This week, we’re proud to welcome two new members to our advisory panel: Thomas Gioello and Laura Block. Their addition marks a deliberate step toward shaping Grounded Boots Relief into a more informed, connected, and credible organization.

Advisory panels matter for organizations like ours. We’re small, nimble, and eager, but no one can afford to operate in a vacuum, especially not in the world of disaster relief. The advisory panel exists to keep us grounded in the realities of the field, ensuring that our vision isn’t just ambitious, but also practical, informed, and aligned with the broader emergency management ecosystem. Where the board of directors guides governance and oversight, the advisory panel brings in voices from the trenches: professionals who have walked these paths before, who know the pitfalls, and who can point us toward opportunities we might miss on our own.

The insight Thomas and Laura bring is invaluable. Thomas, with his extensive county-level emergency management background, offers perspective from inside the very systems we aim to support. He understands how counties prioritize, how information flows—or fails to flow—during disasters, and what gaps organizations like ours can realistically fill. His role as a connector to local officials immediately strengthens our credibility, positioning us not as outsiders with good intentions, but as collaborators who understand the needs of the public sector.

Laura, meanwhile, brings years of nonprofit leadership within disaster response. She has seen how organizations of all sizes operate, succeed, or stumble in the heat of a crisis. She knows the importance of logistics, of managing volunteers, of aligning mission with execution, and—perhaps most importantly—of building trust with communities. Nonprofits can sometimes talk past one another, each focused on their own mission. Laura’s presence helps ensure we approach collaboration as partners, not competitors, and that we build bridges instead of silos.

Together, Thomas and Laura extend our vision. They give us direct knowledgeable access to two key worlds: government emergency management and nonprofit disaster response, and help us build credibility in both. They make us sharper, more accountable, and more prepared for the challenges that lie ahead.

We are honored that they saw enough value in what Grounded Boots Relief brings to the table to join us. And we are excited about what their insight, experience, and connections will mean for our ability to serve. With Thomas and Laura alongside us, we are better positioned to fulfill our mission in ways that empower others, close gaps, and move communities toward recovery faster.

On October 1st, we’ll be representing Grounded Boots Relief at the Business & Industry Safety and Environmental Conference in Greensboro. This is an opportunity to show our capabilities, meet members of the public, and connect with emergency managers. Building recognition and credibility is crucial for us as a growing organization. Having Thomas on our side, introducing us to officials already in his network, is a powerful step in showing the value of what we bring.

The first earthquake-recording instrument 
was bronze. In A.D. 132, Chinese philosopher Zhang Heng invented a massive urn ringed with eight dragon heads, each holding a ball above the open mouth of a toad. When an earthquake struck, the shaking triggered a hidden mechanism, causing one or more dragons to drop their balls, showing the direction of the quake. The most astounding part? It reportedly detected an earthquake 400 miles away that wasn’t even felt locally.
Source: usgs.gov

This week I started attending the United Way’s Rising Leaders program, and I left the first class highly encouraged. The program gathers people passionate about helping others—some already serving, others preparing to launch or join nonprofits. Unlike how Sarah and I jumped headfirst into founding Grounded Boots Relief, they’re gaining valuable preparation before they’re fully in the field. I envy that, but I also admire it. Over the coming months, I look forward to learning alongside them and meeting future leaders in our region.

On a practical note, I’ve also been equipping my truck for responses. Somewhere between “pretty sure it was struck by lightning” and “maybe it was an EMP,” both my truck and Sarah’s car had dead batteries on the same day. Coincidence? Possibly. Either way, we’ve added a drawer to the bed and are installing a rack to carry the tools needed for recovery and assessment work.

Lastly, if you know someone looking to part with a street-legal side-by-side, let us know. It’s one of the key pieces of equipment we’re seeking to expand our reach into tough terrain.