2026 Speakers

Senator Bob Archuleta, a former Presidential Appointee and Pico Rivera city mayor, has dedicated his life to serving his community and his country proudly.

Elected to the California State Senate in November 2018 to represent the 30th Senate District, Archuleta represents portions of Los Angeles County and Orange County.

He currently serves as the Chair of the Senate Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs and sits on the following committees: Budget and Fiscal Review, Business, Professions and Economic Development; Governmental Organization; Energy, Utilities and Communications, Select Committee on Hydrogen Energy, Transportation, and the Joint Legislative Committee on Emergency Management.

Senator Archuleta also sits on the Senate Special Committee on International Sporting Events: Olympics and World Cup Soccer.

In August 2019, Governor Gavin Newsom appointed Senator Archuleta to the Governor’s Military Council, which oversees more than 30 military bases in the state of California.

In 2012, Senator Archuleta was appointed by President Barack Obama to the Board of Visitors to the United States Military Academy at West Point. As part of the Board, he made recommendations on the operations of the Academy as they related to curriculum, equipment, and other matters.

Senator Archuleta has served on the Los Angeles County Military Veteran Affairs Commission; the United States Army Advisory Board for Military Recruitment; and the Los Angeles County Library Commission. He is an Army combat veteran and former paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division and served with the Montebello Police Department.

Alberto Ayala, a 26-year veteran of California clean air and climate policy, is an engineer with BS, MS, and PhD degrees from UC Davis. He is the Executive Director of the Sacramento Metro AQMD and former Deputy Executive Officer at CARB. Active nationally and internationally as a frequent speaker, lecturer, advisor, and consultant in Latin America and Asia, he has published extensively, serves on various boards, and is a Senior Fellow of the American Leadership Forum. His most recent work is the book Smoke Screen: The Dieselgate Scandal, published by Cipherlock Press in May.

Nick Barilo is Executive Director of the Center for Hydrogen Safety (AIChE) and Hydrogen Safety Program Manager at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. A licensed fire protection engineer with 40+ years of experience, he leads global efforts to advance hydrogen safety through best practices, collaboration, and knowledge sharing. He also oversees the U.S. Hydrogen Safety Panel, supporting risk-informed decision-making, safety education, and first responder readiness worldwide.

Elizabeth Betancourt joined the Department of Conservation as Natural and Working Lands Policy Advisor in 2021. In her work, she integrates cross-sector innovation and science-based approaches with a pragmatic, solutions-oriented mindset to strengthen community economic and climate resilience. Her efforts include advancing state investments in California Tribes and aligning policies across agencies to support the Administration’s goals. She collaborates with a broad network of partners to help shape resource policy that reflects the interconnected nature of environmental and climate challenges.

Elizabeth holds an M.S. in Watershed Science from Colorado State University and a B.S. in Environmental Biology and Management from the University of California, Davis. She also owns a small farm with her husband, where they run educational programs for underserved youth.

Thomas R. Brill has deep legal and management experience in the energy industry and has represented clients in virtually every electricity and natural gas restructuring proceeding in California for over three decades, including proceedings adopting and implementing decarbonization strategies for California’s electricity and natural gas markets. Tom also has extensive experience in regulatory litigation, as well as strategy and policy development to address rapidly changing laws, regulations, market dynamics, and technological disruptions that are driving significant changes in the energy industry. He has comprehensive experience addressing issues related to the integration of central station and distributed renewable generation, including electricity storage, smart grid technologies, and the impacts of utility rate design and cost allocation on competitive entry by third-party providers and utility stranded cost exposure.

Tom’s current clients include developers of carbon sequestration, CO2 pipeline, and carbon capture projects, as well as developers and producers of Renewable Natural Gas. He also represents utilities navigating emerging decarbonization policies, an independent natural gas storage provider, and retail providers and consumers of distributed generation and other behind-the-meter services.

Before joining Greenberg Traurig, Tom held in-house positions at Sempra Energy, San Diego Gas & Electric Company, Pacific Enterprises, the Southern California Gas Company, and the American Gas Association. In these roles, he served as lead counsel in proceedings implementing state policies and legislation to introduce competition and reduce emissions in California’s electricity and natural gas markets. He also developed legal, regulatory, legislative, and public affairs strategies addressing Community Choice Aggregation, greenhouse gas reduction initiatives, storage and smart grid investments, wholesale and retail market competition, wildfire risk issues, and evolving utility rate design to accommodate new technologies.

He has served as legal counsel on a wide range of matters before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the California Public Utilities Commission, including proceedings to obtain regulatory approval of a significant merger between two utility holding companies. He has also engaged in advocacy before these organizations, as well as the California Legislature and the United States Congress.

