Building for Tomorrow – Integrating Lifeline Infrastructure

Schedule

January 27, 2026

04:00 PM – 5:30 PM

Registration Open
Start your experience by checking in at the registration desk. Pick up your badge, event materials, and get assistance with any questions. Our team is ready to welcome you and help you get oriented for a successful event.

January 28, 2026

07:15 AM – 06:00 PM

Registration Open

Start your experience by checking in at the registration desk. Pick up your badge, event materials, and get assistance with any questions. Our team is ready to welcome you and help you get oriented for a successful event.

07:45 AM – 08:30 AM

Continental Breakfast

Enjoy a light morning meal featuring coffee, tea, juices, pastries, fruit, and assorted breakfast items. A great way to start your day and connect with fellow attendees.

08:30 AM – 09:30 AM

Conference Opening and Keynote

Join us as we officially kick off the conference with a welcome from organizational leadership, followed by a Keynote presentation. This session will set the tone of the day and offer insights tied to the theme of the day: Breaking Down Silos – A Collective Vision for Lifeline Resilience.

Craig “Tooey” Courtemanche, Jr.
Founder and Chairman of the Board
Procore

Craig “Tooey” Courtemanche, Jr. is the Founder and Chairman of the Board of Procore. Tooey served as CEO and President of Procore from January 2002 to November 2025. He founded Procore in 2002 with a mission to connect everyone in construction on a global platform and is passionate about bringing together two often disparate worlds: construction and software. Tooey has always been a builder—whether working as an apprentice in a carpentry shop, as a real estate developer, or founding software companies. Under his leadership, Procore grew to become a leading global provider of construction management software, connecting over 2 million users across 150+ countries. Today Procore trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker PCOR.

09:45 AM – 11:15 AM

Federal Policy – Building a Unified Framework for Community Resilience

Join the Federal leaders and policymakers to explore the policy environment that shapes resilience and lifeline infrastructure. The panel will discuss where the current administration stands on resilience priorities, infrastructure investment, and interagency coordination. They will address how fragmented programs for response, recovery, and mitigation create challenges, while highlighting opportunities to harmonize funding streams and establish a more unified national framework.

Takeaways:

Insight into the current administration’s priorities for resilience and infrastructure.
Recognition of the value of a unified framework for planning, funding, and accountability.
Opportunities for stakeholders to engage in and influence future policy direction.

Pete T. Gaynor
President, Bright Harbor

Pete Gaynor is the President of Bright Harbor, a subsidiary of Marsh McLennan that helps clients anticipate, prepare for, and manage the impact of catastrophic events and build resiliency across their enterprises. He served as the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) from 2019 to 2021, and as Acting Secretary of Homeland Security in 2021, leading the nation’s response to disasters including the COVID-19 pandemic.

Before joining FEMA in 2018, Gaynor served as Director of the Providence Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security (2015–2018), and as Director of Emergency Management for the State of Rhode Island (2011–2015). He is a retired U.S. Marine Corps officer with 26 years of service, including deployments to Operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm, and Iraqi Freedom.

Gaynor holds a B.S. in Business Administration from Rhode Island College and an M.A. in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College. He serves on boards and advisories related to emergency management, resilience, and homeland security.

Jason D. Averill
Deputy Director, Engineering Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)

Jason D. Averill is the Deputy Director of the Engineering Laboratory at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). He leads research and programs to advance measurement science, standards, and technologies for resilient buildings and communities, including fire protection engineering, structural performance under multi-hazard events, and community resilience planning.

At NIST, Averill has led landmark investigations and studies, including the National Construction Safety Team investigation of the Station Nightclub Fire and work supporting the development of community resilience planning guides. He has published extensively on fire dynamics, emergency egress, and performance-based design, and has served on national and international technical committees.

Averill holds engineering degrees and has received multiple awards for federal service and scientific leadership in building and fire research.

11:30 AM – 12:30 PM

State Perspectives – Lessons, Challenges, and Opportunities

State leaders will discuss experiences from disaster response and recovery, highlighting both successes and ongoing challenges. The session will examine state-level policies, standards, and resilience planning innovations, as well as lessons from wildfire, seismic, and flood events that underscore the urgent need for coordinated long-term adaptation.

Takeaways:

Insights into state strategies that have proven effective.
Recognition of persistent vulnerabilities and lessons not yet acted upon.
A prioritized list of resilience strategies states should pursue now.

