Genesee Fire Protection District Board of Director Candidates
The Board of Directors election will be held on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, during the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. The election is being conducted as a mail ballot election. At this election, the electors of the District shall vote for Directors to serve the following terms of office on the Board of Directors of the District:
- Three Directors for Four-Year Terms
- Two Directors for Two-Year Terms
The individuals nominated and background information provided by the candidates are as follows:
Greg Klaiber for Four-Year Term
I have been a resident of the Genesee Fire Protection District for five years. Before moving to Genesee in 2019, I spent most of my life in Evanston, Illinois, where my wife, Nancy, and I raised our family.
My career in public safety began in 1985 when I joined the Evanston Fire Department as a Firefighter/Paramedic. Over 31 years, I advanced through the ranks, serving as Fire Captain, Division Chief of Emergency Medical Services, Deputy Chief of Operations, and ultimately Fire Chief in 2010. As Fire Chief, I was responsible for protecting a community of 80,000 residents, overseeing all operations, staffing, and planning for a 110-member department with an annual operating budget of $16 million.
After retiring from the Evanston Fire Department in 2016, I was hired by Northwestern University as their Director of Emergency Management. In this role, I managed emergency operations planning, implementation, and disaster recovery for both the Evanston and Chicago campuses. In 2019, I founded Klaiber Consulting, a firm specializing in disaster management. For the last four years I have been a member of the Genesee Fire and Safety Committee, and have chaired the GFSC for the last two years.
I am running for the GFPD Board because I believe in community service. In Evanston, I served on multiple boards and committees, including the Evanston K-8 School Board. I have been a member of the Genesee Fire and Safety Committee since 2020, and its Chair since 2022. I understand proper governance, leadership, and the role of a board director. GFPD Board members must collaborate with each other and with the leadership of Genesee Fire and Rescue to ensure the department has the resources it needs to protect our residents, businesses, and communities.
My Priorities:
1. A secondary emergency egress route (EAR). Both the 2008 and 2021 Community Wildfire Protection Plans identified the lack of an EAR as the greatest risk facing the GFPD.
2. Wildfire mitigation and resilience-building efforts. Reducing wildfire risk is critical to safeguarding our district.
3. Volunteer firefighter/EMT recruitment. GFR’s volunteer numbers have dropped by nearly 50% since 2020. Without adequate staffing, the department cannot provide the fire and safety services our community relies on.
With my experience and leadership, I believe I can serve as an effective member of the GFPD Board of Directors. I would be honored to have your vote on May 6, 2025.
If you have any questions about my candidacy, please feel free to contact me.
847-878-4511
Alan Kopelove for Four-Year Term
Alan Kopelove lived in Evergreen for 30 years, and moved to our Genesee community in 2023. Alan’s career included being an R&D scientist, Product Manager, Marketing Manager, university faculty, Director of Technology Development, and he is currently the CEO and founder of a small aerospace engineering company working on human lunar landers, lunar rovers, NASA’s next two great space telescopes, and a variety of spacecraft and clean hydrogen fueled aircraft and vehicles.
Alan was a volunteer firefighter, EMT, officer, volunteer board member and led the Driver Engineer program, for over ten years at Evergreen Fire Rescue. He has experience in being a volunteer firefighter, including several wildland position ratings. Alan ran as many as 360 emergency calls a year at EFR, and knows how much heart and soul GFR volunteers put into this calling. Being on the Board of Directors for GFPD is one way for Alan to give back to his new community.
If elected to the Genesee Fire Protection District (GFPD) Board of Directors, Alan Kopelove aims to provide unwavering support and leadership for both the community and the Fire Department. As the CEO and founder of an aerospace engineering company, Alan brings robust business and finance skills, complemented by advanced degrees in physical science and an MBA.
With over a decade of experience as a volunteer firefighter, officer, and board member with Evergreen Fire Rescue, Alan's dedication to fire and emergency services is longstanding. Having first battled a wildland fire in 1977, his involvement in this field was further solidified upon joining Evergreen Fire Rescue in 2010.