Dr. Michelle Buffington is Director of the Mobile Source Control Division. She leads her team in developing and implementing light-, medium, heavy-duty- and off-road regulations, fleet rules, and mobile source incentive programs. In her almost 19 years at the CARB she has developed innovative fuels policies, spearheaded the development of key incentive programs like Funding Agricultural Replacement Measures for Emission Reductions (FARMER), and invested billions of dollars in advancing development and deployment of the cleanest mobile sources.

Assemblymember Juan Carrillo was first elected to the California State Assembly in November 2022 and re-elected in November 2024 to represent the 39th Assembly District. He represents portions of the northern Antelope Valley, including Palmdale, Lancaster, the eastern communities of Littlerock, Lake Los Angeles, and Sun Village, and extends into San Bernardino County to include Adelanto, Hesperia, Mountain View Acres, and Victorville.

Assemblymember Carrillo previously served on the Palmdale City Council, where he advocated for affordable housing to address homelessness, increased green space, and supported local small businesses recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. Before entering public office, he worked as a city planner for 15 years, including 10 years with the City of Palmdale.

Juan was born and raised in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, and immigrated to Los Angeles at age 15. He earned an Associate’s Degree in Architecture from the College of the Desert, a Bachelor’s Degree in Urban and Regional Planning from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from California State University, Northridge. He lives in east Palmdale with his wife, their four children, and two dogs.

Emma Manoukian Chung is a campaign strategist specializing in high stakes statewide ballot measures and issue advocacy. Since joining BCFS in 2022, Emma has played a leading role in delivering dozens of public affairs, regulatory, legislative, and ballot-box wins for high-profile clients across a diverse range of industries, navigating some of the most complex policy and political environments in the country.

Emma is currently helping lead the Building an Affordable California Act campaign on behalf of the California Chamber of Commerce, a statewide initiative to modernize the state’s outdated project approval and permitting process under CEQA. She oversees each phase of the campaign from early feasibility testing to measure drafting through campaign execution, including polling and analytics, message development, advertising, coalition building, grassroots mobilization, and earned media.

Emma is a proud graduate of Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness with a concentration in Agricultural Communication.

Roland Cordero, Foothill Transit’s Director of Maintenance and Vehicle Technology, is responsible for procuring, deploying, and maintaining transit vehicles and related technology. Roland has 23 years of experience in the transit industry, with a background spanning finance, operations, facilities, and fleet maintenance. He has been involved in the deployment of Foothill Transit’s zero-emissions program since 2010. Roland played a key role in deploying Foothill Transit’s fleet of 19 battery-electric buses, two double-deck battery-electric buses, two in-route charging stations at the Azusa Intermodal Transit Center, and 16 in-depot chargers.

In 2023, Foothill Transit acquired 33 fuel cell buses and constructed hydrogen fueling infrastructure at its Pomona Operations and Maintenance facility. With the current procurement of 19 additional fuel cell buses and 24 double-deck battery-electric buses, Foothill Transit continues leading the transit industry’s transition to a zero-emissions fleet.

Mr. Dolan is the Vice President of External Affairs for the Washington, DC–based Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Energy Association (FCHEA).

He has been with FCHEA since 2010, where he has built relationships across both the public and private sectors to support the growth of the hydrogen and fuel cell industry. His work has contributed to the establishment of clean hydrogen infrastructure programs, the development of hydrogen and fuel cell tax policy, and increased research and development funding through the Department of Energy.

Mr. Dolan brings extensive experience in trade association management, along with deep subject matter expertise in hydrogen and fuel cell technologies and related policy. Prior to joining FCHEA, he worked with the U.S. Fuel Cell Council and the Methanol Institute.

He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Christopher Newport University, as well as a Master of Public Administration and a Nonprofit Management Certificate from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Tyson Eckerle serves as Senior Advisor for Clean Infrastructure and Mobility in the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) and Chief Government & Strategy Officer for the Alliance for Renewable Clean Hydrogen Energy Systems (ARCHES). In these roles, he collaborates with multiple stakeholders to streamline California’s efforts to accelerate the transition to a clean energy ecosystem, building on his experience as GO-Biz’s first Deputy Director of Zero Emission Vehicle Market Development.

Tyson holds a B.A. in Biology from the University of California, Davis and a Master of Environmental Science and Management (MESM) from the Bren School of Environmental Science and Management at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Katrina Fritz is President and Chief Executive Officer of the California Hydrogen Business Council (CHBC), the nation's largest and longest-established hydrogen trade association. As CHBC’s top executive, she shapes the organization’s strategic vision and serves as the leading California advocate for advancing hydrogen and renewable fuels to achieve environmental and economic goals.

Katrina represents CHBC and the hydrogen industry across prominent government and industry platforms, including the California Energy Commission’s Clean Transportation Advisory Committee and the Angeles Link Project Advisory Group.

