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The Big Picture
Infraday California 2026
April 23 | Los Angeles, CA
California continues to lead the nation in infrastructure transformation — and in 2026, the conversation moves north.
Join 50+ expert speakers and hundreds of infrastructure leaders on April 23 at Infraday California 2026, the 8th annual gathering focused on solving the state’s most complex public works challenges. Hosted in the heart of San Francisco, this full-day event brings together voices from across California — including transit agencies, water districts, utilities, city officials, and private sector partners — for sharp insights, strategic connections, and real-world collaboration.
With a dynamic, multi-format program, Infraday California 2026 explores urgent topics across:
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Smart infrastructure, data platforms, and AI integration
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Urban transportation, high-speed rail, and mobility planning in the Bay Area and beyond
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Climate adaptation in water, energy, and wildfire risk zones
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Grid modernization, EV infrastructure, and electrification
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Resilient infrastructure delivery and long-term capital planning
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Workforce, permitting, and sustainability in housing, ports, and transit
Hear directly from leaders at agencies like BART, Caltrain, Caltrans, SFPUC, the California Energy Commission, and regional municipalities throughout the Bay Area and Central Valley.
From capital planning and digital tools to grid upgrades and climate resilience, Infraday California offers a front-row seat to the people, projects, and policies shaping the state’s infrastructure future.
Interested in partnering with us? Visit www.infraday.com/partner
Point of contact: Ken Bauco | 646-675-0171 | ken@email-infraday.com
Meet the 2025 Speakers
Aaron Chamberlin, Senior Transportation Engineer (Specialist), Caltrans
Aaron Chamberlin is a Senior Transportation Engineer and Innovation Specialist at Caltrans, where he leads efforts in UAV coordination, Digital As-Built development, and Automated Machine Guidance. With over 17 years at Caltrans, he has delivered 70+ projects totaling over $400 million, combining expertise in roadway construction, surveying, and regulatory compliance. Aaron is also an FAA-certified drone pilot with 500+ flight hours, leveraging technologies like LiDAR, photogrammetry, and CADD platforms to modernize infrastructure delivery.
Abel Enrique Martinez, Contract Specialist, Purchasing & Contracting Department, City of San Diego
Abel Enrique Martinez is a Contract Specialist for the City of San Diego with a decade of experience in public service, including prior roles at NAVFAC and the U.S. Marine Corps. He’s also the founder of the Equitable Future Initiative, where he advocates for economic reform, labor equity, and cooperative governance. Passionate about systemic change, Abel blends his procurement expertise with bold ideas for a more just and sustainable future.
Amir Zavichi, Senior Construction Manager, Port of Los Angeles
Amir Zavichi is a Senior Construction Manager at the Port of Los Angeles with over a decade of experience in the construction industry. He specializes in project management, contract negotiations, and implementing advanced technologies to improve efficiency and sustainability. In addition to his role at the Port, Amir is an instructor at UC Davis Continuing and Professional Education and an active leader in the construction management community.
Andrew Quinn, Assistant Deputy Director, Roadway Pricing, Caltrans
Andrew Quinn is the Assistant Deputy Director of Roadway Pricing at Caltrans, where he leads equitable roadway pricing strategies and oversees the implementation of the California Transportation Plan 2050 and the Climate Action Plan for Transportation Infrastructure. With extensive experience in transportation funding, policy development, and project delivery, he has managed multi-billion-dollar initiatives at Caltrans and LA Metro, focusing on congestion reduction, sustainability, and innovative financing. His expertise in public-private partnerships and alternative project delivery has helped shape California’s evolving transportation landscape.
Anthony Loui, Senior Transportation Planning Manager, LA Metro
Anthony Loui is a Senior Transportation Planning Manager at Los Angeles Metro, where he leads initiatives in project development, program management, and mobility operations. With over 20 years of experience in transportation, urban planning, and public policy, he has played a key role in shaping major transit investments and public-private partnerships across the U.S. Anthony is also an active member of international transit forums, including the UITP Light Rail Committee and the Transportation Research Board.
Arash Saidi, Power Engineering Manager of Distributed Resource Development & Programs, Los Angeles Department of Water & Power
Arash Saidi, P.E., is the Power Engineering Manager of Distributed Resource Development & Programs at Los Angeles Department of Water & Power, where he leads initiatives supporting distributed energy resource adoption, demand response programs, and grid modernization efforts. With over 15 years at LADWP, Arash has overseen projects ranging from solar and storage program development to securing multi-million dollar federal grants for clean energy programs. He holds a Master’s in Electrical Engineering and an MBA, both from the University of Southern California, combining deep technical expertise with a passion for innovative energy solutions. Arash also serves as Secretary of Young Professionals in Energy - LA Chapter, helping to connect and empower emerging leaders in the clean energy space.
