From the NBBJ Monday Arpil 27, 2015 By Gary Quackenbush: Meet the 2015 Forty Under 40 professionals – North Bay Business Journal – North San Francisco Bay Area, Sonoma, Marin, Napa counties
Gabe Kearney, 33
Safety Officer, Burning Man, Petaluma
Overseeing all safety aspects for one of the largest music festivals in the U.S., Gabe Kearney is also in charge of risk management for Burning Man, an event that makes Black Rock City the 6th largest population center in Nevada, bringing a $55 million boost to the area’s economy in just a few days.
Greatest challenge: Ensuring the safety of 75,000 people attending Burning Man.
What you wanted to be when you grew up: A police officer. My grandfather was with SFPD and my mom graduated from the SFPD Academy, but chose to raise her family instead.
Greatest professional accomplishment: “I was honored to receive the Louis Peterka Award in 2010 for outstanding commitment to emergency management by the Sonoma County Fire and Emergency Services Department.”
Best Advice received: Stay true to yourself.
Next professional goal: Beginning to work with Coldwell Banker as a real estate agent.
Community and nonprofit activities: Councilmember, City of Petaluma; Sonoma County Law Enforcement Chaplain Service NorCal Deputy Field Operations Coordinator; Team Rubicon (disaster relief) Board Member, and Friends of the SRJC Petaluma Campus Trust.
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