Rebuilding LA after the fires
In the wake of devastating fires across Los Angeles, from Pacific Palisades to Altadena, thousands of property owners face a vital question: How do we rebuild? Complex timelines, soaring costs, and logistical hurdles leave homeowners and real estate developers grappling with uncertainty.
Rebuilding LA After the Fires is a podcast dedicated to exploring the complex recovery process through in-depth interviews with real estate professionals, policy experts, experienced developers, and insurance specialists. Join California native and real estate private credit expert Jan Brzeski as he discusses challenges homeowners and developers face, the complexities of local government approvals, and what it truly takes to rebuild the areas affected by the fires.
Subscribe where ever you find podcasts Spotify, Apple, YouTube or listen clicking the episodes below.
Interested in being a guest? Contact pr@scipfinance.com
Randy Balik: Remediation, risks, and the road to recovery
Randy Balik brings over 25 years of expertise in demolition, remediation, and environmental services. Randy is the executive vice president and co-owner of OFRS, an industrial and commercial remedial construction company that is now providing its services to areas affected by the wildfire in the Pacific Palisades. Randy’s work after the fires has been featured in the L.A. Business Journal and the L.A. Times.
Randy has served on the boards of the Professional Environmental Management Association (PEMA), where he was President, and the Western States Petroleum Association Associates (WSPA Associates), where he is now Chairman Emeritus.
Kennedy Zak: Inside LA’s housing crisis and the billion-dollar rebuild gap
Kennedy Zak is an award-winning journalist at the Los Angeles Business Journal, bringing deep expertise in economics, housing, local government, and wildfire recovery—especially her powerful series on the Altadena and Pasadena fires. With bylines across outlets like the Glendale News-Press, Burbank Leader, Dallas Morning News, and Annenberg Media, she blends nimble reporting with thoughtful insight. Zak’s storytelling highlights how financial hardship, policy shifts, and community resilience intersect—a perspective rooted in rigorous reporting and local context. Whether unpacking insurance shortfalls or examining recovery systems in crisis, she brings clarity, compassion, and a sharp lens to the evolving challenges of Southern California.
Salvador Carbajal: The blueprint for faster, better builds
Salvador Carbajal is the founder of S-AC Design Group and S-AC Builders, leading every stage from concept to construction. Since launching his firm in 2020, he has completed over 200 architectural projects and 40 construction builds, specializing in custom single-family homes, multifamily residences, and ADUs. Beginning his career with one of the nation’s top general contractors, Salvador managed high-rise developments from the ground up—experience that shaped his seamless design–build approach. Through S-AC Design Group, he crafts spaces with a strong design–lifestyle connection, while S-AC Builders ensures flawless execution in-house. His mission is simple: create high-quality, meaningful spaces that bring visions to life.
Teresa Fuller: Inside Altadena’s post-fire real estate market
Jan talks with top Pasadena agent Teresa Fuller, who brings deep market knowledge and personal experience as a fire survivor. They explore how Altadena’s real estate market is evolving post-fire, from pricing shifts and buyer trends to the role of design and community in rebuilding LA.
Welcome episode
In this first episode of Rebuilding LA After the Fires, host Jan Brzeski lays the groundwork for the series, sharing what inspired him to start the podcast and what’s at stake as LA begins to recover from wildfires that destroyed over 10,000 structures. You’ll hear what to expect from future episodes—and why trying to get a view to the big picture is so important to the future of LA.