Cameron Gieda, Strategic Board Member - GoMentum Innovation Alliance, Contra Costa Transportation Authority
Cameron Gieda is a deep tech business development leader with over 20 years of experience connecting cutting-edge technologies—like AI, autonomy, and mobility solutions—to real-world markets. He has held senior roles at companies such as Pony.ai, Spartan Radar, and Hexagon, and currently serves on the Strategic Board of the GoMentum Innovation Alliance at the Contra Costa Transportation Authority. A USC graduate and former competitive swimmer, Cameron brings a unique blend of technical insight, market strategy, and vision to the advancement of autonomous systems.
Carin Rautenbach, Senior Vice President, PM/CM Sector Lead – Aviation, Infrastructure Services, AtkinsRéalis
Carin Rautenbach is Senior Vice President and Sector Lead for PM/CM – Aviation at AtkinsRéalis, where she oversees project and construction management services across major U.S. aviation programs. With over 30 years of industry experience, she has led multi-billion-dollar infrastructure projects and played a key role in integrating the capabilities of Faithful+Gould, Atkins, and SNC-Lavalin. Carin holds a BSc in Quantity Surveying from the University of Pretoria and has completed extension courses in technology at UC San Diego.
Christian Lofton, Threat Intelligence Analyst, City of Long Beach
Christian Lofton is a Threat Intelligence Analyst for the City of Long Beach, where he specializes in cyber threat hunting, incident response, and intelligence analysis. He is also the founder of Xpoose, a cybersecurity firm focused on strengthening digital defense strategies. With a background spanning public and private sectors, Christian brings a sharp analytical lens to emerging cyber threats impacting municipal operations.
Christine Antoine, Senior Policy Administrator, Port of San Diego
Christine Antoine, MPA, is a policy and government relations professional with over 15 years of experience shaping public policy, building advocacy programs, and fostering strong relationships with elected officials and community leaders. Currently serving as Senior Policy Administrator at the Port of San Diego, she leads strategic initiatives to advance the Port’s legislative priorities and community partnerships. Christine’s career spans roles in higher education, water policy, transportation planning, and housing policy, with a focus on equity, sustainability, and public engagement. She is passionate about leveraging policy to drive positive change and ensure that government decisions reflect the diverse voices of the communities they serve.
Christy Hunt, Marketing Director, Avicado Construction Technology Services, LLC
Christy Hunt is the Marketing Director at Avicado Construction Technology Services, LLC, where she drives growth strategies, brand positioning, and partner engagement for the firm’s innovative construction technology solutions. With over two decades of experience in B2B marketing, product strategy, and business development, she has held leadership roles at DigEplan, Assignar, Trimble, and Infor, specializing in marketing campaigns that enhance customer engagement and drive adoption. Christy’s expertise in problem-solving, communication, and digital transformation makes her a key leader in shaping marketing strategies for the construction technology sector.
Don Day, Director, Project & Facilities Management Department, San Bernardino County
Don Day is the Director of the Project & Facilities Management Department for San Bernardino County, overseeing capital projects, infrastructure maintenance, and facility operations. With over two decades of experience in construction, project management, and public works, he has held leadership roles in both the private and public sectors, including at San Bernardino County Public Works and AD/S Companies. His expertise spans large-scale infrastructure projects, contract negotiations, and performance optimization, driving efficiency and cost savings. Don's background in both hands-on project execution and high-level strategic planning makes him a key leader in county development initiatives.
Donal Kennedy, CTE and Career Pathway Coordinator, Grants Administrator, Los Angeles Unified School District
Donal Kennedy is the CTE and Career Pathways Coordinator at Los Angeles Unified School District, where he develops industry partnerships and workforce programs to connect students with career and technical education opportunities. With nearly 30 years of experience in education, he has been instrumental in curriculum development, instructional coaching, and professional development for teachers. Passionate about workforce development, he collaborates across industries to create pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs that prepare students for high-demand careers.
Ed Shappell, Director Owner and Public Sector, Trimble
Ed Shappell is the Director of Owner and Public Sector at Trimble, where he leads global initiatives helping infrastructure owners and agencies adopt cutting-edge construction technologies. With over a decade at Trimble and a background in sales, consulting, and large-scale implementation, Ed specializes in building workflows that integrate BIM, digital project delivery, and lifecycle asset management. His work spans major international projects and partnerships with organizations like Microsoft, Autodesk, Esri, and Bentley to drive innovation and efficiency across the infrastructure sector.
