Master of Ceremonies
Doug Shupe
Corporate Communications Manager, Automobile Club of Southern California

Welcome Remarks

Aaron Hake
Executive Director, Riverside County Transportation Commission and Chair, Mobility 21

Hon. Doug Chaffee
Supervisor, County of Orange and Chair, Orange County Transportation Authority

Titanium Sponsor Video Highlight
Jacobs

Federal and State Leadership Updates

Hon. Alex Padilla – Video Remarks
Senator, United States Senate

Hon. Dave Cortese – video remarks
Chair, California State Senate Transportation Committee

Hon. Lori Wilson – video remarks
Chair, California State Assembly Transportation Committee

James Hacker
Undersecretary, CalSTA

Dina El-Tawansy
Director, Caltrans

Strong partnerships can deliver significant transportation projects through collaborative efforts by agencies with each other, with local, state, and federal governments, and with public organizations and private consultancy partners. These partnerships are the foundation of achieving agency goals and priorities to advance the mobilization of our communities across Southern California. The policy leadership of the county transportation commissions in Southern California will share their insights on how partnerships play a key role for each of their agencies.

Moderator
Aaron Hake
Executive Director, Riverside County Transportation Commission and Chair, Mobility 21

Panelists

Hon. Doug Chaffee
Chair, Orange County Board of Supervisors and Chair, Orange County Transportation Authority

Hon. Rick Denison
Councilmember, City of Yucca Valley and President, San Bernardino County Transportation Authority

Hon. Fernando Dutra
Councilmember, City of Whittier and Chair, LA Metro

Hon. Mike Judge
Mayor Pro Tem, City of Simi Valley and Chair, Ventura County Transportation Commission

Hon. Karen Spiegel
Supervisor, County of Riverside and Chair, Riverside County Transportation Commission

The 2028 Olympics are less than three years away and expected to be one of the largest in history. The map of venues crisscross our region from the heart of Los Angeles to the shores of Long Beach and foothills of Pasadena. A total of 206 countries will participate and over 15 million visitors are expected for the games. Join us as our agency leaders provide key insights into the roles of their organizations and discuss strategic partnerships and how they are meeting the extraordinary challenges of the Olympics.

Moderator
Maria S. Salinas
President & CEO, Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce and Board Member, Mobility 21

Panelists

Kome Ajise
Executive Director, Southern California Association of Governments and Board Member, Mobility 21

Rose Casey
Executive Director, Planning, Orange County Transportation Authority

Darren M. Kettle
Chief Executive Officer, Metrolink and Board Member, Mobility 21

Seleta Reynolds
Chief of Innovation and Games Mobility Planning, LA Metro

As we navigate uncertainties, challenges and opportunities at state and federal levels, join us as our CEO panel provides insights, predictions and a call to action about the future of transportation and funding for Southern California. Reauthorization of the big federal transportation bill is around the corner, and the new Administration is mixing things up. At the state level, current and looming budget deficits, and a new willingness to rethink some long-held policies, will shape the near-term future. Local control, project implementation innovations and goods movement will round out the discussion. Partnerships will be key as our region competes for critical transportation funding.

Moderator
Stephen Finnegan
Group Manager, Public and Government Affairs, Automobile Club of Southern California and Board Member, Mobility 21

Panelists

Jeffrey Ball
President & Chief Executive Officer, Orange County Business Council and Vice Chair, Mobility 21

Martin Erickson
Executive Director, Ventura County Transportation Commission and Board Member, Mobility 21

Darrell E. Johnson
Chief Executive Officer, Orange County Transportation Authority and Treasurer, Mobility 21

Carrie Schindler
Executive Director, San Bernardino County Transportation Authority and Board Member, Mobility 21

Robyn Wapner
Chief Administrative and Public Affairs Officer, San Diego Association of Governments

From geopolitical disruptions to trade policy shifts, Southern California is experiencing unprecedented challenges. Our port CEOs along with private sector and academic leadership will discuss their strategic partnerships and collaboration for resilience, how they will meet environmental goals without sacrificing efficiency, warehousing, emerging technology, and how our industry can prepare to meet the global, regional and local challenges of moving our goods through our nation.

Moderator
Paul Granillo
President & CEO, Inland Empire Economic Partnership and Immediate Past Chair, Mobility 21

Panelists

Dina Aryan-Zahlan
Deputy Executive Director of Development, Port of Los Angeles

Dr. Marlon Boarnet
Professor, University of Southern California and Director, METRANS Transportation Consortium

Mario Cordero
Chief Executive Officer, Port of Long Beach

Kristin Decas
CEO and Port Director, Port of Hueneme and Advisory Board Member, Mobility 21

Fran Inman
Senior Vice President, Majestic Realty Co. and Advisory Board Member, Mobility 21

Welcome Remarks

Sharon Gookin
Deputy Chief Executive Officer, LA Metro

Stephanie N. Wiggins – Video remarks
Chief Executive Officer, LA Metro and Board Member, Mobility 21

Hon. Fernando Dutra
Councilmember, City of Whittier and Chair, LA Metro

Hon. Karen Bass – Video Remarks
Mayor, City of Los Angeles and Board Member, LA Metro

Presentation of 2025 Awards

Leadership in Equity:
LA Metro’s Rail to Rail Project Team, Community Relations Team and Planning Team

Lifetime Achievement Award:
Dr. Raymond W. Wolfe, Former Executive Director, San Bernardino County Transportation Authority and Former Board Member, Mobility 21

Public Sector Leader of the Year:
Tony Tavares, Executive Director, Alameda County Transportation Commission and Former Director, Caltrans

Private Sector Leader of the Year:
Stephen Polechronis, Senior Vice President, Senior Program Director and Senior Advisor, AECOM

Keynote
Sponsored by Bechtel Infrastructure, HNTB and Skanska

Meb Keflezighi (confirmed)
Olympic Marathon Runner

Fireside Chat with Mobility 21 Chair, Aaron Hake, Executive Director, Riverside County Transportation Commission

Meb Keflezighi is the only runner in history to have won the New York City Marathon, the Boston Marathon, and an Olympic medal. In 2009, Keflezighi became the first American since 1982 to win the New York City Marathon. He finished in the top 10 in New York eight times and was the top American seven times. In 2015, he set a TCS New York City Marathon masters event record of 2:13:32.

