Mariam Virani (LCC Engineering & Surveying, Inc.)

ACEC California President
Host

Mayor Ashleigh Aitken
City of Anaheim

Ashleigh Aitken was elected as the 48th mayor of Anaheim in November 2022. She is the first womanmayor in Anaheim’s 167-year history. Mayor Aitken represents all Anaheim residents, neighborhoodsand businesses on the City Council, alongside six members elected by districts. As mayor, Aitken leada series of 2023 transparency reforms at City Hall and is also focused on enhancing public safety,expanding affordable housing and growing Anaheim’s economy by supporting our visitor industry and streamlining processes to expand and attract new industries. Before becoming mayor, Aitken previously served twoterms on the Anaheim Community Services Board including as chair from 2011 to 2013. A trial lawyer for more than 20years, Aitken is of counsel at Santa Ana-based Aitken Aitken Cohn, a boutique personal injury firm. She is a formerfederal prosecutor in the Central District of California. In 2015, she was elected president of the Orange County BarAssociation. Aitken holds a bachelor’s in secondary education and history from Boston College, where she was an All-American rugby player. She has her law degree from the University of Southern California, Gould School of Law.

Paulette Dallas, Director of Partnership Engagement
ACE Mentor Program of America

Paulette Dallas has been working in early childhood education since the late 1990’s. In 2005, she moved to Los Angeles to take a break from teaching and became an association/non-profit manager. She joined the ACE family in 2009 when her education background and association management career intersected beautifully. As the first paid admin for ACE LA/OC, Paulette started up the highly successful Spotlight Awards, Trades Days, and Golf Tournaments. Paulette joined the ACE National team in 2017 and has never looked back. She is passionate about mentoring, workforce development, and providing pathways for students. She believes in education for everyone and, as a relationship builder, works to make connections in order to raise up marginalized and underrepresented students. Paulette lives in Los Angeles, CA in a little neighborhood known as Los Feliz. She enjoys yoga, hiking, and is always down to wander LA neighborhoods looking for tacos. In her free time, she enjoys traveling and swimming in foreign seas.

Labor Pipeline Issues/Data from the State University Perspective

Phoolendra Mishra, Ph.D., Department Chair & Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering
California State University, Fullerton

Dr. Phoolendra Mishra, the Department Chair and Professor for Civil and Environmental Engineering at California State University, Fullerton, is an accomplished researcher and educator with a specialization in water resource engineering and management. His extensive background encompasses the development and analysis of hydrogeologic, hydrodynamic, and environmental information systems. Dr. Mishra excels at integrating complex data to guide sustainable practices. Passionate about educating the next generation of engineers, he seamlessly combines his practical experience with a dedication to teaching and mentorship in the field.

Lalitha Benjaram, EIT, Diversity and Inclusion Program Manager
Mead & Hunt

Lalitha Benjaram is part of the Employee Experience team at Mead & Hunt and works to create an inclusive company culture where all employees feel a sense of belonging. She also leads the Employee Resource Group and creates opportunities for employees to connect, learn from, and support each other throughout their career. The first few years of Lalitha’s career were spent on the technical side as an Engineer-In-Training, and she draws on this experience to address the unique needs that emerging professionals and professionals from underrepresented groups may have as they advance in the industry. Lalitha is a member of the ACEC National DEI&B Committee and the ACEC California DEI Committee.

Dr. Raymond Sfeir, Director
Chapman University

Dr. Raymond Sfeir is the Director of the A. Gary Anderson Center for Economic Research at Chapman University. He also serves as Vice Provost for Academic Administration. Dr. Sfeir teaches microeconomics, statistics and forecasting. His research interests include operations research, and applied economics. Together with Dr. Jim Doti, Dr. Sfeir produces the U.S., California, Orange County and Inland Empire forecasts. He also conducts the quarterly survey of purchasing managers in California and is quoted frequently in the media. He is currently studying the Advanced Innovation Industries in various MSAs around the country.

Nick Decker, Engineering Practice Lead, AEC Segment | Panelist
Egnyte

Nick Decker is the Global Practice Leader for Engineering at Egnyte. He is responsible for the growth and support of Egnyte’s engineering customer segment. Nick brings deep experience in the construction technology and innovation space from time at Bluebeam and Dusty Robotics. He originally comes from the construction engineering industry, having worked for large contractors Kiewit and AECOM Hunt. Nick holds a Civil Engineering degree and MBA from Purdue University.

Rachel Rossini, Head of Middle Market | Panelist
AXA XL

Rachel Rossini, CPCU, is the Head of Middle Market for AXA XL’s Cyber and Technology team. After earning her degree from the Villanova School of Business, Rachel moved to New York City where she spent eight years underwriting technology and cyber risks at three major cyber insurance carriers, joining the AXA XL team in 2018. During the first few years of her career, Rachel was able to experience a global perspective of the insurance market seconding as a cyber underwriter in the UK for Lloyd’s of London. In 2022, Rachel relocated to Santa Monica, California to manage AXA XL’s West Coast Tech & Cyber team before she was promoted to the role of Product Manager. Most recently, Rachel has started her new role as Head of Middle Market- Cyber & Tech, where she manages a national team of 12 underwriters focused on risks below $1BN in revenue.

