Portfolio
This portfolio highlights selected projects that reflect Wooden Eye Resource Management’s approach to community wildfire resilience. Work shown here spans community-based mitigation, technical assistance, training, and national program support.
Projects range from hands-on community facilitation to GIS-based storytelling and implementation-focused planning.
National & Program-Level Support
Community Mitigation Assistance Team (CMAT)
National technical assistance for community wildfire mitigation
Role: Team Lead / Technical Specialist
Client: U.S. Forest Service (via Coalitions & Collaboratives, Inc.)
Provided technical assistance and implementation-focused support to communities across the U.S. through the Community Mitigation Assistance Team (CMAT), including facilitation, coordination, and documentation to support community wildfire mitigation planning, capacity-building, and project implementation.
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Lowman Community Wildfire Mitigation Action Plan - Assignment Report
Boise National Forest, Idaho - 2024
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One More Day - Assignment Report
Croatan National Forest, NC - 2023
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Actions Speak Louder than Words - Assignment Report
Sevier County, TN - 2022
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Aligning to Action - Assignment Report
Lake County, CA - 2021
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Greater Santa Fe Fireshed Coalition - Assignment Report
Santa Fe National Forest, NM - 2021
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Partnering to Move Mitigation Forward - Assignment Report
Pike San Isabel National Forest, CO - 2020
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CMAT Ignite Talk
A quick 6 minute video about CMAT’s guiding principles for more efficient and effective community wildfire mitigation. (2021)
Community Navigators Program
Implementation-focused technical assistance for wildfire resilience funding
Role: Community Navigator / Technical Assistance Provider
Client: Watershed Research and Training Center / Fire Adapted Communities Network (FAC Net)
Provided technical assistance to underrepresented and capacity-limited communities navigating wildfire resilience funding and implementation, including application support, project scoping, partner coordination, and post-award readiness. Support focused on helping communities translate ideas into fundable, implementable projects and build systems to carry work forward.
Community-based Projects
Haw Creek Firewise Program
Fire Adaptation Support
Role: Fire Adaptation Professional and Consultant
Client: Haw Creek Community Association, Asheville, NC
Supported a large, active neighborhood in building wildfire resilience through community workshops, risk assessment training, mitigation action planning, and implementation systems to support ongoing Firewise efforts.
Camp Grier Work Day
Community-based wildfire mitigation implementation
Role: Project Coordinator / On-the-Ground Support
Client: Camp Grier (via local partners)
Supported a community work day focused on on-the-ground wildfire mitigation at Camp Grier, coordinating volunteers, partners, and implementation activities to reduce wildfire risk and support safer conditions for camp facilities and surrounding areas.
Fire on the Land
Video storytelling for prescribed fire in Western North Carolina
Role: Project Support / Coordination
Client: Partner-led initiative
Supported the dissemination of the Fire on the Land video, a storytelling piece focused on prescribed fire in Western North Carolina. The video was used to support outreach, education, and shared understanding around the role of fire in land stewardship, and to elevate partner-created resources within broader wildfire resilience conversations.
GIS, StoryMaps, & Program Hubs
Community Mitigation Assistance Team (CMAT) StoryMap
Program storytelling and impact communication
Role: Technical Specialist / Content & Storytelling Support
Client: U.S. Forest Service (via Coalitions & Collaboratives, Inc.)
Supported the development of a StoryMap highlighting the Community Mitigation Assistance Team (CMAT), documenting the program’s approach, scope, and impacts across communities nationwide. The StoryMap was designed to support communication with partners and stakeholders, elevate community experiences, and clearly convey CMAT’s role in advancing community wildfire mitigation and implementation.
AIM Grant Hub (ArcGIS Hub)
Program-wide information and coordination platform
Role: Technical Specialist / Content & Systems Support
Client: Coalitions & Collaboratives, Inc. (COCO)
Supported the development of the AIM Grant Hub, a centralized ArcGIS Hub site designed to support grant recipients, partners, and program staff. The hub serves as a single access point for program resources, guidance, timelines, and shared information, helping improve coordination, transparency, and consistency across a national grant program.
Appalachian RC&D Fire Adapted Communities (FAC) Coalition StoryMap
Regional collaboration and wildfire resilience storytelling
Role: Technical Specialist / GIS & Storytelling Support
Client: Appalachian RC&D FAC Coalition
Supported the development of a StoryMap highlighting the Appalachian RC&D Fire Adapted Communities (FAC) Coalition, documenting regional collaboration, community partners, and wildfire resilience efforts across the region. The StoryMap was designed to support communication, coordination, and shared understanding among partners, funders, and communities.