Alan is a steadfast advocate for volunteer fire departments, deeply appreciating the rigorous training and demands placed on our volunteer firefighters. He is committed to ensuring that firefighters and the department have the necessary resources to perform their duties effectively. Recognizing the critical importance of property and life safety, Alan emphasizes the need for the Fire District to protect the Genesee community against all hazards. While medical calls and structure fires are significant, the threat of a large wildland fire presents the greatest risk. Alan is devoted to fostering preparedness and collaboration between the community and the GFPD to achieve the best possible outcomes in the face of such emergencies.
Alan looks forward to conversations with Genesee community members, please contact me by email or phone.
Cell 303.250.7777
Marc Barella for Four-Year Term
Marc Barella has proudly called Genesee home for over 10 years, and the greater Golden area for more than 25. Marc holds an MBA from the University of Denver's Daniels College of Business and a BS in Chemical Engineering from the University of Colorado Boulder. He and his wife, Nicky, along with their children, Kodi and Grant, love living in Colorado and are active members of the community. Marc also volunteers in the ski mountaineering community.
Marc brings over two decades of experience in the energy industry, with expertise in operations, project management, and strategic leadership. He has led cross-functional teams across the U.S., always prioritizing safety, accountability, and collaboration. Most recently, Marc founded and operates his own consulting firm, advising on technical and operational solutions.
Now, Marc is running for the GFPD Board of Directors because he believes in its mission, supports volunteerism, and is committed to ensuring the safety and strength of the communities it serves.
Experienced. Committed. Community-Focused.
Vote Marc Barella for GFPD Board – A Proven Leader Ready to Serve.
Mark E. Villa for Four-Year Term
Mark Villa is a third-generation firefighter and Special Education teacher at Ralston Elementary. He has lived in Genesee for 16 years.
Mark began volunteering as a Genesee firefighter in 2009 and retired as a Captain in 2023. Mark has a deep passion for Genesee Fire Rescue and the community as a whole and has proven himself to be a well-liked and respected leader. Whether he’s teaching kids to read, responding to a fire call in the middle of the night, standing on the side of the road to salute a fallen comrade or tossing horseshoes with his fire friends, Mark gives his all and more. Mark has remained active with Genesee Fire since his “retirement,” planning the annual Open House and helping with other special events. He makes a show-stopping red chili! Mark’s “next step” is to join the Fire Board to continue to advocate for Genesee Fire and help ensure its greatness and value to the community remains the best of the best.
Mark is married to his high school sweetheart and they share two grown daughters and a son-in-law and will be welcoming their second son-in-law in June.
You might see Mark around the neighborhood digging out a fire hydrant from the snow, weed whacking yards or trying to corral his wife’s wild puppy.
Branch J. Russell for Two-Year Term
As residents of the Genesee Fire Protection District (GFPD), we are fortunate to have high-quality fire protection and rescue services. It is important to recognize that these services are the result of continuous good management and staff, both professional and volunteer. However, numerous challenges to district safety and response are now identified and need to be addressed.
I am running for election to the GFPD Board of Directors because I want the district to continue improvement of its safety and operation capabilities. Specifically, this includes:
- Construction of the Southern Emergency Access Route (SEAR) between upper Bitterroot Lane and CO Hwy 74, which I believe is critical for public safety; and,
- Third party assessments of both 1) district capital and operational needs for the next decade, and 2) the value of expanded, formal cooperation and sharing of physical and human resources with neighbor fire districts.
SEAR has been designed and costed, and bond-funding has been arranged. As wildfire fire conditions dictate, this route could avail a critical new option for residents to evacuate. Significantly, it would also enable support from surrounding fire districts.
Once SEAR is built, GFPD must develop procedures and contingencies (in concert with neighbor fire districts and Jefferson County) to best utilize it during various potential wildfire conditions. The goal is to help prevent deadly situations that have occurred elsewhere in settings similar to Genesee.
GFPD has mutual aid agreements with multiple surrounding fire districts. Assessment of increased cooperation and sharing of resources with these districts should be conducted for GFPD by a third-party, just as a neighboring district has currently engaged (at low cost).
I was a volunteer firefighter with the Genesee Fire Protection District between 2019 and 2023, and served on the Genesee Water and Sanitation Board of Directors between 2016 and this year.
I request your support with your vote for me to join the GFPD Board of Directors.
Branch Russell
1312 Raindrop Lane
Golden, CO 80401
For further discussion, please contact me at:
281.536.5829