11:30 AM – 12:30 PM

Lunch & Mingle

Join us for a hosted lunch and informal networking.

01:45 PM – 02:55 PM

Financing the Future – Investment Strategies Amid Limited Public Funds

With declining public budgets and growing risk, this session explores innovative financing solutions—from resilience bonds to public–private partnerships—that can scale infrastructure resilience efforts across sectors.

Takeaways:

How to engage private entities and explore new investment opportunities when public funds are insufficient.
Practical pathways and real-world models for financing resilience initiatives.

Jeff Montejano
CEO, Building Industry Association of Southern California

Jeff Montejano is Chief Executive Officer of the Building Industry Association of Southern California, representing thousands of member companies and advocating for housing, infrastructure, and economic development across the region. He leads policy initiatives, government affairs, and strategic partnerships to tackle affordability, supply constraints, and regulatory barriers to building.
Montejano has served in senior roles in public affairs and government, including advisory positions with local governments and agencies. He is recognized for coalition-building and consensus strategies that align private and public stakeholders around responsible growth and resilient, attainable housing.

He holds degrees in public policy and communications and serves on advisory boards focused on housing, infrastructure, and workforce development in Southern California.

Janiele Maffei
Chief Mitigation Officer, California Earthquake Authority

Janiele Maffei is the Chief Mitigation Officer of the California Earthquake Authority (CEA) and Executive Director of the California Residential Mitigation Program (CRMP). She leads statewide initiatives to reduce seismic risk, expand retrofitting programs, and improve residential resilience through policy, incentives, and public education.

Maffei has more than three decades of experience in structural engineering, with leadership roles in design and risk mitigation for essential facilities and critical infrastructure. She has served on technical committees advancing performance-based seismic design and collaborates with public agencies to translate science into community-level action.

She is a licensed structural engineer and frequent speaker on earthquake resilience, building codes, and mitigation policy.

Joe Karkoski Deputy Director in the Division of Financial Assistance California State Water Resources Control Board Joe Karkoski serves as the Deputy Director in the Division of Financial Assistance at the State Water Resources Control Board. In this role, Joe oversees the provision of grants and loans for a diverse array of projects aimed at supporting communities across California. These projects include initiatives in drinking water, wastewater, water recycling, groundwater cleanup and remediation, and stormwater management. Additionally, Joe's division is responsible for the certification of drinking water and wastewater operators. Before joining the State Water Board, Joe did stints at the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board and the United States Environmental Protection Agency. He holds a degree in Chemical Engineering from Michigan State University and a Master in Public Policy and Administration from CSU, Sacramento.

Jeff Ball
President & Chief Executive Officer
Orange County Business Council

Jeffrey K. Ball (“Jeff”) is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Orange County Business Council where he represents the interests of local businesses and organizations together with academia and government to promote the economic growth of the nation’s sixth largest county, Orange County, California.

Ball is the Founder of First Pacific Bank (formerly Friendly Hills Bank) where he previously served as President and Chief Executive Officer and is currently board vice chair. His more than 30 years of experience in commercial and investment banking includes leadership positions with Bank of America, as well as past Chair of the California Bankers Association. Currently, he serves on the Board of Directors for the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco, Mobility21, Data Center, Inc. and Kinetic Academy charter school. He is also a member by appointment of the Legal Services Trust Fund Commission of the California State Bar and the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges.

Prior to earning his MBA from Whittier College, Ball earned his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Puget Sound. An advocate of financial literacy, Ball frequently guest lectures on the topics of financial and economic principles at high schools and universities across the nation.

Chelsy Shipman
Associate Director, U.S. Public Finance
S&P Global

Chelsy is an associate director within S&P Global’s U.S. Public Finance Department and is part of the U.S. Municipal Water and Sewer Team.

Prior to joining S&P, Chelsy worked in Washington, D.C. where she assisted organizations facing a number of reputational, regulatory, and public affairs challenges. Chelsy also worked with several global financial institutions, while based in London, to help convey their priorities regarding regulation, digital disruption, new market competition, as well as environmental, social, governance (ESG) to key stakeholders. This work included helping investors to consider the long-term and environmental impact of their portfolios.

Chelsy holds a Master of Public Policy in International Political Economy from King’s College London, and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of North Texas. She is also certified by the Municipal Bond Club of New York.

