Kurt La Rue
Kurt La Rue began his fire career in the mid-70s on the Sequoia NF (SQF) as a GS-2 on the Hume Lake Tanker and a fill-in crewman with the Horseshoe Meadow IHC. In 1979 he became a Foreman on the Fulton IHC where he served from 1979-1983. After the Fulton IHC he was on the Stanislaus IHC from 1983-1993 working as a crewman, Squad Boss and Assistant Supt. From 1993 until 2001 Kurt was the Superintendent of the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Diamond Mountain IHC. During his 22 years as a Hotshot supervisor, Kurt focused on mentoring seasonal employees and early career USFS and BLM employees which has led to many of his former employees rising to senior levels in State and Federal fire organizations.
In 2001 he accepted a position as a Fire Management Specialist with the BLM’s Fire Operations Group at the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) in Boise, Idaho. In this position he annually compiled the “BLM Standards for Fire Operations” which later became “The Interagency Standards for Fire and Fire Aviation Operations” (The Red Book). He Maintained the BLM’s Preparedness Review Program documentation, worked as a Preparedness Review Team Leader each spring while working in various fire operations positions, investigations and as a Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) Program Peer Supporter.
Following his retirement in 2010, Kurt was recruited by the Texas Forest Service (TFS) to serve as a Task Force Coordinator in Fredericksburg, TX. In this position he directly supervised and trained young firefighters in initial attack with dozers and engines throughout Texas. He also continued to work in the federal CISM program as a Lead Peer Supporter and ICISF instructor.
During his tenure with TFS, Kurt was involved in the creation of the US Hotshot Association. He was the first Vice President and later, with the passing of Stan Stewart, he became the Association President. Kurt has been on the Association Board of Directors or an advisor since the USHAs inception. In 2020 he helped establish, and is the current Program Director, for the Association’s Stan Stewart Scholarship Fund which has distributed over 14,000.00 since its inception. While this Program supports all aspiring college and trade school students, it maintains a strong emphasis in supporting current and former Hotshots and their families. This Program maintains a Special Dispensation in its Operating Plan for direct support of hotshot firefighters, or surviving family members, who have either sustained life changing injuries or have perished in the line of duty.
At this time, Kurt is retired in Carson City, NV with Michel, his wife of 46 years, where they enjoy hanging out with their kids/granddaughters and traveling as life permits.
Richard Amerian
Richard Amerian served as a Board Member of Jamboree Housing Corp. from 1998 to 2022, serving two terms as Board Chair. In addition, he served on the Personnel, Business Development, Audit and Finance Committees. He brings with him more than 30 years of experience in business finance, real estate finance and operations, asset management and real estate acquisitions/dispositions.
Richard also has extensive experience in asset management and lending. Previously, he worked as a Vice President at Union Bank and as the Senior Vice President of Pacific Mercantile Bank, where he oversaw a portfolio of foreclosed/owned real estate and problem loans. Richard holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Southern California.
His dedication to applying his expertise in order to expand Jamboree’s communities is inspiring. Under Richard’s leadership and guidance, Jamboree has grown from 1,800 units at 14 properties into a high impact, statewide community developer that has created housing and supportive services for more than 7,500 families, seniors, and individuals with special needs at more than 75 properties.
Prior to joining Union Bank in 1983, Richard spent 6 years with the US Forest Service as a member and Assistant Forman on the Chilao Hotshot Crew, Angeles National Forest.
ANTHONY ESCOBAR
Anthony’s career began in 1973 as a member of the Los Prietos Hotshots (known today as the Los Padres Interagency Hotshot Crew). He also served on engines and helicopter flight crews before being detailed to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in 1983 as the Superintendent on one of that agency’s new hotshot crews. He was the first Superintendent on the Kern Valley Interagency Hotshot Crew (KVIHC), a position he held for 18 years. Anthony also served on the Region 5 Hotshot Superintendent’s steering committee for more than 20 years. From 2000 to 2007 he served as the Deputy Fire Management Officer on the Central California Region for the BLM. In 2007 he transferred back to the Los Padres National Forest (LPF) as Chief 1 (Forest Fire Management Officer) until his retirement in 2012. In addition to being a lifetime member of the association, Anthony was also elected to our first Board of Directors, and he currently serves on our advisory committee. Outside interests include serving as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for more than 10 now. As a CASA volunteer he represents an assigned child who is either in the foster care system or who is under the jurisdiction of Child Protective Service. CASA is a non-profit organization. He is an avid motorcycle enthusiast.