2021 Summit

2021 Mobility 21 Southern California Transportation Summit
Road to Recovery

Thursday, Sept. 30 – Friday, Oct. 1, 2021 | Virtual Summit

In light of COVID-19 and to protect the health and safety of our attendees, Mobility 21’s annual Southern California Transportation Summit will be held virtually this year over two days, Thursday, Sept. 30 – Friday, – Oct. 1, 2021.

Virtual Summit Highlights:

  • Full educational content with broadcasts of 3 General Sessions and 8 Breakout Sessions
  • 3D Virtual Expo with special prizes
  • Opportunities for Virtual Networking
  • Mailed to you before the Summit:
    • Summit Bento Box with curated conference – info, snacks and mementos to match – program highlights
    • Conference bag with promo items and – printed event program
VIRTUAL AGENDA

Thursday, Sept. 30, 2021

(9:00 AM – 12:00 PM Expo Hall Open)

8:30 AM – 9:30 AMOpening General Session

Sponsored by Moffatt & Nichol and Parsons

Bios

Master of Ceremonies

Doug Shupe, Corporate Communications & Programs Manager, Automobile Club of Southern California (confirmed)

Welcome Remarks

  • Darrell E. Johnson, CEO, Orange County Transportation Authority and Chair, Mobility 21 (confirmed)
  • Andrew Do,
  • Chair, Orange County Transportation Authority and Chair, County of Orange Board of Supervisors (confirmed)
  • Hilda Solis, Chair, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority and Chair, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors (confirmed)

Titanium Sponsor Video Highlight
Jacobs

State Transportation Update

  • Brian P. Kelly, CEO, California High-Speed Rail Authority (confirmed)
  • Toks Omishakin, Director, Caltrans (confirmed)
  • Hon. David S. Kim, Secretary, CalSTA (confirmed)
  • Hon. Laura Friedman, Chair, California State Assembly Committee on Transportation (invited) (confirmed)
  • Hon. Anthony Rendon, Speaker, California State Assembly (confirmed)
  • Hon. Lena A. Gonzalez, Chair, California State Senate Committee on Transportation (confirmed)
  • Hon. Toni G. Atkins, President Pro Tem, California State Senate (confirmed)

9:30 AM – 10:30 AM
Breakout Sessions

1: Chairs' Roundtable: Road to Recovery

Sponsored by ADVANTEC CONSULTING ENGINEERS

For a second year, Southern California is undergoing the grueling challenges of the pandemic’s impacts to our workplaces and communities. As our region’s leadership responds to the continuing pandemic and social responsibilities, what is their vision and approach to transportation recovery as we address funding challenges, equity, workforce impacts and improve mobility services? Join us as the Chairs of our transportation agencies convene and guide us on our road to recovery to a more promising 2022.

Bios

Moderator

Gary Thomas, Transit Market Director, Jacobs (confirmed)

Panelists

  • Hon. Andrew Do, Chair, Orange County Transportation Authority and Chair, County of Orange Board of Supervisors (confirmed)
  • Hon. Curt Hagman, President, San Bernardino County Transportation Authority and Chair, San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors(confirmed)
  • Hon. Jan C. Harnik, Chair, Riverside County Transportation Commission and Mayor Pro Tem, City of Palm Desert (confirmed)
  • Hon. Ara Najarian, Vice Chair, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority and Councilmember, City of Glendale (confirmed)
  • Hon. Cheryl Viegas-Walker, Chair, Imperial County Transportation Commission and Mayor, City of El Centro (confirmed)

2: Southern California’s Global Ports & Supply Chain

Sponsored by RailPros

2021 has seen “an unprecedented use of the word unprecedented” to quote one of our maritime leaders. When it comes to trade wars, surges in cargo and the pandemic’s ongoing impacts, the future looks unclear for Southern California, the United States’ major goods movement and logistics hub. Leadership from the Port of Hueneme, Port of Long Beach and Port of Los Angeles, along with our state’s top expert in freight and goods movement, will be providing their critical insights, cautions and potential solutions to help keep our ports, goods and services moving forward. After all, much of what we eat, wear, our technology and household goods, medicine and more depend on their success.