03:10 PM – 04:20 PM

Lifeline Infrastructure – Business Cases from Operators

Executives from the building, water & wastewater, energy, transportation, and telecommunications sectors will present real-world business cases, exploring successes, persistent challenges (siloed planning, cultural/organizational barriers, data-sharing gaps), and emerging tools and frameworks for coordinated planning, faster recovery, and long-term reliability.

Takeaways:

Why silos persist across lifeline operators and the risks they create.
Key gaps in operational planning and cross-sector coordination.
Practical steps operators can take to strengthen joint resilience planning and emergency response.

Anselmo G. Collins
Sr. Assistant General Manager – Water System, LADWP

Anselmo G. Collins is the Senior Assistant General Manager for the Water System at the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP). He oversees water system operations, planning, and capital programs that serve four million residents, including water supply reliability, infrastructure modernization, and resilience to drought and seismic hazards.

Collins has led major initiatives in water conservation, recycled water expansion, and interagency coordination across Southern California. His career spans engineering, program management, and utility leadership, with a focus on long-term planning and community engagement.

He holds engineering and management degrees and serves on regional water and infrastructure advisory bodies.

Mark Pestrella
Director, Los Angeles County Public Works

Mark Pestrella is the Director of Los Angeles County Public Works, one of the largest public works agencies in the United States. He manages integrated services encompassing transportation, water resources, environmental services, and infrastructure delivery for more than ten million residents, with an emphasis on resilience, sustainability, and equity.

Throughout his career at Public Works, Pestrella has advanced multi-benefit stormwater projects, flood risk management, and partnerships that connect infrastructure to community outcomes. He is a frequent collaborator across jurisdictions on climate adaptation and regional infrastructure strategies.

Pestrella is a licensed civil engineer and has received numerous awards for public service and leadership in infrastructure.

Ronald T. Eguchi
CEO & Co-Founder, ImageCat, Inc.

Ronald T. Eguchi is the Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of ImageCat, Inc., a global risk management company specializing in remote sensing, catastrophe modeling, and advanced analytics for natural hazards. He has over four decades of experience in disaster risk reduction, loss estimation, and lifeline infrastructure resilience.

Eguchi has led major projects for federal agencies, international organizations, and private-sector clients, integrating satellite imagery and data science to improve damage assessment and recovery planning. He has authored numerous publications and serves on advisory committees advancing resilient infrastructure and risk analytics.

Eguchi holds engineering degrees and is the recipient of awards recognizing his contributions to the fields of earthquake engineering and disaster risk management.

Joel Farrier
Southwest Division GM (North America), Mott MacDonald

Joel Farrier is the Southwest Division General Manager for Mott MacDonald in North America, where he leads a multidisciplinary team delivering transportation, water, and energy infrastructure projects. His experience spans project leadership, major program delivery, and partnership development with public agencies and private clients.

Farrier focuses on integrating resilience, sustainability, and digital delivery into complex programs, with a track record of on-time, on-budget outcomes. He is active in professional associations and regional initiatives to improve infrastructure performance and community benefits.

He holds engineering and management qualifications and mentors early-career professionals across the industry.

Joone Kim-Lopez
General Manager & CEO, Moulton Niguel Water District

Joone Kim-Lopez is the General Manager and CEO of the Moulton Niguel Water District in Orange County, California. She has led nationally recognized initiatives in water efficiency, customer service, and infrastructure modernization, while advancing fiscal stewardship and environmental sustainability.

Prior to Moulton Niguel, Kim-Lopez served in leadership roles at other California public agencies and has been a strong voice for regional collaboration on water supply reliability and climate adaptation. She is actively involved in community partnerships and workforce development programs.

Kim-Lopez holds advanced degrees in public administration and has been honored for innovation and public service in the water sector.

Tim Lindolm
Chief Program Management Officer
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro)

Tim Lindholm is the Chief Program Management Officer at the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro), where he leads 300 Program Management employees executing the largest transportation infrastructure program in the nation—a $35 billion portfolio of approximately 60 active rail, bus, and highway projects. His leadership spans transformative efforts such as the LAX/Metro Transit Center Station, Purple (D Line) Extension, and the East San Fernando Valley Light Rail Transit Project, along with major upcoming initiatives including the Southeast Gateway Line and Eastside Phase 2 extension projects. With nearly 25 years at Metro, Tim brings deep expertise in project and construction management, alternative delivery methods, strategic planning, and stakeholder engagement. A graduate of San Diego State University and a licensed California Professional Geologist, Tim has been instrumental in advancing Metro’s mission to deliver a world-class transportation system that enhances quality of life across L.A. County.