In 2014, Keflezighi won the Boston Marathon, becoming the first American man to do so since 1983. The win, in a personal-best 2:08:37, lengthened the 2004 Olympic marathon silver medalist’s stay at the top of the U.S. ranks. He placed fourth in the London 2012 Olympic marathon. Keflezighi raced his 26th and final career marathon at the 2017 TCS New York City Marathon, running as an NYRR Team for Kids Ambassador.

Born in Eritrea, Keflezighi became a U.S. citizen in 1998 and won four NCAA titles while at UCLA. He set a 10,000-meter national record of 27:13.98 in 2001 that stood for nine years.

Toll roads, bridges and express lanes have emerged as powerful tools to improve mobility, reduce congestion and generate sustainable transportation funding. This panel will discuss tolling projects and their performance, effectiveness and opportunities in an uncertain future. The panel will also examine real-world outcomes and what the data tells us about their impact on the overall transportation system.

Moderator
Jeffrey Ball
President & Chief Executive Officer, Orange County Business Council and Vice Chair, Mobility 21

Panelists
Shahrzad Amiri
Deputy Chief of Operations Officer, Shared Mobility, LA Metro

Ryan Chamberlain
Chief Executive Officer, Transportation Corridor Agencies and Advisory Board Member, Mobility 21

Aaron Hake
Executive Director, Riverside County Transportation Commission and Chair, Mobility 21

Darrell E. Johnson
Chief Executive Officer, Orange County Transportation Authority and Treasurer, Mobility 21

With the recent and devastating wildfires in Los Angeles, disasters and climate change are at the forefront. What are the valuable insights from our state and regional transportation leaders? What practical strategies are being implemented to enhance transportation readiness and resilience? Our speakers will provide key lessons learned, communication strategies between agencies and emergency responders, infrastructure upgrades to withstand natural disasters, and proactive measures and collaboration to safeguard transportation systems and our region’s communities.

Moderator
Danielle Borja
President/CEO, Greater Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce and Board Member, Mobility 21

Panelists
Jennifer Bergener
Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Orange County Transportation Authority

Monica Bouldin
Deputy Chief of Customer Experience, LA Metro

Martin Erickson
Executive Director, Ventura County Transportation Commission and Board Member, Mobility 21

Gloria Roberts
District 7 Director, Caltrans

Carrie Schindler
Executive Director, San Bernardino County Transportation Authority and Board Member, Mobility 21

The future is already here with self-driving vehicles, VTOLs and more. How are these new products and services alleviating congestion? How are these disruptors partnering with local, regional and state agencies to increase efficiency and safety? Join us as our industry leaders share their vision and plans to build out new infrastructure and networks as they partner with agencies and stakeholders across Southern California.

Moderator
Greg Brannon
Director, Automotive Engineering and Industry Relations, AAA National

Panelists
Ryan Brodley
Business Development, Joby Aviation

Frank Girardot
Senior Communications Director, RIDE_Co

Adam Lane
Public Policy Manager, State & Local, Waymo

Zayn Mashat
Director of Business Development, Ohmio

Mark W. Taylor
Senior Director, State Advocacy & Global Engagement, The Boeing Company

AI speeds up mundane tasks and shows amazing promise for automation, transportation project delivery and increased mobility throughout our region. AI speeds up mundane tasks and shows amazing promise for automation, transportation project delivery and increased mobility throughout our region. How is it transforming the transportation sector? How will it affect our public and private sector workforce and how can its benefits be harnessed while minimizing fear and inequities? Our panel will help demystify AI and share how it is changing the way we do business, utilize and train our workforce, and plan and implement the transportation system of tomorrow.

Moderator
Kome Ajise
Executive Director, Southern California Association of Governments and Board Member, Mobility 21

Panelists
Amer Battikhi
Executive Vice President & General Manager, Digital and Data, Jacobs

Dawn Jackson-Perkins
Chief People Officer, LA Metro

John P. O’Leary
State and Local Government Research Leader, Deloitte

Hamid Rezaei, PhD
Director, Emerging Technology and Transit Market, FlatironDragados

Dara Wheeler
Chief, Division of Research, Innovation and System Information, Caltrans

Power of Partnership: CEOs Chart the Path Forward

Moderator
Heather Repenning
Vice President and Client Account Manager, Jacobs

Panelists

David Aguirre
Executive Director, Imperial County Transportation Commission and Advisory Board Member, Mobility 21

Kome Ajise
Executive Director, Southern California Association of Governments and Board Member, Mobility 21

Martin Erickson
Executive Director, Ventura County Transportation Commission and Board Member, Mobility 21

Sharon Gookin
Deputy Chief Executive Officer, LA Metro and Board Member, Mobility 21

Aaron Hake
Executive Director, Riverside County Transportation Commission and Chair, Mobility 21

Darrell E. Johnson
Chief Executive Officer, Orange County Transportation Authority and Treasurer, Mobility 21

Carrie Schindler
Executive Director, San Bernardino County Transportation Authority and Board Member, Mobility 21