2015 Decision Makers Conference

The annual Decision Makers Conference is the premier annual gathering in Northern California to discuss the key issues and challenges facing those whose lives and livelihoods are connected to San Francisco Bay and Region, its maritime commerce, industries, infrastructure and ecosystem. The DMC is the critical regional forum where the staffs and leaders of the goods movement sector and Bay-oriented industries and businesses join key elected officials, policy makers, regulators and non-governmental organizations, as well as the general public, to focus together on the solutions that will strengthen and grow a strong, sustainable and resilient maritime and industrial economy and ecosystem for San Francisco Bay and its Region.

2015 Decision Makers Conference Program:

Welcome

John Coleman, Chief Executive Officer, Bay Planning Coalition

David Ivester, President, Bay Planning Coalition

Opening Remarks

Mayor Libby Schaaf, Mayor of Oakland

Panel 1: Laying the Foundation:  The Competitive Value of the Northern California Maritime & Industrial Economy

Moderator:  Scott Warner, ENVIRON

• Economic Outlook – Sean Randolph, Senior Director, Bay Area Council Economic Institute – PRESENTATION
• Importance of the Bay Area’s Ports for Trade and the Economy – Beth Frisher, Manager of Business Development & International Marketing, Port of Oakland – PRESENTATION
• Meeting Future Energy Needs: Challenges and Opportunities – Eunice Garcia, East Bay Division Senior Manager, PG&E – PRESENTATION
• Economic Impact of the Bay Area’s Refineries – Colin Maynard, Manager of Strategic Communications, Western States Petroleum Association – PRESENTATION

Panel 2: Framing the Issues:  Challenges and Risks to the Bay Area Maritime and Industrial Economy

Moderator:  Amy Breckenridge, ERM

• Regulatory Challenges – Gary Oates, President & CEO, ESA – PRESENTATION
• Climate Change & Shoreline Resiliency – Larry Goldzband, Executive Director, BCDC – PRESENTATION
• Flood Management Challenges – Gregor Blackburn & Ed Curtis, FEMA Region IX – PRESENTATION
• Environmental Challenges – Andrew Sabey, Partner, Cox, Castle & Nicholson

Lunch Program

• Presentation of Awards – Frank Boerger Award to Jack Broadbent, BAAQMD

• Washington Update – Eric Sapirstein, President  & CEO, ENS Resources – PRESENTATION

• Keynote Speaker – U.S. Congressman John Garamendi

                  “Maritime Economic Opportunities in the United States”

Keynote Speaker – U.S. Congressman Jared Huffman

“The Federal Government’s Role in Protecting the Environment while Investing in Infrastructure and Improving Economic Opportunity”

Panel 3: Building the Future:  Solutions to Ensure Sustainable Growth of the Bay Area Industrial Economy

Moderator:  Dilip Trivedi, Moffatt & Nichol

• Regulator Perspective – Col. John Morrow, San Francisco District Commander, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – PRESENTATION
• Environmental & Climate Innovation – Peter Wijsman, Program Manager, ARCADIS – PRESENTATION
• Housing and Transportation Solutions – Bob Glover, Executive Officer, BIA Bay Area
• Resilience & Risk Management – Victoria Salinas, Chief Resilience Officer, City of Oakland – PRESENTATION

Solutions Generated by the Conference for Growing the Bay Area’s Maritime & Industrial Economy to Secure a Sustainable Future

Richard Sinkoff, Port of Oakland  

Closing Remarks

John Coleman, Bay Planning Coalition