Anthony C. Williams
Principal
Ballard Group

Anthony C. Williams is a distinguished professional in the realms of public policy and governmental affairs, currently based in Huntington Beach. He brings with him a rich tapestry of experiences and accomplishments. Anthony’s current role as a member of the California High-Speed Rail Authority, underscores his expertise in governance and policy-making.
Anthony’s career journey is marked by significant roles across various sectors. He served as the Director of Public Policy at Amazon since 2020, where he shaped the company’s policy strategies. Before that, he was the Legislative Affairs Secretary in the office of Governor Gavin Newsom in his first term, playing a pivotal role in driving the Governor’s legislative agenda. Anthony’s experience also includes a noteworthy stint at The Boeing Company from 2014 to 2019, where he excelled as the Director of National Strategy and Engagement. His earlier roles include serving as a Policy Director and Special Counsel in the California State Senate from 2010 to 2014, and as a Founding Partner at Wada Williams Law Group from 2007 to 2010. His insight into government affairs was further honed during his tenure as the Director of Government Affairs at the State Bar of California from 2004 to 2007 and as a Policy Consultant in the California State Senate from 1999 to 2004. He started his illustrious career as a Legislative Advocate for the Office of Government Affairs at the Judicial Council of California from 1994 to 1999."

04:20 PM – 04:30 PM

Day 1 Wrap-up

Recap of highlights, reflections, and a preview of what’s next.

04:30 PM – 06:00 PM

Networking Reception

Enjoy bites and beverages while connecting with peers, speakers, and partners.

January 29, 2026

07:45 AM – 03:00 PM

Registration Open

Start your experience by checking in at the registration desk. Pick up your badge, event materials, and get assistance with any questions.

08:00 AM – 08:45 AM

Continental Breakfast

Light breakfast and connection time with fellow attendees.

08:45 AM – 10:15 AM

Listening Session

Cross-sector dialogue capturing practitioner, policymaker, operator, and researcher perspectives in an interactive format.

10:20 AM – 10:55 AM

Exhibitor Break

Visit the exhibit area to connect with partners and sponsors.

11:00 AM – 12:10 PM

Making the Case: Reliability and Service Standards for Lifeline Infrastructure Operators

Lifeline infrastructure—power, water, transportation, communications, and buildings—underpins community resilience, but operators face aging assets, rising hazards, regulatory pressure, and tight budgets. This session examines the evolving business case for prioritizing resilience and how service requirements, risk mitigation, and interdependencies shape investment decisions. Experts share examples, policy frameworks, and performance metrics that translate resilience into tangible value for regulators, stakeholders, and the public.

Learning objectives:

Understand best practices to strengthen reliability and service continuity.
Identify practical challenges and barriers to advancing resilience investments.
Explore operators’ priority needs (tools, policies, standards) to enable stronger action.
Articulate the economic and societal value of reliability investments for public safety and continuity.

Scotty Galloway
President
dress gray consulting

Scotty Galloway is President of dress gray consulting, a disabled veteran business enterprise (DVBE) providing project and construction management services to developers, lenders, and public-sector clients. A West Point graduate with a civil engineering degree and service in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He is an alumnus of Harvard’s Advanced Management Development Program, earned his MBA at USC, and an MS Construction from Arizona State University. He brings a disciplined, data-driven approach to managing complex capital projects from concept through closeout.
With more than twenty-five years of experience spanning construction, construction management, and development-for-fee, Scotty focuses on protecting owner interests through rigorous cost, schedule, and scope control. His background includes general contractor, owner’s representative, and developer. He is known for developing and implementing project controls, evaluating contractor performance and change orders, managing third-party testing and commissioning, and integrating digital platforms such as Autodesk Build, Bluebeam, and AI to maintain transparency and accountability.
Scotty served as a professor at the University of Southern California for seven years, teaching estimating and construction management in their master's program. Based in Southern California, he has directed industrial, logistics, and municipal developments across the United States. His leadership at dress gray reflects a mission-driven commitment to clarity, precision, and results—ensuring that every project meets its technical, financial, and operational objectives.