Bios

Moderator

Paul Granillo, President & CEO, Inland Empire Economic Partnership and Board Member, Mobility 21 (confirmed)

Panelists

  • Mario Cordero, Executive Director, Port of Long Beach (confirmed)
  • Kristin Decas, CEO & Port Director, Port of Hueneme and Advisory Board Member, Mobility 21 (confirmed)
  • Fran Inman, Senior Vice President, Majestic Realty Co., Commissioner, California Transportation Commission and Advisory Board Member, Mobility 21 (confirmed)
  • David Libatique, Deputy Executive Director, Stakeholder Engagement , Port of Los Angeles (confirmed)

3: Carbon Neutral 2045

Sponsored by T.Y. Lin International

A carbon neutral future awaits the nearly 23 million people who live and work in Southern California. And there are many viewpoints on how to meet the Governor’s executive order (N-79-20), existing infrastructure use, timelines to switch to all electric fleets and funding sources. Yet most would agree the clear need for sustainability, combating climate change and protecting the health of our communities. Is there a clear solution or compromise? Please join our leading voices and experts as they discuss the path toward carbon neutrality by 2045.

Bios

Moderator

Hilary Norton, Chair, California Transportation Commission and Executive Director, FASTLinkDTLA (confirmed)

Panelists

  • Megan McKernan, Manager, Automotive Engineering, Automobile Club of Southern California (confirmed)
  • Laura Renger, Director, Electrification & Customer Services Policy, Southern California Edison (confirmed)
  • Michelle Sim, Director of Sustainability, SoCalGas (confirmed)

4: Are Employees Quitting to Reduce Commutes?

Sponsored by Mott MacDonald

On the cusp of how society views what their current needs are in terms of mobility options, how are employers responding to these potential changes? Protocols and restrictions continue to fluctuate, and employees may be asking themselves if the environment is changing the nature of working within a corporate culture. In terms of social and logistical impacts, such as mental health and social norms, how is telecommuting impacting mobility? How have these impacts affected attitudes and behaviors toward in-office work and commuting? What does this look like for transportation?

Bios

Moderator

Maria S. Salinas, President & CEO, Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce and Vice Chair, Mobility 21 (confirmed)

Panelists

  • Danielle Borja, President / CEO, Greater Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce and Board Member, Mobility 21 (confirmed)
  • Charlene Dimas-Peinado, President / CEO, Wellnest (confirmed)
  • David Knudsen, Interim External Affairs Director, Riverside County Transportation Commission (confirmed)
  • Ed Mortimer, Vice President, Transportation and Infrastructure, U.S. Chamber of Commerce (confirmed)
  • Stephen Polechronis, Senior Vice President – Transportation, AECOM and Advisory Board Member, Mobility 21 (confirmed)

10:30 AM – 11:00 AMLuncheon General Session

Sponsored by SoCalGas

Bios

Federal Transportation Update

  • Carlos Monje, Under Secretary for Transportation Policy, U.S. Department of Transportation (confirmed)
  • Hon. Alex Padilla, Senator, U.S. Senate (confirmed)

Welcome Remarks
Stephanie N. Wiggins, CEO, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority and Board Member, Mobility 21 (confirmed)

Transportation Update
Hon. Eric Garcetti, Mayor, City of Los Angeles and Board Member, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (confirmed)

2021 Mobility 21 Awards

  • Leadership in Equity: Phillip A. Washington, CEO, Denver International Airport (confirmed)
  • Lifetime Achievement: Tom Jenkins, National Transit/Rail Consultant Vice President, HNTB (confirmed)
  • Public Sector Leader: Stephanie N. Wiggins, CEO, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority and Board Member, Mobility 21 (confirmed)
  • Private Sector Leader: Mike Aparicio, Executive Vice President, Skanska (confirmed)

11:00 AM – 12:00 PMFace Time with Regional Executives

Face Time with Regional Executives is available in the Hospitality Suite on a first come, first served basis for a limited time.

