Transportation Leadership Policy Forum
8:00 a.m. - 2:30 a.m.
Friday, March 14, 2025
Location: Ontario, CA
Regular Registration HereStudents and Designees Registration Here
Synopsis
The Transportation Leadership Policy Forum is designed to create a community discussion between state, regional, and local leaders on housing affordability and transportation accessibility in the IE. The goal is to align the vision of what a prosperous and sustainable future looks like. By connecting practitioners with policymakers, the Forum aims to foster collaboration and synchronize regional challenges with state-level strategies.
Speakers
Opening Remarks
Chief Executive Officer
Ontario International Airport
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.
Regional Leaders
Dean, Applied Technology,
Transportation, and Culinary Arts
San Bernardino Valley College
Dr. Vanessa Thomas has worked closely with regional career technical education deans and directors, the San Bernardino County Workforce Development Board, community-based organizations, and industry leaders to build educational programs that produce skilled workers to satisfy high-demand, high-wage workforce needs. Vanessa is also committed to building and maintaining programs that improve the social-economic upward mobility of students.
SBVC has named Dr. Vanessa Thomas as the new Dean of Applied Technology, Transportation, and Culinary Arts. Vanessa is a seasoned community college educator with over 20 years of combined faculty and administrative experience in the community college system. As division dean, under the administrative direction of the Vice President of Instruction, Vanessa will be responsible for ensuring that the learning-centered programs and services offered by the departments meet the needs of a diverse student population, comply with all state and federal regulations and comply with the budget goals of the college and the district.
Chief Executive Officer
Building Industry Association of
Southern California, Inc.
Jeff Montejano is currently the CEO of the Building Industry Association of Southern California (BIASC), which is considered one of the largest building associations in the United States. His tenure includes several advocacy victories for the region’s largest landowners, home builders, and contractors, based on his relentless instigation for game-changing advocacy strategies.
With 25 years of experience as a strategic adviser to Fortune 500 companies, governmental agencies, and elected officials, Jeff helped create numerous high-profile communications initiatives, specifically in advocacy, advertising, media, and crisis management.
Before serving as President and Vice President of two large public affairs firms specializing in transportation and land-use projects, Jeff was director of two major political action committees, the New Majority and GenNext, and worked on several political campaigns, including George W. Bush’s first election. Jeff also held the chief of staff and legislative positions in the California State Legislature, including working for the Senate and Assembly minority leaders.
Local Leaders
Council Member, District 2
City of Rancho Cucamonga
Kristine D. Scott is a Senior Public Affairs Manager for the Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas,) a Sempra Energy Utility. In this position, she supports field operations through its work with regional and local governments on issues regarding franchises, permitting, emergency preparedness and response. Prior to joining SoCalGas, Kristine served as Vice President of TMG Communications, an Inland Southern California strategic communications firm specializing in public relations, community outreach and government affairs. There she successfully managed dozens of community and public information campaigns for Fortune 500 clients, municipalities and agencies throughout California.
She serves as the point of contact for communities located in San Bernardino County, educating customers and stakeholders about SoCalGas activities, programs and services, responding to customer and local media inquiries and resolving customer complaints.
Kristine’s career includes an Account Executive position at O’Reilly Public Relations, the Inland Empire’s leading Public Relations firm, where she specialized in media relations, public affairs and public information programs for land use and commercial clients.
