It was an honor and a pleasure to be a part of the Mobility 21 team in the production of “Empowering California” and a Silver Sponsor on October 21, 2016 in Anaheim. With the highest level of speakers, panelists and keynote’s across the state, Mobility 21, once again, proved to be one of the most highly successful summits in transportation in the west. Highlights of the summit included 72 speakers from key elected officials to public and private sector experts in 3 general sessions and 8 breakout sessions. Peter Buffa, Director, Barclays Public Finance, served as the emcee, introducing some of our state’s greatest leaders in transportation and related areas.
The amazing voice of Malia Civetz singing the National Anthem followed by the Riverside City college Marching Band was an inspiring beginning to the summit, followed by an impressive slate of speakers, including Los Angeles Mayor, the Honorable Eric Garcetti; Lucy Dunn, Chair of Mobility 21, California Transportation Commissioner and President and CEO of the Orange County Business Council; Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez, the Honorable Lori Donchak, San Clemente City Council and Board Chair of the Orange County Transportation Authority; the Honorable John Fasana, Chair of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority; the Honorable Keith Millhouse representing Ventura County-VCTC in support of Measure AA;the Honorable Jim Madaffer, California Transportation Commissioner from San Diego; the Honorable Jim Frazier, Chair of the Assembly Transportation Committee and Brian Kelly, Secretary of the California State Transportation Agency. Award recipients were Elon Musk-Private Sector Leader of the year Award; Will Kempton–Lifetime Achievement Award; Self Help Counties Coalition–Public Sector Leader of the Year Award accepted by Keith Dunn, Executive Director and a wonderful Tribute to Marian Bergeson accepted by her daughter, Julie McCormick.
The lunchtime keynote speaker was Nola Brantley, founder of Nola Brantley Speaks introduced by Michael Baker International’s Anna Lantin, Regional Director for the west. The afternoon General Session Panel was moderated by Doug Arnot, Chairman of the Broadstone Group and panelists included Mark Bodily, Director and Program Manager of Cyber and Information Systems for titanium sponsor, Michael Baker International; Darrell Johnson, CEO of the Orange County Transportation Authority and speakers from the Los Angeles World Airport as well as Phil Washington, CEO of the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Commission and Mobility 21 Board Member. Attendance by elected officials, the Mobility 21 Board and so many transportation leaders highlighted the importance of Mobility 21 for our region.
Congratulations to Mobility 21 Executive Director, Jenny Larios; Director of Operations and Communications, Kristin Slocum, the Mobility 21 Board and many volunteers who made this summit a success in 2016.