Jordanna Rubin
SVP, Disaster Resilience
AECOM

As Senior Vice President and Disaster Resilience Market Sector Leader at AECOM, Jordanna Rubin helps communities move from recovery to resilience through whole-systems thinking and precision implementation. With over 25 years of experience in disaster recovery, sustainability, and resilience, Jordanna leads a global Portfolio Management Office focused operational readiness – rapidly mobilizing integrated teams, resources and solutions to restore critical lifelines and accelerate recovery.

Jordanna focuses on strengthening the interconnections across housing, energy, transportation, water, and public health systems to ensure recovery investments deliver lasting impact. Her work spans wildfire and flood recovery, housing reconstruction, and community capacity planning. Jordanna is dedicated to helping clients design solutions that restore stability today while strengthening systems for the future.

11:00 AM – 12:10 PM

Next-Gen Housing: Advancing Innovation in Building Materials and Components

With affordability crises, aging stock, and climate impacts, housing needs faster, smarter materials and systems. This session explores advanced composites, modular systems, bio-based materials, and smart components—how they reshape standards, speed builds, and boost durability. Learn the technical, regulatory, and market factors that drive (or slow) adoption.

Learning objectives:

Evaluate emerging materials for performance, sustainability, cost, and suitability in housing.
Understand innovation’s role in affordability, adaptation, and supply constraints.
Identify regulatory/market barriers and strategies to accelerate approval and integration.
Apply case-study insights and data to inform future material selection and design.

Amanda Cimaglia
Vice President, Global Sustainability, James Hardie

Amanda Cimaglia is Vice President, Global Sustainability at James Hardie (NYSE: JHX), the industry leader in exterior home and outdoor living solutions with products engineered for beauty, durability, and climate resilience. She joined James Hardie following its 2025 acquisition of The AZEK Company, where she led corporate affairs, communications and impact. She brings deep expertise in ESG strategy, investor engagement, and purpose-driven communications, with prior leadership roles at Solebury Strategic Communications and Hannon Armstrong (NYSE: HASI). Amanda has contributed to ESG working groups for the American Council on Renewable Energy, New York Stock Exchange and GreenBuilder, and she currently serves on the Fast Company Impact Council.

11:00 AM – 12:10 PM

Beyond Survival: Building a National Framework for Functional Recovery and Life Safety

Life safety is essential, but communities also need buildings and infrastructure to resume essential functions quickly after shocks. This session examines a national framework that balances life safety with functional recovery—policy, engineering, and economic angles; the latest developments; gaps to close; and strategies for public education and adoption.

Learning objectives:

Distinguish life-safety vs. functional-recovery objectives and their performance implications.
Analyze benefits/trade-offs of functional-recovery provisions, including cost and resilience.
Explore policy and technical pathways to implement a national framework across hazards.
Apply lessons from pilots and case studies to inform planning, design, and engagement.

Craig Davis
Manager
C A Davis Engineering

Craig A. Davis, Ph.D., PE, GE is a professional consultant on geotechnical, earthquake and lifeline infrastructure system resilience engineering. During his 32-year career at the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, Water System (LADWP) he worked as the Departmental Chief Resilience Officer, Resilience Program Manager, Seismic Manager, Geotechnical Engineering Manager and Trunk Line Design Manager. Dr. Davis developed a comprehensive LA Water System resilience program. After retiring from the LADWP, Dr. Davis continues to consult and is involved in creating policy for improving infrastructure systems to threats and hazards. He is a California licensed Civil and Geotechnical Engineer and received a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from the University of Southern California. Dr. Davis participates in many national and international professional committees involved in geotechnical engineering and lifeline system resilience. He was honored with the ASCE 2016 Le Val Lund Award for Practicing Lifeline Risk Reduction and 2020 Charles Martin Duke Lifeline Earthquake Engineering Award. He received the EERI 2021 Distinguished Lecture Award for outstanding contributions to earthquake risk reduction. He was honored to be in the 2023 introductory class designated as ‘Pipeline Engineer – Water’ by the ASCE Utility Engineering and Survey Institute.

12:15 PM – 01:15 PM

Networking Lunch

Casual lunch designed to foster conversation and collaboration.

01:20 PM – 02:20 PM

Resilience in Action: Bridging Business Owners and Lifeline Operators for Continuity and Risk Reduction

Businesses rely on lifeline infrastructure; operators rely on business demand to justify upgrades. This session convenes business leaders, insurers, and operators to align risk assessments, continuity planning, and resilience investments—turning siloed interests into shared strategies.

