent need of innovation. Jeff was struck by the alarming losses and human impact he was experiencing on the front lines and told himself, “We need to do better!” So began Jeff's drive to create a cutting-edge wildfire suppression technology to help our brave first responders in the fight against the modern-day mega-wildfires that are currently ravaging the planet.

Starting at a young age, Jeff pursued a diverse professional background, taking him out of the typical business environment and into the iconoclastic and adventurous world of a professional Mariner and Commercial diver. The seasonal contract work of these professions enabled him to pursue and excel at a variety of action sports (Surfing & Big Mountain Skiing), which strengthened his connection to wildland environments throughout the planet.

It was a life-changing injury, the loss of his dominant arm, sustained in a shipboard accident working as a Professional Mariner on the Bering Sea, that redirected the course of Jeff's life forever. His personal mission became focused on what he would give back to the world.

Jeff remains dedicated to adventure sports, despite the effects of his injury, and is currently well rewarded in his position as an Athletic Ambassador for the Patagonia Company, Save the Waves Foundation and 1% For the Planet Foundation. To Jeff, these honorable nominations have served as inspirational springboards toward creating the sustainable and socially responsible business model of Strong Water Tech Co.

Tim brings 35 years of experience in business and government to SWt. Most recently he spent 15 years in investment banking. Prior to that, he served in state and local government in policy and financial management positions. As a young man, Tim spent four years working in fire prevention and suppression for the US Forest Service. He holds an MBA from the UC Berkeley Haas School of Business.

John “Kent” Hamilton retired from the United States Department of Agriculture – Forest Service in 2020 as the Branch Chief – Aviation Safety Management System after a 37-year career. Kent worked his way up through wildland firefighting operations as an engine crewperson, Arrowhead Hotshot, BLM Alaska and Boise Smokejumper, Air Tactical Supervisor and Aviation Management Specialist. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Geography from the University of California at Berkeley and a Master of Science in Aeronautics from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

Clive Weston is an engineer and 30-year veteran of the Fire Protection Industry, responsible for leading global product and technology organizations.

Before moving to the fire industry, Clive's first role on graduating university was at Thorn EMI Central Research Labs in London, UK working on data communication systems for home entertainment, information and automation (something we now call "the internet".)

The nineties were spent leading electronic fire detection product development, growing from engineering lead for a small division of Thorn EMI to global R&D responsibility for all Tyco International's fire detection products. The latter following the acquisition of the Thorn EMI division by Tyco in 1996.

Clive advanced to a business role early in 2002 and ran the Global Fire Detection product business for Tyco until 2010 when he became the Chief Technology Officer for Tyco Fire Protection Products, the $1B mechanical, chemical and electronic fire protection business within Tyco.

Clive left Tyco, then merged with Johnson Controls (JCI), in 2017. He now helps guide companies like Strong Water Tech and walks his dog, Charlie.

Peter brings more than 25 years of branding experience to the Strong Water Tech team. Drawing from his experience in having been a key strategic player in the launch of more than 300 new brands, Peter is leading strategy and positioning to ensure Strong Water Tech is more than just a product, but also a brand that becomes synonymous with safe, sustainable and effective fire suppression.

As the CEO and founder of Portsmouth, New Hampshire-based Tiny Bully Agency, Peter has used his creative prowess to help grow major brands such as GE Healthcare, Waste Management, Lindt and Bauer. He also has extensive experience growing fledgling brands from the ground up, having played a key role in the launch and acquisition of dozens of B2C and B2B brands in a diverse set of market categories. Additionally, he is an entrepreneur and the author of "LAUNCH," a playbook of proven strategic principles that guide his approach to branding.

When Peter isn't enjoying the waves with his family, he can be found skiing or brainstorming his next big project. He is passionate about building brands that solve problems while remaining true to the environment.

Al Ramadan is a co-founding partner of Play Bigger Advisors, the world's first category design firm. Play Bigger helps entrepreneurs and CEOs create and monetize new categories.

Prior to Play Bigger, Al co-founded Quokka Sports, which pioneered data-intensive sports immersion on the internet and revolutionized the way people experienced sports. He then joined Macromedia—and Adobe, after Adobe acquired Macromedia—where he spent almost 10 years changing the way people think about great digital experiences on the web and on then-new mobile devices. At Adobe, Al led teams that created the Rich Internet Applications category and helped develop the discipline of experience design.

Al started his career as a mathematician and software engineer—an old-school data scientist. He cut his teeth writing Fortran 77 on a VAX 11/780 and still writes the odd piece of Python code. In the '80s he built real-time analytics engines for big steel manufacturers and brewing companies. In the early '90s he applied data science to Australia's Americas Cup—an innovation in sports performance analytics. His work in sailing led directly to the idea for Quokka.

Al loves the outdoors and remote expeditions. He has hiked the John Muir Trail, sailed in the Sydney/Hobart yacht race, surfed Mavericks, lived on remote atolls in the Pacific and Indian oceans, and can often be found bombing back country lines around Tahoe on a split board. He is also a mentor, father and favorite uncle to an ever–growing circle of next–generation superstars.

