From Disaster Zones to Dollars: Scott Beesley’s Mission to Do Good in Nevada County
If you ask Scott Beesley what he does, he’ll tell you he’s a financial advisor. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. From a professional focus on socially responsible and impact investing, to countless volunteer hours leading evacuation and recovery efforts during major fires, Scott spends his time making things better. “I think like an economist,” he said. “I am always looking for the biggest marginal return on my time.”
Working on local disaster prevention and management from several different angles has given Scott a unique perspective. On the prevention side, he served as the chair of the Nevada County Coalition of Firewise Communities for two years. He has also been active during disasters—he was first on scene in the role of Deputy Incident Commander for initial evacuations for the River Fire—and after disasters, as one of the few civilian volunteers to hold a Plan Section Chief role in a Type 1 FEMA incident for recovery efforts in Paradise after the Camp Fire. He also co-founded the local chapter of the California Disaster Airlift Response Team and spent a decade with Search and Rescue. Where does he find the time in addition to a demanding day job? “I have no children, and no television,” said Beesley. “I try to give back via a few hundred hours of volunteer time each year.”
Scott currently serves on the Community Foundation of Nevada County’s investment committee, where he sees an opportunity to make a massive positive impact on his chosen community. After living in larger cities like Detroit, Fort Lauderdale, and Minneapolis, Scott moved to Nevada County 12 years ago with a deep craving for small-town life and proximity to the outdoors. He’s an avid gravel and mountain biker, backcountry skier, and once moonlighted as a professional triathlon coach after years of racing competitively himself. You might find him occasionally relaxing on the banks of the South Yuba.
His vision for the County’s future is rooted in community connection and economic diversity, with better communication across political lines and more opportunity for all kinds of residents to thrive. He’d like to see a place where young people can build meaningful careers without having to leave for Sacramento.
As a board member, Scott sees the Community Foundation as a connector—a way to remove politics from the policy and convene all the different organizations who play a role in disaster response to have a productive dialogue. “The Community Foundation can facilitate real community conversations about the risks that are out there and in the long run develop funding that can help stabilize local businesses and nonprofits when things do go wrong because of disaster or economic downturns,” he said. Scott is also working through the investment committee to bring money into the community that would otherwise stay down the hill or in the Bay.
Whether he’s helping neighbors invest in a greener future or managing logistics during a wildfire evacuation, Scott Beesley approaches every challenge with the same mindset: find the best return on time and energy, and make that investment count.