Elizabeth Crosson, Chief Sustainability, Resiliency and Innovation Officer, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
Liz Crosson serves as the Chief Sustainability, Resilience, and Innovation Officer at the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, where she leads efforts to ensure the region’s water infrastructure is climate-resilient and environmentally sustainable. With a career spanning public policy, infrastructure planning, and climate strategy, she has held leadership roles in both the public and non-profit sectors, including serving as Director of Infrastructure and Deputy Chief Sustainability Officer for the City of Los Angeles under Mayor Eric Garcetti. A trained environmental attorney and educator, Liz also teaches graduate courses on urban sustainability at the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy. Her work focuses on ensuring equitable and reliable water supplies for all communities, reducing carbon emissions, and driving innovation to address climate change impacts on critical infrastructure.
Elizabeth Hellier, Lead Project Manager of Innovative Technology and Infrastructure Planning, CALSTART
Elizabeth Hellier is a Zero Emissions Project Manager at CALSTART, specializing in sustainable transport planning and data analysis. With a background in urban planning from UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs and Sciences Po, she has worked on clean mobility initiatives, air quality research, and transportation policy. Her expertise includes zero-emission vehicle infrastructure, public-private partnerships, and data-driven solutions for sustainable urban development.
Eric Lopez, Public Works Director, City of Long Beach
Eric Lopez is the Public Works Director for the City of Long Beach, overseeing the city's infrastructure, environmental sustainability, and public facilities. With over 17 years of service, he has played a key role in delivering award-winning projects such as the Colorado Lagoon restoration and Seaside Way Pedestrian Bridge. Lopez is committed to building a safe, clean, and sustainable city that meets the evolving needs of the community.
Eric Ritter, Energy Research and Development Division, California Energy Commission
Eric Ritter is a renewable energy expert focused on integrating clean energy technologies into the grid. As a leader in the Energy Research and Development Division at the California Energy Commission, he oversees the Renewable Integration Unit, managing EPIC grants for pre-commercial clean energy projects. His work explores innovative solutions such as DER strategies, energy storage, and EV infrastructure to enhance grid reliability and accelerate California’s clean energy transition.
Erin Wimberly, Lead Project Manager of Community and Industry Relations, CALSTART
Erin Wimberly is a Lead Project Manager for Community and Industry Relations at CALSTART, where she focuses on designing equitable zero-emission vehicle infrastructure projects. Passionate about sustainable transportation, she advocates for community-led initiatives that drive clean energy adoption and industry innovation. With a background in public engagement and project management, Erin is committed to shaping inclusive and impactful infrastructure solutions.
Evan Johnson, Electrification Program Manager, City of Pasadena
Evan Johnson is the Electrification Program Manager for the City of Pasadena, leading efforts to expand and manage EV charging infrastructure while ensuring regulatory compliance and sustainability. With over 15 years in public service, he has extensive experience in parking operations, security consulting, and electrification initiatives, driving innovative transportation solutions. A U.S. Marine Corps veteran, Evan holds a Master of Public Administration from California State University, Northridge, and a Bachelor’s in Finance from Cal Poly Pomona.
Gary Waters, Director of Transportation Engagement Team, ESRI
Gary Waters is the Director of the Transportation Engagement Team at Esri, where he leads strategy across five key markets: highways, airports, transit, ports, and rail. With over 35 years in GIS and IT, he brings deep expertise from roles in both the public and private sectors, including as CEO of NovaLIS Technologies and EVP at GeoFields. Gary has worked extensively with State DOTs and federal agencies to advance the use of spatial technology for better decision-making and operational efficiency.
Grant Sharp Manager, South OC Watershed Management Area, County of Orange
Grant Sharp serves as the Manager of the South Orange County Watershed Management Area at Orange County Public Works, where he leads collaborative efforts to protect and enhance water resources across South OC. With over 25 years of experience in environmental management, stormwater quality, and watershed planning, Grant has been at the forefront of innovative solutions to safeguard Orange County’s water quality. He also represents the regulated stormwater community on the California Water Quality Monitoring Council and serves as an Adjunct Faculty Member at Santiago Canyon College, where he teaches courses on stormwater management and green infrastructure construction. A proud UC Santa Barbara graduate, Grant is passionate about building partnerships that advance sustainable water management practices across Southern California.
John Shamma, Engineering Services Group, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
John Shamma is a civil engineer with nearly 30 years of experience designing vital water infrastructure for Southern California. He serves as a facility planning team manager at the Metropolitan Water District and has been a lecturer at Cal State LA since 1999, where he received the university’s 2015 “Outstanding Lecturer” award. Passionate about teaching, he bridges real-world engineering with classroom fundamentals to inspire and prepare the next generation of engineers.