Nell Newman launched Newman's Own^® Organics: The Second Generation with business partner Peter Meehan in 1993. “Great tasting products that happen to be organic” is the company's motto. She is the President of the company, which started as a division of Newman's Own and became independent in 2001. Nell's responsibilities are in the areas of product development and public relations.

The daughter of actors Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward, Nell had an early introduction to natural foods at their rural Connecticut home. The family had a small apple orchard and a few chickens. Nell learned to cook from her mother and how to catch fish from her father. While in college, she continued to experiment in the kitchen, and is still the designated chef when home for family holiday dinners.

Nell attended the College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor, Maine, graduating with a B.A. in human ecology. She worked briefly at the Environmental Defense Fund in New York, but, preferring a more rural environment, later moved to Northern California. There, she became the Executive Director of the Ventana Wilderness Sanctuary, which was working to reestablish the bald eagle in central California. After two years, she left to become the Development Director for the Santa Cruz Predatory Bird Research Group, the nonprofit responsible for the captive breeding and restoration of the peregrine falcon in California.

Nell's commitment to organic foods and sustainable agriculture led her to convince her father to let her establish an organic division of Newman's Own. She won him over by creating a completely organic Thanksgiving dinner, and then suggesting organic food products for the new Newman's Own Organics' line. "All of Newman's Own Organics' products are ones that Dad enjoyed, so we chose ones that he really loved," states Nell. She credits her parents, too, with teaching her by example to be socially responsible, politically involved and philanthropic.

An ardent supporter of sustainable agriculture, Nell has participated as a featured speaker and as a panel member talking about her commitment to organic products and producing snacks that appeal to the general public. "By utilizing organic ingredients, we're supporting the environment through the growth of organic agriculture," says Nell.

Nell has served on the Peregrine Fund board in Boise, Idaho and currently serves as a board member of the Wholesome Wave FoundationEcoTrust, and Allergy Kids.

Nell's thoughts on how to make a difference are highlighted in her book, The Newman's Own Organics Guide to a Good Life: Simple Measures That Benefit You and the Place You Live (Villard, 2003), written with science writer Joseph D'Agnese.

It is filled with realistic, practical advice on why living a more environmentally conscious life helps us all.

Rick Ridgeway is currently Patagonia's Vice President of Environmental Initiatives and Special Media Projects. Rick and his team develop, implement and promote the second two of the company's three-part mission statement to make the best product, cause no unnecessary harm, and use business to inspire and implement solutions to the environmental crisis. In this capacity, his department oversees the company's environmental grant-making, internal and external environmental education, and special multi-year environmental projects including Freedom to Roam, a coalition founded by Patagonia to seek protection for wildlife corridors. Rick also manages Patagonia Productions, the company's division that publishes book and produces films.

Before joining Patagonia, Rick was owner/president of Adventure Photo & Film, building it into the world's most recognized outdoor stock photo and film agency before successfully selling it to focus on writing and filmmaking. At the same time, he was active in the outdoor equipment industry, working as consultant for the Kelty Pack Co. for over 20 years.

In addition to his business history, Rick is recognized as one of the world's foremost mountaineers and adventurers, and is known to many through his writing, photography and Emmy award-winning filmmaking. Along with three companions, Ridgeway became the first American to summit K2, considered the hardest mountain in the world to climb, and he has done many other significant climbs and explorations on all continents. He has produced and directed over 30 adventure shows for television. His 40 articles have appeared in Outside, National Geographic and many other magazines. He is the author of six books, including the highly acclaimed Seven Summits, The Shadow of Kilimanjaro and Below Another Sky. Rolling Stone magazine called Ridgeway "the real Indiana Jones," and National Geographic recently honored him with its "Lifetime Achievement in Adventure" award. Rick lives with his wife in Ojai, California, and they have three grown children.

Arlene Blum PhD, Biophysical chemist, author and mountaineer, is a Visiting Scholar in Chemistry at the University of California, Berkeley and executive director of the Green Science Policy Institute. The Institute brings government, industry, scientists and citizens groups together worldwide to support chemical policies to protect human health and the global environment. Blum's research and policy work has contributed to stopping the use of toxic flame retardants in children's sleepwear and other products globally. Her current "mountain," which she considers her life's most challenging and important, is to change policy to reduce the use of harmful chemicals.

Arlene Blum also led the first American—and all-women's—ascent of Annapurna I, considered one of the world's most dangerous and difficult mountains, co-led the first women's team to climb Denali, completed the Great Himalayan Traverse across the mountain regions of Bhutan, Nepal, and India, and hiked the length of the European Alps with her baby daughter on her back. She is the author of “Annapurna: A Woman's Place” and “Breaking Trail: A Climbing Life.”

Blum's awards include a selection by the U.K.’s Guardian as one of the world's 100 most inspiring women, and a selection by the National Women's History Project as one of 100 "Women Taking the Lead to Save Our Planet," a selection as an American Association for the Advancement of Science Fellow, and recent election to the Hall of Mountaineering Excellence. Her research paper on flame retardants in baby products was chosen as the outstanding paper of the 2011 by the Journal Environmental Science and Technology.

She currently serves on the board of ISET, which solves climate, water and disaster problems in South Asia and advisory boards for Environmental Building News, Healthy Child Healthy Word, and the Plastic Pollution Coalition.

More information at greensciencepolicy.org and arleneblum.com.