Learning objectives:

Understand shared vulnerabilities and interdependencies between business and lifeline systems.
Use risk assessments, insurance mechanisms, and performance metrics to create common ground.
Evaluate strategies for mitigating operational disruptions and coordinating stakeholders.
Apply case studies and best practices to strengthen continuity planning at scale.

Vanessa Czarnecki
Account Engineering Group Manager
Factory Mutual (FM) Insurance

Vanessa Czarnecki is an accomplished engineering leader with over a decade of experience in risk assessment, technical consulting, and operational management within the commercial property risk industry. As Account Engineering Group Manager at Factory Mutual (FM) Insurance, she oversees the development and growth of account engineers in the Los Angeles Operations, driving efficiency and technical excellence across diverse teams while cultivating strong client relationships.
Vanessa has led strategic initiatives to enhance hazard identification and mitigation, including the creation of a data-informed flood strategy and the advancement of loss prevention solutions in the chemical industry. Vanessa holds a degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering from UCLA.

01:20 PM – 02:20 PM

Harnessing Digital Transformation in Housing

AI, digital twins, and data platforms are changing how we design, build, and operate housing. This session looks at predictive maintenance, lifecycle modeling, and data-driven decision-making—plus the realities of interoperability, governance, and workforce readiness.

Learning objectives:

Explain roles of AI and digital twins in housing design, construction, and operations.
Identify practical applications for modeling performance and managing assets.
Evaluate challenges/opportunities around data, interoperability, privacy, and equity.
Apply insights from pilots to adopt digital tools in development and policy planning.

Jim Baldwin
Founder & CEO
Domatic

John Fay
Founder & CEO
Låda Build

John Fay is the CEO & Founder of Låda Build, a building tech company that manufactures the 2x4 of the Future. As a gifted designer, innovator, and visionary, John has a diverse background in business and product development and design.

Låda Build’s standardized building products provide new standards for reusable and sustainable solutions for the built environment. These kit-of-part/lego-like products bring reductions in skilled labor requirements as well as year-over-year cost reductions across the construction industry leading to affordability. As a truly circular building product, these reusable solutions are changing how the world builds. The benefits are reusability, demountable/permanent, and environmentally friendly products.

John Fay’s resume includes Top 25 Green Building CEO’s, Stanford CIFE Presenter, Stanford Engineering Guest Speaker, Colorado’s Top Companies to Watch, Startup Grind Top 50 Startups, & Issued Patent Holder."

01:20 PM – 02:20 PM

Designing for Outcomes: Performance-Based Codes and Standards

Prescriptive codes can limit innovation. Performance-based frameworks enable flexible, outcome-driven design across lifelines and housing. This session unpacks regulatory trends, implementation hurdles, and evaluation tools that link innovation to resilient outcomes.

Learning objectives:

Understand principles/benefits of performance-based approaches vs. prescriptive codes.
Evaluate how performance-based standards enhance resilience and support innovation.
Identify verification methods, stakeholder engagement needs, and regulatory alignment.
Apply performance-based strategies using case studies, modeling, and risk-informed decisions.

John Hooper
Senior Principal and the Director of Earthquake Engineering
Magnusson Klemencic Associates

John Hooper is a Senior Principal and the Director of Earthquake Engineering at Magnusson Klemencic Associates, a consulting structural and civil engineering firm in Seattle, Washington. He received his Bachelor of Civil Engineering from Seattle University and a Master of Science from the University of California at Berkeley.

John has over 40 years of engineering experience in the fields of renovation and earthquake engineering and has been involved in the majority of MKA’s Performance-Based Seismic designs over the past 25 years.

He is Past Chair of the American Society of Civil Engineer (ASCE 7’s) Seismic Subcommittee, a member of ASCE 7’s Main Committee, and Chair of the Building Seismic Safety Council (BSSC) NEHRP Provisions Update Committee.

Scott Adams
Fire Protection Engineer, Technical Services
International Code Council

Scott Adams is the Fire Protection Engineer with the International Code Council (ICC) working within the Codes and Standards Development department. Mr. Adams has over 35 years of experience in fire and life safety consulting in both municipal government and private practice. Mr. Adams graduated from the University of Maryland with a Bachelor of Science degree in Fire Protection Engineering. Mr. Adams has served and chaired various code development and technical committees. Mr. Adams is a licensed Fire Protection Engineer in the states of California, Nevada, and Utah; is a Professional Member with the Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE) and is certified as an ICC Fire Code Inspector II and Building Plans Examiner. He served as Chairman of the 2002 Winter Olympics Fire Marshals Work Group and has been involved with the review and analysis for alternative means and methods requests from design professionals to determine compliance with applicable building and fire codes and standards. Mr. Adams has represented jurisdictions at design review and pre-entitlement meetings to provide answers and offer solutions proposed by the design team. Mr. Adams is a respected instructor throughout the US and Internationally by providing technical training classes to fire and building officials, design professionals, and contractors.

