Agenda

Speaker: James Spellos, President, Meeting U 

To learn more about HCSS, click here.

Speaker: Michael Quigley, Executive Director, California Alliance for Jobs

Hollywood-Burbank International Airport (BUR) | Speaker: Stephanie Gunawan-Piraner, Deputy Executive Director for Planning & Development 
Los Angeles International Airport; Los Angeles World Airports (LAX;LAWA) | Speaker: Mike Christensen, Chief Airport Development Officer
Ontario International Airport (ONT) | Speaker: Keith Owens, Director of Engineering & Construction

Metrolink | Speakers: Andrew Althorp, Assistant Director of Construction & Aaron Azevedo, Director for State of Good Repair
Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) | Speaker: Casey Emoto, Chief Engineering & Program Delivery Officer

Clean Arc Data Centers | Speaker: Matthew Englert, Chief Development Officer
Providence Health & Services | Speakers: Ryan Berry, Executive Director of Design & Construction Management & Justin Montoya, South Division Chief Real Estate Officer

Speakers: TBD

Los Angeles County Sanitation District (LCSD) | Speaker: Mike Tatalovich, Assistant Departmental Engineer | Engineering Department
Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) | Speakers: Michael Thomas, Capital Project Manager, Engineering-Construction & John Vrsalovich, Construction Contracts Manager
Sites Reservoir Project | Speakers: JP Robinette, Engineering & Construction Manager & Jeff Kivett, Vice President (Brown & Caldwell)

Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) | Speaker: Jim Beil, Executive Director of Capital Programs
Sound Transit | Speaker: Terri Mestas, Deputy Chief Executive Officer

Fresno Unified School District (FUSD) | Speaker: Hussain Agah, Associate Vice Chancellor, Facilities Planning & Development
Riverside Community College District (RCCD) | Speaker: Alex Belanger, Chief Executive for Operations

Speakers:
Jon Switalski, Executive Director, Rebuild SoCal Partnership
Aaron Hake, Executive Director, Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC)

Sacramento International Airport (SMF) | Speaker: TJ Chen, Deputy Director for Planning & Development
San Diego International Airport (SAN) | Speaker: Chris George, Civil Program Manager for Airport Design & Construction

Port of Long Beach | Speaker: Darrin Lambrigger, Director, Construction Management Division
Port of Los Angeles | Speakers: Mark Rose, Assistant Chief Harbor Engineer & Shaun Shahrestani, Chief Harbor Engineer of Construction
Port of San Diego | Speakers: Jesus Puebla, Capital Project Manager, Engineering-Construction & Rudy Zeyala, Assistant Director of Engineering-Construction

Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro) | Speaker: Mat Antonelli, Chief Program Management Officer
Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) | Speaker: Jim Beil, Executive Director of Capital Programs

Speakers:
Brian Dowd, SVP, Construction, Granite Construction Company
Ray Hopkins, Division Chief of Construction, Caltrans
Matt Kuzmick, Vice President – Regional Manager & Water Group Lead, Stacey Whitbeck
Darrin Lambrigger, Director of Construction Management, Port of Long Beach

Speakers: TBD

Speakers: Kayla Montgomery, Senior Industry Advancement Manager, AGC of California

California’s construction industry stands at a pivotal crossroads, facing long-term workforce shortages further impacted by large-scale infrastructure demands—including the 2028 Olympics, the World Cup, and wildfire recovery efforts—amid growing uncertainty around immigration policy impacts. With over 700,000 new workers projected to be needed statewide by 2030, the pressure to stabilize and future-proof the workforce is mounting. This workshop will review the latest data and trends impacting construction career retention in California and highlight the most pressing risks to long-term workforce stability. Attendees will gain practical strategies to improve their retention, build inclusive and resilient teams, and ensure their organizations are ready to meet the moment. Join us to explore how industry leaders can respond today to secure tomorrow’s workforce.

Speakers: TBD

Speaker: Will Hipp, Project Analyst, Tenna

Equipment economics is a vital subset of the construction industry’s financial ecosystem, encompassing the lifecycle of heavy equipment—from acquisition to operation, maintenance, and eventual disposal. While simple in theory, this discipline is complex in practice. Accurate execution depends on the availability of comprehensive equipment data, which is often scattered, inconsistent, or influenced by differing priorities between project and equipment teams.

Without this data, contractors risk making uninformed decisions that can silently erode their margins and profitability. When equipment performance data isn’t aligned with operational decision-making tools or integrated across systems, it creates a visibility gap. This lack of transparency makes it difficult to pinpoint where the business is bleeding capital or how to maximize the use of existing resources.

This session explores how connecting robust equipment data across your business operations—through integration and a shift in management culture—empowers every team member, from field operations to executive leadership, to play a role in improving profitability. Whether you’re estimating, scheduling, maintaining, or analyzing, understanding how equipment economics impacts the bottom line is essential to running a more efficient and profitable construction business.

Speaker: Leslie Whatley, Founder, People & Change Consulting

Strategic leadership is tested during times of complexity, risk, and transformation. This impactful panel, led by Leslie Whatley of People & Change Consulting, features seasoned C-suite executives sharing insights on navigating crises, making values-driven decisions, and shaping resilient organizations. Tailored for senior leaders, the session offers practical strategies, peer dialogue, and a glimpse into the Strategic Leaders Academy. Participants will explore how intentional leadership drives performance, strengthens teams, and influences organizational culture.

Speakers: Bill Lawrence, Trainer/Facilitator/Coach, Excel-Erate & Ian Robinson, Trainer/Facilitator/Coach, Excel-Erate

A discussion on the reasons why Safety Management Tools often fail to yield the desired outcomes, and
strategies for leaders to rectify this situation by posing targeted questions to their teams.

Speaker: Brenda He, AGC Student Chapter Co-President, University of Southern California & Yuhi Aizawa Combatti, Director, Workforce Development, AGC of California

To stay competitive in today’s talent-driven landscape, employers must understand what matters to the next generation, what motivates them, and what influences their career decisions. This workshop explores what current research reveals about Generation Z—their expectations around career development, workplace culture, industry impact, and leadership—and how companies can adapt to meet those needs.
The session features a candid panel discussion with AGC of California Student Chapter Members, who will share firsthand insights on what they’re looking for in an employer, their internship experiences, and what influences their career decisions. Attendees will leave with actionable strategies for refining recruitment messaging, aligning company culture, and building a future-ready workforce.

Speakers:
Michael Quigley, Executive Director, California Alliance for Jobs
Leah Pilconis, General Counsel, AGC of America
Jon Switalski, Executive Director, Rebuild SoCal Partnership

Moderator: Felipe Fuentes, AGC of California Legislative Advocate, Partner at Pacific Coast Capitol Advisors Inc. (PCCA)

Hear from national and state political leaders with The Rebuild SoCal Partnership, California Alliance for Jobs, and AGC of America as they recap our industry’s most important industry developments for 2025 and provide a lookahead of what challenges and opportunities the industry has in 2026 and beyond.

While we’re not hosting a formal golf tournament this year, we’re keeping the networking alive! Join us for tee times at Indian Wells Golf Resort nearby. To learn more click here or purchase a golf ticket on the registration page.