October Event Details

The Interplay of Aviation and Ground Transportation in the Inland Empire’s Goods Movement Sector

The event is Hybrid, hosted by Omnitrans, Address: 1700 West 5th Street, San Bernardino, CA 92411

The facility is at the corner of Fifth St. and Medical Center Dr. Enter on Medical Center Dr., at the second driveway north of Fifth St.

Attending Online? A Zoom link will be sent before the event.

N.B.: let us know if your plans have changed by October 11, 2024 -- email: ltc@csusb.edu

Register HereEvent Program

The Issue

The Inland Empire has a number of multi-model centers that are based around aviation. Air cargo ports function along with passenger service to support goods movements. This Dialogue will look at the current air and ground connections, as well as the future use of the region’s airports in the delivery of goods.

Speakers

Dr. Grace Martin is the Chief Executive Officer for the March Joint Powers Authority and related entities that include the March Inland Port Airport Authority, the March Joint Powers Utilities Authority, and the Successor Agency to the former March Joint Powers Redevelopment Agency. She oversees the administration and redevelopment of more than 3,500-acres of former military properties around the March Air Reserve Base. With more than 25 years of experience in community and economic development within public and private sectors, Dr. Martin provides executive leadership and guidance to policymakers from the cities of Riverside, Moreno Valley, Perris and Riverside County that make up the Commission of March JPA. Through public- private partnerships, March JPA has successfully created the largest employment center in the Inland Empire with an economic impact of more than $4.5 billion, and over 15,000 jobs created for local communities.

Dr. Martin served in the Army National Guard from 2003 through 2011. She was a 2017 Woman of Distinction Honoree and the 2018 Veteran of the Year Award recipient for Assembly District 61. Dr. Martin holds a Bachelor of Science degree from USC in Urban Planning and Civil Engineering; a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership & Management from the University of La Verne; and a Doctorate in Policy, Planning & Development from USC’s Sol Price School of Public Policy.

Michael Burrows currently serves as Chief Executive Officer for the Inland Valley Development Agency and SBD International Airport, overseeing the privatization of the former Norton Air Force Base in Southern California, which includes Alliance California, a Hillwood development. As an established development and transportation professional, with over 28 years of public and private sector management expertise. Michael has a proven background in municipal, special district, corporate, transportation, commercial development, real estate, international trade, foreign direct investment, and legislative sectors focusing his efforts on delivering quality projects, programs, and services, including strategic planning, capital planning, strategic alliances, and public- private partnerships. Mr. Burrows received undergraduate degrees from California State University, San Bernardino and an M.B.A. from the Peter F. Drucker Graduate School of Management in Claremont, CA.

Michael previously worked for the Staubach Company, a real estate/corporate services consulting firm, managing multi-jurisdictional capital and development projects and programs, including asset management and facility development for BNSF Railway Company and its transportation clients throughout the Southwestern United States. Mr. Burrows coordinated property acquisition and entitlements for transload, auto dock, intermodal, and main line freight, commuter, intercontinental rail corridor expansions throughout California, as well as related sales and lease transactions. From Federal grant administration to municipal finance, Foreign Direct Investment programs, business incentive and legislative campaigns to organizational development, environmental planning, permitting, transaction management, and resource alignment.  He has successfully deployed over $115 Million in EB-5 portfolios and over $245 Million in municipal financings. He currently serves on several boards of directors and organizations and is a member of the California Inland Empire District Export Council (CIEDEC), a U.S. Department of Commerce Federal appointment. He continues to serve as President of SBD Cares, a California non-profit corporation and helped found the UAS Center at SBD.

Atif serves as the Chief Executive Officer for Ontario International Airport, where he oversees day-to-day operations, a major capital development program, revenue management, marketing, communications, and IT. With over 17 years of senior-level experience in the aviation industry, Atif has led efforts to drive passenger and revenue growth through innovative strategies.

Before becoming CEO, Atif served as Deputy CEO and Senior Director of Marketing at Ontario. His career includes key roles at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport and Dubai International Airport, where he developed communication strategies, managed public relations, and led social media and customer service initiatives.

Atif holds a Master's in Communication Management from the University of Southern California, an MBA from the University of Phoenix, and a Bachelor's in Journalism from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.