02:35 PM – 03:35 PM

Intelligent Infrastructure: Leveraging BIM, Digital Twins, and AI for Smarter Systems

Data and intelligence are redefining planning, construction, and operations. This session shows how BIM, digital twins, and AI enable predictive analytics, real-time monitoring, and lifecycle optimization across transportation, utilities, and housing.

Learning objectives:

Explain how BIM, digital twins, and AI enhance planning, design, and operations.
Evaluate how tech supports predictive maintenance, risk assessment, and optimization.
Identify integration hurdles—interoperability, cybersecurity, workforce readiness.
Apply real-world implementations to guide strategic adoption in projects and policy.

Darin Welch Director of Digital Transformation Solutions and Associate Vice President HNTB Corporation Darin Welch is the Director of Digital Transformation Solutions and Associate Vice President at HNTB Corporation. He spearheads the integration of emerging technologies to enhance client programs, leveraging over two decades of expertise in geospatial problem-solving, technology platform integration, and data analytics. Throughout his career, Darin has been instrumental in driving digital innovation within the transportation sector, addressing key challenges, and implementing advanced solutions to improve efficiency, safety, and engagement. Darin is an HNTB Associate Fellow, one of the highest technical honors within the company, and he has been recognized by Esri as one of the very first GIS AEC Heroes for his significant contributions to industry innovation.

Hamza Alsarhan Founder & CEO OpsHeaven Technologies Dr. Hamza F. Alsarhan is an entrepreneur, technologist, and Adjunct Professor of AI at the George Washington University and Wake Forest University. He focuses on applying artificial intelligence to modernize engineered systems and infrastructure operations. As Founder and CEO of OpsHeaven Technologies (OHT), he leads AI implementation and consulting programs that help organizations integrate automation, data intelligence, and emerging technologies into workflows that support BIM and digital twin environments. He previously served as Vice President of Customer Experience and Programs at Unirac, a solar engineering and manufacturing company, where he oversaw engineering services, digital platforms, and software initiatives. Dr. Alsarhan also built large scale AI enabled systems in financial services and brings a cross industry perspective on how intelligent systems improve accuracy, efficiency, and real time decision making.

Cyle Hawkins
Chief, Enterprise Engineering Branch
United States Department of Defense

Gökçe Özçelik
Product Manager
ESRI+F35

02:35 PM – 03:35 PM

Building Faster, Smarter: Modular Construction and Advanced Delivery Methods

Modular, design-build, IPD, and off-site fabrication can cut timelines, improve quality, and scale resilience. This session covers technologies, regulatory considerations, and outcomes from projects using advanced delivery across lifelines and housing.

Learning objectives:

Understand principles/benefits of modular and advanced delivery in accelerating builds.
Evaluate how off-site fabrication and integrated delivery improve cost, quality, schedule.
Identify regulatory, logistical, and workforce challenges—and strategies to overcome them.
Apply lessons from pilots to future planning and procurement decisions.

Eric Benavides
Founder & CEO
Fornidos Home Systems, Inc.

Founder of Fornidos Home Systems, Inc., Eric leads the ICC-certified Component Construction System (CCS) — a code-compliant panel platform for fast, scalable housing. With 40+ years in construction, he’s built hundreds of homes and now drives Fornidos toward nationwide growth and affordable housing solutions.

Colby Swanson
Built Environment Partner
ADL Ventures

02:35 PM – 03:35 PM

From Policy to Practice: Streamlining Code Adoption, Enforcement, and Permitting

Codes only work when adopted and enforced on time, with efficient permitting. This session explores digital plan review, remote inspection (e.g., drones), and data dashboards to modernize compliance and speed resilience-focused code integration.

Learning objectives:

Identify common barriers to adoption/enforcement and their impact on safety and resilience.
Evaluate modernization strategies (digital platforms, pre-approved designs, coordinated review).
Understand policy innovation and stakeholder engagement for faster integration and compliance.
Apply successful implementation models to improve enforcement and permitting efficiency.