Lee Ann Wheeler, Client Executive | Panelist
Greyling

Lee Ann Wheeler is an Account Executive with Greyling Insurance Brokerage. Wheeler specializes in the placement of Business Insurance Lines and Professional Liability to Engineering companies across the country including firms that are members of the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC). Wheeler comes to Greyling from Marsh & McLennan Agency where she was a sales executive, responsible for providing business insurance and multi-faceted risk management plans. Wheeler possesses over 17 years' experience in the insurance industry specializing in medical malpractice and professional liability. She also works closely with State Associations to help set up comprehensive insurance and risk management programs to their members that are both cost effective and tailored to their needs. Wheeler grew up in rural South Dakota and is a graduate of South Dakota State University. She serves on the board of directors of Heartland Consumers Power District in Madison, SD, and volunteers with Mission of Mercy, which provides dental assistance to families in need.

Bradley Waldrop, P.E., Group Lead, Transportation | Moderator
Ardurra

Bradley Waldrop serves as the Transportation Group Lead at Ardurra; a registered ProfessionalEngineer, Bradley's technical specialty is bridges and buildings. He has been helping clients improvetheir community’s quality of life and boosting safety since the Loma Prieta Earthquake, 31 years ago.Over these few decades, those around him have relied on his uncanny knack for running towardschallenges and helping sort out sticky situations. Bradley is a trusted leader, believing that while each challenge is different, one thing remains. These challenges all involve people. People that deserve our respect, people that deserve our attention, and people that must be part of helping make this world a better place

Lisa Arellanes, Principal Manager of e-Mobility
Southern California Edison

Lisa Arellanes is the Principal Manager of e-Mobility at Southern California Edison, one of the nation’s largest electric utilities. Lisa is new to the role, previously holding Sr Manager positions over Business Development & Partnerships and Operations teams within eMobility. Since 2016, Lisa has been leading projects and teams that support the deployment of charging infrastructure for light, medium and heavy-duty electric vehicles throughout SCE’s 50,000 square mile service area. With a planned budget of over $1B, these programs serve the mission of helping California electrify up to 90% of cars and trucks on the road by 2045. With her prior experience in SCE’s Business Customer Division Lisa has over 15 years helping utility customers achieve their energy management and sustainability goals. Lisa holds a Master’s of Business Administration from Claremont Graduate University and a Bachelor’s degree from the University of California at Berkeley. She also proudly serves on the board of META (Making Education the Answer), a nonprofit organization that provides college scholarships and mentorship to Latinx youth from Southern California with the vision of increasing the opportunities for Latinos to become successful business and community leaders. Additionally, she has served on the advisory board for LEAD (Latinos for Engagement, Advancement and Development), a nationally recognized employee resource group at SCE.

Rick Halperin, Director of Corporate Development
GC Green

Rick Halperin serves as the Director of Corporate Development at GC Green. Rick has had a careerfocus on land conservation and biodiversity, resiliency, renewable energy projects and supportingcleantech businesses. His extensive experience covers a diverse spectrum of skill-sets includingfinancial and operational management, strategic planning, business development, and corporatedevelopment. Rick has multiple-year direct experience in the renewable energy industry including solar, storage, EV, wind, microgrids, and biomass projects. Rick’s employment history has had a focus on alignmentwith companies and not-for-profit organizations that have missions of supporting cleantech companies, developingenergy projects, originating sustainability initiatives, and promoting environmental goals.

Chuck McCallum,PE, QSD/QSP, Cheif Executive Officer
Kier + Wright | KWRE

Chuck McCallum isn't just talking about a sustainable future – he's designing it, BESS by BESS, solarpanel by solar panel. With a vision for a cleaner, greener California, Chuck leads Kier + Wright and KWRE in tackling the state's ambitious zero-emission goals head-on. With 30 years of experience incivil engineering and land development, he brings a hands-on approach to navigating thecomplexities of the State's zero-emission mandates and developing cutting-edge renewable energy projects. As Chairman of the ACEC California Energy Committee, his leadership is not just shaping the future ofsustainable infrastructure, but inspiring others to join the movement.

Tyler Munzing, Director of Government Affairs | Moderator
ACEC California

Tyler Munzing is Director of Government Affairs for ACEC California, responsible for managing ACEC California's state legislative activities, tying together the organization’s policy agenda and political objectives with the promotion of the engineering and land surveying profession. Prior to joining ACEC California, Tyler served in the State Capitol representing multiple state legislators, most recently as Legislative Director for a Senator where he spent seven years working prominently on energy, transportation, resources, and design professional issues. Originally from Orange County, Tyler can be found honoring his SoCal sports allegiances on any given gameday.

Voleck Taing, Legislative Advocate| Moderator
ACEC California

Voleck is a registered lobbyist and is responsible for managing ACEC California’s advocacy effort. Their responsibilities include working with the legislative team to develop and direct the organization’s legislative program while strengthening and maintaining coalition relationships with ACEC California members, other associations industry leaders, and elected officials. They provide political counsel to ACEC California’s leadership, execute robust grassroots efforts with members and advance efforts that positions the organization as a thought leader on business and policy areas of interest to the engineering and surveying professions. Prior to joining ACEC California, Voleck served as Sr. Vice President of Government Relations for a business association and prior to that, they served as legislative director for the former California State Assembly Majority Leader and numerous respected Assemblymembers.