8/8/2025
Pete Gaynor | Former FEMA Administrator/President of Bright Harbor
Pete Gaynor, former FEMA Administrator and President of Bright Harbor, discusses the preparedness, systems and infrastructure our country and our industry needs to effectively respond to disasters.
In our previous episode with Lew Horne and David Waite, we talked about our industry's response to the January Los Angeles fire disaster and, more generally, the real estate industry’s role in preparedness, immediate response, and rebuilding in these disasters. In this second part of our discussion, Pete offers a broader, 50,000-foot perspective on how the nation is positioned to handle the growing challenges from disasters that we face.
With a distinguished background – including his role in the military, his tenure as FEMA Administrator under the first Trump Administration, and now his leadership at Bright Harbor – Pete brings a unique understanding of the responsibilities shared by both the public and the private sectors in supporting and rebuilding impacted communities.
This conversation is special for two reasons. First, I have looked forward to this discussion ever since the Sonoma fires came to my back door in 2017. And second, this marks the 200th episode of the Leading Voices in Real Estate Podcast. What a milestone! I am so grateful to the guests, listeners of the show, and to ZRG for facilitating this podcast. Check out the archive of the show on the ZRG website or your podcast app!
Thank you for your trust and your continued support!
Resources:
- Bright Harbor
- Pete Gaynor | LinkedIn
- 2025 Homeland Security Threat Forecast: Erosion of Trust
- Project Recovery: Rebuilding Los Angeles after the January 2025 Wildfires
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