More than 800 local and regional leaders from throughout Southern California will gather in Palm Desert next week to explore a range of critical issues facing the region, from the opportunities of smart cities technology to the rebuilding of communities following the wildfires.
The Southern California Association of Governments’ (SCAG) 2025 Regional Conference and General Assembly is one of the largest gatherings of its kind, bringing together public- and private-sector leaders from across the six-county SCAG region. This year represents the 60thanniversary of this premier event.
WHEN: Thursday-Friday, May 1-2, 2025
WHERE: JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa, 74-855 Country Club Drive, Palm Desert, CA 92260
PANEL DISCUSSIONS, STORYLINES, AND SPEAKERS:
Keynote Speaker: Tucker Bryant
Tucker Bryant is an entrepreneur, innovation strategist, and nationally renowned poet. After nurturing his craft at Stanford University, Tucker spent a decade in Silicon Valley as a lead Product Marketing Manager at Google where he discovered the potential of the creative tools poets have used for millennia to drive innovation in the corporate world. His performances have been featured by TEDx, The New York Times, and dozens of other organizations across the globe. He has shared stages with Mark Cuban, Bill Belichick, Gary Vaynerchuk, Earvin “Magic” Johnson, and Mel Robbins, as well as governors and executives from scores of Fortune 500 companies.
In this signature keynote address, Tucker will reveal how The Poet’s Keys™ can empower leaders to unlock the doors to enhanced creativity, collaboration, and competitive advantage in the areas of our work that matter most. The audience will learn tools to build a culture of creative disruption and bold exploration in their organizations, and shape business landscapes as industry leaders and abandon models of thinking bound for obsolescence.
· From Smart Cities to a Smart Region: Advancing Mobility Strategies and Technology Innovations – An exploration of a holistic, regional approach to smart cities to create efficiency and deliver better services.
- Sarah Abel, Senior Technical Lead, Emerging Technologies and Innovative Mobility, ITS America
- Mike Futrell, City Manager, City of Riverside
- Matt Petersen, President and Chief Executive Officer, Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator
- Melissa Walker, Public Works Director, City of Moreno Valley
- Kameale Terry, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder, ChargerHelp (Moderator)
· Fostering a Healthy Local Economy for All – A look at the economic recovery toward greater resilience in the context of the new population trends.
- Nikia Clarke, Ph.D., Chief Strategy Officer, San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation
- Minh Thai, Assistant City Manager, City of Santa Ana
- Christopher Thornberg, Ph.D., Founding Partner, Beacon Economics
- Stephen Cheung, President and Chief Executive Officer, Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (Moderator)
· Strong Foundations: Housing Solutions in the Wake of Disaster – A showcase of innovative housing and community development success stories, recognizing the heightened urgency and changing market due to Southern California wildfires.
- Laura Archuleta, President and Chief Executive Officer, Jamboree Housing
- Mike Balsamo, Chair, Building Industry Association of Southern California
- Noerena Limón, Chief Executive Officer, Casita Coalition
- Kurt Wilson, Executive Director, Western Riverside Council of Governments
- Jenna Hornstock, Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Hornstock Strategies (Moderator)
· Sustainable Infrastructure for Resilient Growth – A discussion of infrastructure’s role in sustainable growth, with a focus on utilities.
- Jennifer Keith, Managing Partner, Ethos Real Estate
- Larry Kosmont, Chair and Chief Executive Officer, Kosmont Companies
- Zoraya Oliver-Griffin, Chief Climate Resiliency and Emergency Management Officer, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power
- Raj Roy, Vice President of Transmission, Substations and Operations, Southern California Edison
- Nurit Katz, Chief Sustainability Officer, University of California, Los Angeles (Moderator)
· Creating a Regional Legacy for the 2028 Summer Olympics and Paralympics – The LA28 Games are a call to action to create lasting innovations for the region. This panel will explore how infrastructure, programs, policies and culture change can create the actions to realize this vision.
- Priscilla Cheng, Senior Vice President of Government Relations, LA28
- Paul Krekorian, Executive Director, Office of Special Events, City of Los Angeles
- Hon. Mayor Rex Richardson, Mayor, City of Long Beach
- Stephanie Wiggins, Chief Executive Officer, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority
- Bill Hanway, Executive Vice President and Global Sports Leader, AECOM (Moderator)
VISUALS, INTERACTIVE ELEMENTS, AND PRESENTATIONS
As part of the event, SCAG will host a Traffic Safety Summit as part of the event, with the creative crosswalk from its Go Human Program’s Kit of Parts, which is used to demonstrate community street safety improvements that can be implemented by local jurisdictions. This summit will also feature SCAG safety data resources to inform project planning, as well as “ranger talks” from local officials and advocates who are working on street safety efforts in their communities.
- Aydee Palomino, Environmental Justice Project Manager, Alianza Coachella Valley
- Yolanda Davis-Overstreet, Mobility Justice Strategist, Yolanda Davis-Overstreet Consulting
- Griselda Suarez, Executive Director, Arts Council for Long Beach
- Waymond Fermon, Councilmember, City of Indio
For program and information, please visit the event website: https://www.scag.ca.
About SCAG
SCAG is the nation’s largest metropolitan planning organization, representing six counties, 191 cities and nearly 19 million residents. SCAG undertakes a variety of planning and policy initiatives to plan for a livable and sustainable Southern California now and in the future. For more information about SCAG’s regional efforts, please visit www.scag.ca.gov.