Jonathon Martin, Claims Director, Claims Office, Los Angeles Department of Water & Power
Jonathon M. Martin is the Claims Director at the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power, overseeing risk management and claims resolution. With extensive experience in public sector claims administration, he ensures efficient handling of liability and property claims. His leadership helps safeguard LADWP’s financial and operational integrity while serving the city of Los Angeles.
Jorge Martinez, Principal Transportation Planner, Station Experience | Operations, LA Metro
Jorge Martinez is a Principal Transportation Planner at LA Metro, where he brings over six years of experience in transit planning, community engagement, and infrastructure strategy. With a strong background in urban planning and transportation/land use policy, he has worked across public agencies and non-profits to improve mobility and equity in Southern California. Jorge holds certifications in Community Design and Transportation Planning and is known for his data-driven approach and collaborative leadership style.
Interested in becoming a partner or exhibitor? Please contact ken@infraday.com
Official Partners – 2025
Avicado Construction Technology Services
Avicado empowers construction owners to leverage their systems and data. Our experts partner with enterprise organizations like data centers, universities, hospitals, public agencies, and developers to create seamless interoperability across their teams and technologies.
As a construction owner’s strategic partner, Avicado reduces churn on construction programs and fosters healthy, data-driven decision-making. We bring our unparalleled construction technology expertise to every project, no matter the size.
As a construction owner’s strategic partner, Avicado reduces churn on construction programs and fosters healthy, data-driven decision-making. We bring our unparalleled construction technology expertise to every project, no matter the size.
Kahua
Kahua helps you manage processes, documents and cost on your construction programs and projects from inception to closeout. Purpose-built solutions for owners, program managers, general contractors and subcontractors help you minimize time-to-value and enhance user adoption. Kahua enables collaboration between all project participants to streamline communication and improve efficiency. Eliminate waste and rework by keeping everyone on the same page with the latest design and scope information. And with Kahua’s comprehensive dashboards and reporting, you get the visibility and control you need to minimize risk.
Kahua is a lifecycle solution, with applications for capital planning, sources of funds, design review, bid management, document management & control, cost management and asset handover. Kahua is available on all mobile devices to easily connect field to office.
Kahua apps are built on kBuilder, an Enterprise Low-Code Application Platform which enables Kahua partners and customers to rapidly build new apps or customize existing apps to extend or enhance Kahua solutions. This gives you the agility you need to adapt as your business needs evolve. To date, over 600 private and public apps have been developed on kBuilder, and public apps are available to the Kahua community on the kStore app marketplace.
Kahua is a lifecycle solution, with applications for capital planning, sources of funds, design review, bid management, document management & control, cost management and asset handover. Kahua is available on all mobile devices to easily connect field to office.
Kahua apps are built on kBuilder, an Enterprise Low-Code Application Platform which enables Kahua partners and customers to rapidly build new apps or customize existing apps to extend or enhance Kahua solutions. This gives you the agility you need to adapt as your business needs evolve. To date, over 600 private and public apps have been developed on kBuilder, and public apps are available to the Kahua community on the kStore app marketplace.
Metrolink
The Southern California Regional Rail Authority (SCRRA) is the joint powers authority that operates METROLINK, the five county premier commuter rail service with a dedicated staff of approximately 250 full time employees and over 800 contract staff. Metrolink is one of the fastest growing commuter rail systems in the country with seven routes, 55 stations, and 512 miles of track. Metrolink transports over 40,000 passengers daily and continues to reduce congestion on highways and improve mobility throughout the Southern California region.
Mott MacDonald
Mott MacDonald is a $2 billion global management, engineering, and development firm. It is one of the world’s largest employee-owned companies, with 16,000 employees and over 180 offices delivering sustainable outcomes for clients in 150 countries worldwide. Mott MacDonald works on projects in the buildings, digital, energy, environment, transportation, and water and wastewater sectors.
Mott MacDonald in North America is a vibrant infrastructure development and engineering company with more than 60 offices and 2,300 staff in the United States and Canada.
Mott MacDonald in North America is a vibrant infrastructure development and engineering company with more than 60 offices and 2,300 staff in the United States and Canada.
PMWeb: Construction Project Management Software
PMWeb is the World's #1 All-in-One, Enterprise Construction Project Management Software. Powerful, Easy-to-Use, and 100% Web-based.
SAFEbuilt
SAFEbuilt provides community development services across 39 states and Washington, D.C., with a team of 1,700 employees serving over 2,000 communities nationwide. We offer a full range of solutions supported by advanced technology, helping municipalities stabilize budgets, streamline operations, enhance customer experiences, and accelerate project timelines. Learn more at SAFEbuilt.com.
2025 Agenda
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