August Speaker – Brian Frack

August Topic – Making the Most of Retirement

Brian grew up in the Pacific Northwest just outside of Portland, OR. He graduated from the US Naval Academy with a BS in Computer Science and served in the US Navy on a fast attack nuclear submarine out of Pearl Harbor, and then in Naval Intelligence. Following his service in the Navy, Brian moved to Marin to join a small management consulting firm. He soon met his bride-to-be, and shortly after marrying they embarked on a three-year “honeymoon” to Venezuela to teach in an American International School where Brian taught programming and software applications and was the network administrator. After they returned to the US, Brian attended Golden Gate Seminary in Mill Valley and served as an associate pastor at Lucas Valley Church for over a decade. Brian is now a CFP® practitioner helping people to clarify what they value most in life and guiding them towards living that out. He lives in San Rafael with his wife and three sons.

September Speaker: Wes Radez

September Topic:  Environmental Journalism in a Changing World – How Bay Nature Magazine informs and inspires amidst climate change, artificial intelligence, and policy turmoil

 Wes Radez, as Executive Director / Publisher at Bay Nature, leads their efforts connecting Bay Area people to their natural world.   Wes is a community builder passionate about environmental stewardship. Before arriving at Bay Nature, Wes was the Director of Development and Marketing for the Oakland Parks and Recreation Foundation, managing and investing assets in partnership with community and civic groups. Wes has more than 15 years of management, business development and marketing experience, drawing on experiences as varied as growing a national wireless brand, leading a venture-backed startup and building an international ecommerce business. Wes has an MBA from the Yale School of Management and a bachelor’s degree in international relations from Stanford University.

When you read Bay Nature magazine, it’s clear that these are extraordinary times for conservation, biodiversity, and climate resiliency in the San Francisco Bay Area. As the voice of the regional environmental community, Bay Nature is meeting this moment by keeping readers informed and connecting them with others who are passionate about local nature.