Mountain Valleys Cost-Share Program
Private land wildfire mitigation support
Role: Wildfire Preparedness Coordinator
Client: Mountain Valleys Resource Conservation & Development Council
Supported the development and implementation of a private-land cost-share program to help landowners reduce wildfire risk through on-the-ground mitigation. Work included landowner outreach, project coordination, and alignment with partner and funding requirements to support defensible space and hazardous fuels reduction efforts.
Hands-On Learning Tools
Wildfire Mitigation Learning Diorama
Hands-on tool for community education and engagement
Role: Designer / Facilitator
Client: Community workshops and wildfire preparedness trainings
Developed a physical diorama to support hands-on learning during community wildfire mitigation workshops. The diorama is used to help residents visualize home ignition zone concepts, understand how wildfire interacts with structures and vegetation, and explore practical mitigation actions in a tangible, accessible way.
The tool supports facilitated discussion, shared learning, and clearer understanding of mitigation priorities—particularly for audiences who benefit from visual and interactive learning.
Testimonials
Dakota Wagner, former Southeast Program Manager, Forest Stewards Guild
“Jen of Wooden Eye is a wonderful collaborator and community organizer. Whether it be putting together a brochure on wildfire preparedness or leading a group of 30+ people on a community workday, the care she brings to each project is contagious and inspires change.”
Jonathan Bruno, CEO, Coalitions and Collaboratives, Inc.
“Jen Gustafson is an indispensable asset to Coalitions and Collaboratives, contributing to various aspects of our work with exceptional skill and dedication. She has played a vital role in the success of the Action and Implementation Program, contributing to program design and strategic development. Jen’s innovative thinking and insightful contributions have transformed ideas into actionable plans, ensuring the program’s effectiveness.
As a member of the USDA Interagency Community Mitigation Assistance Team, Jen’s expertise and leadership qualities shine through. As a valuable Team Lead Trainee, she is instrumental in guiding and inspiring others and developing the highest quality reports and maps possible. Check out her latest work here.
Jen’s talent as a graphic designer has been instrumental in developing captivating visual outreach tools. Her designs effectively communicate complex ideas, capturing the interest of our target audience. Additionally, her expertise as a cartographer enables her to create accurate and impactful maps that support communities across the country.
Beyond her technical skills, Jen’s positive attitude and professionalism make her a pleasure to work with. She consistently meets deadlines and approaches her work with enthusiasm, demonstrating her commitment to excellence.
If you’re looking for someone who combines exceptional skills, innovative thinking, and a collaborative nature, Jen Gustafson is the ideal choice. Her contributions will undoubtedly make a significant impact on any project she takes on. I wholeheartedly recommend her for any endeavor, confident that she will exceed your expectations.”
Wesley Sketo, former Wildfire Mitigation Forester, NC Forest Service
“Since 2020, I have collaborated with Jen on outreach efforts to inform North Carolina residents on their risk from wildfire and developing plans of action to reduce that risk. This has occurred through her involvement with the Appalachian FAC Coalition, as a recipient of CoCo’s AIM Grant founding the McDowell County Wildfire Network and then the Mountain Valleys Mitigation Cost Share program and lastly as cadre for the Mitigation Best Practices Course and New CMAT Member training. Her ability to develop relationships with Firewise USA resident leaders and other community members drove on-the-ground successes in the communities in which she worked. Her involvement with Colorado-based Coalitions and Collaboratives and nationwide Community Mitigation Assistance Team assignments for the US Forest Service only provide a deeper experience pool and wider professional network for accomplishing the goal of building Fire Adapted Communities.”
Jonathan Hartsell, Executive Director, Blue Ridge RC&D
“Jen Gustafson is an excellent planner, facilitator, and most importantly listener. She is able to identify individual or project needs and chart a well thought out plan forward. She has successfully worked with numerous communities, partnerships, and colleagues to positively impact improving wildfire resiliency across the United States. Jen's talent working with people is exemplary”
Frank M. Riley Jr, Executive Director, Chestatee Chattahoochee RC&D Council
“Jen Haas Gustafson is a true Rock Star in our world of wildfire education, prevention, and community involvement. When it comes to getting things done, Jen excels, and the quality of her work is always first class. We have worked with Jen for several years while developing the Appalachian RC&D FAC Coalition and she is one of the reasons it is successful today. Her dedication to her work is without question and when asked, Jen will always go the extra mile to make a project better than expected. I highly recommend Jen and Wooden Eye Services to help build your projects, systems, and programs.”
