Join us on March 11, 2026 from 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm for a special Meet the Leader Night featuring Joseph Nordlinger, CEO of the Napa Communities Firewise Foundation (NCFF).
With more than two decades of leadership experience and a deep personal commitment to wildfire preparedness, Joe brings a powerful blend of professional expertise and on-the-ground knowledge to Napa County.
Joe founded The Ascent Services Group in 2002 and grew it into one of North America’s top Technology and Life Sciences consulting firms with nearly 1,200 employees. His background in strategic planning, organizational leadership, and scalable service delivery has significantly shaped his work at NCFF—where under his guidance, the organization has doubled in size and secured more than $100 million in grant funding over the past four years.
As chairman of the Mt. Veeder Fire Safe Council, a volunteer firefighter, and a longtime Napa County resident and landowner, Joe brings a unique, firsthand understanding of wildfire risk. His innovative “master resilience planning” approach bridges private sector solutions with fire safety expertise to create sustainable, community-wide wildfire mitigation strategies.
Outside of his professional life, Joe is an avid outdoorsman—snowboarding, running, cycling, and fly fishing—all passions that fuel his commitment to protecting the natural beauty of Napa Valley.
Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from a leader at the forefront of Napa County’s wildfire resiliency efforts!
Leadership Napa Valley Alumni Walk & Talk at Moore Creek Park
The Napa County Regional Park and Open Space District is looking forward to hosting a walk and talk field trip event with the Alumni group of Leadership Napa Valley at our Moore Creek Park location near St. Helena. This event is planned from 10:00am – 12:30pm on Saturday May 16, 2026.
Since our inception in 2006, the Napa Open Space District has protected more than 6,000 acres of watersheds, forests and other open spaces, built and now operates Ecocamp Berryessa as a youth outdoor education camp, and constructed and/or operates over 75 miles of recreational trails. The District also manages and provides recreational access to another 9,000 acres of open space owned by other agencies, including three State Parks within Napa County. The District also sponsors numerous outdoor community events and educational programming for youth.
While the Napa Open Space District manages or owns many different trails and parks throughout Napa County, Moore Creek Park was the first property that the District purchased and turned into the park it is today. With a well deserved reputation, the miles of trails in the two units of Moore Creek Park are heavily used by locals and visitors alike and the park is a key part in an unbroken stretch of over 9,000 acres of protected lands that encompass the entirety of the Moore Creek watershed.
The park itself stands as an example of what the Open Space District is capable of creating, even under funding constraints, through creativity and community partnerships. This location will serve as an excellent focal point for a conversation with your group about the work of the District throughout the county, and we’re looking forward to showcasing the park and its trails.
Where: Moore Creek Park - 2602 Chiles Pope Valley Rd, St Helena, CA 94574 (Google Map)
When: Saturday, May 16, 2926 – 10:00am
Note: There is almost no cell reception shortly after turning east off Silverado Trail and none in the parking lot at the park. Please look at the map link ahead of time.
What to expect: We’ll meet in the main parking lot and walk along the Moore Creek and Redux trails leading to the center of the Moore Creek Unit of the park. The route is mostly level with only gentle inclines or very short steeper segments, but is on unpaved natural surfaces. In total, the walk out and back out will be approximately 2.5 miles.
What to Bring and Wear:
· Closed toed footwear with traction like hiking boots or running shoes is best.
· Water and snacks are never a bad idea, although this walk will be only moderate length.
· If you usually hike with hiking poles, feel free to bring them.
· Sun protection like sunglasses, hats, and/or sunscreen.
· Clothing layers are often a good idea at this location, depending on weather conditions. It’s likely to be a bit chilly first thing in the morning, warming up significantly approaching midday.
If you have questions about mileage, terrain, or what to expect, feel free to contact Ryan at rayers@ncrposd.org.
LEADERSHIP NAPA VALLEY
PO Box 686
Napa, CA 94559
info@leadershipnapavalley.org
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