Continental breakfast will be available one hour before the meeting and a working lunch will be provided.  All ACEC California Members are invited to attend.

Separate Tickets Required

ACEC California is pleased to announce that a special Federal PAC Fundraiser is currently being planned to follow the Welcome Reception. Additional details and registration information will be sent to ACEC California Members. Sign-up to receive our emails. We encourage all members to mark their calendars and plan to join us for this important fundraising event.

Start your day with a delicious breakfast and take advantage of the opportunity to visit our Exhibitor Booths. Explore innovative products, connect with industry partners, and discover valuable resources to enhance your professional practice.

Lunch is served and attendees will hear an economic outlook presentation by Dr. Christopher Thonberg, a nationally recognized economist and founder of Beacon Economics.

Dr. Christopher Thornberg

Founder, Beacon Economics

Economic Outlook

Dr. Christopher Thornberg has been called many things throughout his career, but his favorite thing to be called is correct.

Notably, he predicted the collapse of the sub-prime real estate bubble in 2006 and the Great Recession that followed. During the Covid-19 pandemic he was one of the few economists on record to correctly push back against the forecasting community’s panicked predictions of a depression. In the past two years, he has again stood against the grain, and stood out, for accurately forecasting that there would be no recession.

Dr. Thornberg left a teaching position at UCLA’s Business School in 2006 to found Beacon Economics, and under his leadership, the firm has become one of the nation’s most respected economic research organizations. He consults globally for private industry, cities, counties, and public agencies. A dynamic public speaker, he challenges audiences to question popular narratives – and to ask the right economic questions.

Join us for a dynamic and informative panel discussion on the road to "The Games" in Los Angeles. This session will spotlight the major projects currently underway and those planned to transform infrastructure, enhance sustainability, and elevate the athlete and fan experience for both the 2026 FIFA Games and 2028 Olympic Games. Attendees will gain valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities shaping these historic events.

Panelists

Darren Kettle ,CEO, Metrolink

Bill Panos ,Senior Vice President Transportation, LA28

Edna Stanley ,Deputy Chief Operating Officer, LA Metro

Moderator: Gary Lee Moore, Senior Vice President, Psomas

This panel will explore the rapid shift toward collaborative delivery methods such as Progressive Design-Build and Construction Manager/General Contractor (CMGC), which have transformed how public agencies and contractors partner to deliver complex infrastructure projects. With this new era of collaboration well underway, panelists will share insights on what’s working, what growing pains have emerged, and how teams can adjust to maximize success. The discussion will focus on lessons learned, transparency, risk management, and practical strategies to keep collaborative delivery on track.

Panelists

Mat Antonelli, Deputy Chief Program Management Officer, LA Metro

Ural Yal, CEO, Shimmick

Moderator: Steven Kats, Vice President, Southern California Alternative Delivery Leader, HDR

Take advantage of your final opportunity to visit the Exhibit Hall before it closes at 4:00 PM.

EEA Awards Winners will gather their team and meet to take formal group photos with their awards.

Photo Schedule

• Commendation: 4:00pm
• Merit: 4:30pm
• Honor: Photos will be taken on stage during the program

Engage with fellow attendees, view featured project displays, and participate in our silent auction. Light hors d’oeuvres and beverages will be served.

The 2026 Engineering Excellence Awards (EEA) Projects will be showcased during an evening dedicated to celebrating innovation and achievement in engineering. The program will end with the announcement of the prestigious 2026 EEA Golden State Award.

Adding a touch of magic to the evening, renowned magician David Ranalli will deliver a captivating performance and emcee the banquet.