12:00 PM – 12:30 PMKeynote Speaker

Sponsored by AGC of California and Rebuild SoCal Partnership

From the Baltimore Opera to QVC shopping channel, executive producer, host, and best-selling author Mike Rowe has had hundreds of jobs and relished his role as a chronic freelancer. He’s best known as the “dirtiest man on TV,” a title he earned on the hit TV series Dirty Jobs. Today, you can join Mike for a romp through history on the discovery+ series Six Degrees as he uncovers the surprising connections between two disparate things and shows how everything in our crazy world is connected. You can also listen to him on The Way I Heard It, where he tells short stories you don’t know about people you do know and shares intimate conversations with fascinating folks from his own life and career; read his New York Times best-selling book The Way I Heard It, a mix of biography and auto-biography based on his popular podcast; or watch him on the show Somebody’s Gotta Do It on TBN or Pure Flix. In what can only be described as an envelope mix-up, Mike won an Emmy for his work on Facebook’s groundbreaking series Returning the Favor. 

As the country’s leading advocate for skilled labor and the CEO of the mikeroweWORKS Foundation, a 501(c)(3) public charity that debunks myths and misperceptions about the trades and helps close the skills gap, his foundation has granted millions of dollars in work ethic scholarships. In his spare time, Mike keeps a lively conversation with more than 8 million friends on social media, where he talks about everything from the musings of his persnickety terrier named Freddy to the merits and pitfalls of blind patriotism.

Please join us as Mobility 21 Vice Chair and President and CEO of the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, Maria Salinas moderates this special Q&A with Mike Rowe.

Keynote Speaker
Mike Rowe, Founder, mikeroweWORKS Foundation (confirmed)

Bio

Moderator
Maria S. Salinas, President & CEO, Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce and Vice Chair, Mobility 21 (confirmed)

Friday, Oct. 1, 2021

(9:00 AM – 12:00 PM Expo Hall Open )

9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
Breakout Sessions

5: Transportation Advocacy: Life After COVID

Sponsored by Hill International

As we emerge from COVID, what comes next for transportation in Southern California? The path forward is unclear as we make our way down the road to recovery. From SB 1 and CAPTI to federal reauthorization and overall infrastructure spending, questions on how to prioritize needs, address equity and social justice and funding are at the forefront. Please join us as our leading voices and experts provide their valuable insights into how our region is developing the path forward and how we can take action to help deliver our transportation future.

Bios

Moderator

Stephen Finnegan, Manager, Public Affairs and Public Policy, Automobile Club of Southern California and Board Member, Mobility 21 (confirmed)

Panelists

  • Lucy Dunn, President & CEO, Orange County Business Council and Board Member, Mobility 21 (confirmed)
  • Hasan Ikhrata, Executive Director, San Diego Association of Governments and Advisory Board Member, Mobility 21 (confirmed)
  • Darrell E. Johnson, CEO, Orange County Transportation Authority and Chair, Mobility 21 (confirmed)
  • Darren Kettle, CEO, Metrolink and Board Member, Mobility 21 (confirmed)
  • Anne Mayer, Executive Director, Riverside County Transportation Commission and Treasurer, Mobility 21 (confirmed)

6: Equity Not Forgotten

Sponsored by Gannett Fleming, Inc.

We as people and organizations, in response to the unjust and tragic murder of George Floyd, have been faced with acknowledging systemic racism. From conducting listening tours to reflecting on the inclusivity and diversity of our teams, we have developed diversity trainings and procurement policies, and advisory councils committed to diversity, equity and inclusion. With newfound awareness and strategies, how can we work within our organizations and as an industry to be inclusive and equitable?

