(PD) - More than 250 high-profile community leaders converged Wednesday at Sonoma State University to mark the launch of a new regional organization created to unite the public and private sectors in their efforts to help North Bay counties recover from the deadly wildfires that have ravaged much of the area.

Government officials from Sonoma and Napa counties, labor leaders, businesspeople, representatives from environmental groups and others gathered to hear about the new nonprofit, Rebuild North Bay, and its leader, James Lee Witt, a former director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The organization’s goal is to help the area collaboratively address the gargantuan, years-long challenge of rebuilding after California’s most destructive fire disaster.

Wednesday’s event at Sonoma State’s Student Center drew a virtual who’s-who of important North Bay figures. Among them were Rep. Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena, state legislators who represent the North Bay, supervisors from both Sonoma and Napa counties, SSU President Judy Sakaki, wine industry leaders and other local businesspeople.