Bios

Moderator

Lesley Poole, CEO, The SEED Foundation (confirmed)

Panelists

  • Regine Beauboeuf, Senior Vice President / Director of Infrastructure and Mobility Equity, HNTB (confirmed)
  • Jennifer Bergener, Deputy CEO, Orange County Transportation Authority (confirmed)
  • KeAndra D. Cylear Dodds, Executive Officer, Office of Equity and Race, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (confirmed)
  • Tony Tavares, District Director, Caltrans District 7 (confirmed)
  • Hugh Vasquez, Senior Associate, National Equity Project (confirmed)

7: Contractors Roundtable: Crossing the Finish Line

Sponsored by Ramos Consulting Services, Inc.

When it comes to project delivery, the finish line is the built project. Contractors have an essential role in bringing to life the final product of years of planning and design for a new or improved transportation system. As COVID-19 times continue and evolve, let’s hear from the leading voices in construction as they tackle workforce availability, commodity pricing, supply chain, inflation issues and critically important, optimizing the Owner and contractor relationship.

Bios

Moderator

Stephanie N. Wiggins, CEO, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority and Board Member, Mobility 21 (confirmed)

Panelists

  • Carol Church, Deputy Executive Director, Rebuild SoCal Partnership and Board Member, Mobility 21 (confirmed)
  • Denise Cooper, President & CEO, Cooper Engineering (confirmed)
  • Sally Ellis, Chief Engineer for Infrastructure, Fluor Corporation (confirmed)
  • Bridgette Pleasant, Project Manager, Bechtel (confirmed)
  • Sarah Tacker, Vice President, Project Controls, Flatiron (confirmed)
  • Mary Teichert, President, Teichert (confirmed)

8: How Do We Plan Transportation and Housing Together?

Sponsored by Lee Andrews Group

Southern California is facing challenges on multiple fronts as we plan for transportation and housing. The housing crisis continues to grow, and transportation will impact a solution that is yet to be determined. Our panel of leading voices represent distinct perspectives and play key roles in how transportation and housing intersect. Join us as we hear from our distinguished speakers as they address these critical challenges and guide Southern California to better mobility and improved housing for all. 

Bios

Moderator

Sarah Catz, Executive Director, Center for Urban Infrastructure and Advisory Board Member, Mobility 21 (confirmed)

Panelists

  • Kome Ajise, Executive Director, Southern California Association of Governments and Board Member, Mobility 21 (confirmed)
  • Hon. Laura Friedman, Chair, California State Assembly Committee on Transportation (confirmed)
  • Dr. Raymond Wolfe, Executive Director, San Bernardino County Transportation Authority and Immediate Past Chair, Mobility 21 (confirmed)

10:00 AM – 11:00 AMClosing General Session

Sponsored by HNTB

Mobility 21 Officers’ Roundtable:
Infrastructure Outlook 2022

The transportation world in the summer of 2021 has been consumed with watching the progress, or lack therein, of the Infrastructure Bill discussion in Congress. But even as Congress continues to discuss how best to partner with states and local agencies for the foreseeable future, Southern California transportation agencies and civic organizations that support transportation improvements have been creatively and robustly utilizing available funds, maximizing the pandemic shutdowns for construction projects and rethinking transit service and how to best interact with our communities. In this Closing Session, the Executive Board of Mobility 21 will share their thoughts on the intersection of transportation projects, job creation and a recovering economy, and discuss where we go from here.

Bios

Moderator

Judy Johnson, Vice President – Client Account Manager, Jacobs (confirmed)

Panelists

  • Darrell E. Johnson, CEO, Orange County Transportation Authority and Chair, Mobility 21 (confirmed)
  • Anne Mayer, Executive Director, Riverside County Transportation Commission and Treasurer, Mobility 21 (confirmed)
  • Maria S. Salinas, President & CEO, Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce and Vice Chair, Mobility 21 (confirmed)
  • Dr. Raymond Wolfe, Executive Director, San Bernardino County Transportation Authority and Immediate Past Chair, Mobility 21 (confirmed)

11:00 AM – 12:00 PMFace Time with Regional Executives

Face Time with Regional Executives is available in the Hospitality Suite on a first come, first served basis for a limited time.