With more than 20 years of global experience driving energy innovation, Katrina has advised Fortune 500 companies and government leaders on clean technology deployment, policy development, and market strategy. Her executive tenure includes leadership roles at UTC Power and Plug Power, as well as board service with Advent Technologies as an Independent Director.

Katrina’s expertise has supported major initiatives at the international level, including role as a clean energy advisor to the European Commission and her appointment to the New Jersey Governor’s Fuel Cell Task Force. She holds a BA from the University of Michigan and an MBA from the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University.

Eric Guerra serves as Mayor Pro Tem of the City of Sacramento and as a Governor-appointed member of the California Air Resources Board. An engineer by training, Eric is dedicated to improving air quality, protecting public health, and supporting the hard-working individuals and families of California and the Sacramento region. He integrates local, regional, and state policies to advance goals such as reducing transportation emissions, developing alternatives to agricultural burning, and expanding access to education, jobs, and childcare.

A strong advocate for active transportation, Eric can often be seen riding his e-bike to work or taking his children to school. His approach is shaped by a range of lived and professional experiences: growing up as a farmworker, earning degrees in Electronic and Electrical Engineering and Public Policy from Sacramento State, more than 20 years of legislative experience in the State Capitol, and a decade representing District 6 on the Sacramento City Council.

David Harbour started with San Mateo County Transit District (SamTrans) in 2017 as Director of Bus Maintenance. In this role, he is responsible for all areas of bus maintenance and compliance, vehicle specifications and procurement, zero-emission bus (ZEB) fleet transition, stores, and maintenance and operations training.

Since joining SamTrans, he has overseen the procurement and deployment of 37 battery electric buses (BEBs) and 10 hydrogen fuel cell electric buses (FCEBs). He is currently overseeing the delivery and acceptance of an additional 110 FCEBs, which will make SamTrans the largest operator of fuel cell electric buses in the United States.

To support its FCEB fleet, SamTrans currently operates a portable liquid hydrogen refueling system capable of fueling up to 20 buses per day. A permanent liquid hydrogen refueling station, capable of fueling up to 174 buses per day, is under construction and scheduled for commissioning in 2027. For its BEB fleet, SamTrans currently operates 20 depot chargers, with 37 additional pantograph depot chargers expected to come online in 2027.

Following his retirement from the United States Coast Guard, where he served as both an enlisted member and commissioned officer, David spent five years in the airline industry before transitioning to public transit with the Sacramento Regional Transit District. Drawing on his aviation maintenance background, he has enjoyed being part of the technological advancements in transit, including the continued development and implementation of zero-emission technologies.

Dr. Ling Jin is a research affiliate in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at UC Berkeley. She holds a PhD in Energy and Resources and an MA in Statistics, both from UC Berkeley. Her research focuses on air quality modeling, including photochemical transport and dispersion modeling, as well as emission and health impact assessment for a range of gas-phase and particulate pollutants. Dr. Jin serves as principal investigator or technical lead on multiple projects that inform environmental policy and decision-making. Her work includes high-resolution ozone and PM2.5 source attribution for disadvantaged communities in Central California, the development of tools for integrated transportation emissions, air quality, and health assessment, and evaluations of air quality and health co-benefits of decarbonization technologies across sectors, including clean hydrogen deployment and decarbonization pathways for medium/heavy-duty and nonroad sources. At the federal level, Dr. Jin serves on the Science Advisory Board of BenMAP and the Benefits Methods Panel for the U.S. EPA, guiding air quality-related health and social cost assessment.

Aaron Katzenstein, Ph.D., is the Deputy Executive Officer of the Technology Advancement Office at the South Coast Air Quality Management District (South Coast AQMD). The Technology Advancement Office oversees several mobile source incentive programs, technology review, and the development and commercialization of clean air technologies.

Dr. Katzenstein began his career at South Coast AQMD in 2003, working in the laboratory before serving as the Climate and Energy Supervisor in Planning and Rules. He later became Acting Planning Manager for Area Sources and most recently served as the Laboratory and Source Test Manager. Throughout his career, he has been heavily involved in numerous Multiple Air Toxics Exposure Studies, Air Quality Management Plans, policy development efforts, research projects, air quality studies, and technology and infrastructure initiatives.

Dr. Katzenstein earned a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry with a minor in Physics from the University of Redlands. He also received both a Master of Science and a Ph.D. in Chemistry, with a focus on Atmospheric Chemistry, from the University of California, Irvine, where his studies focused on regional and global air quality.

Bill Magavern joined CCA in 2012 and serves as Policy Director, based in Sacramento. He has authored numerous reports and articles on energy and environmental issues, and testifies frequently before the State Legislature, the California Air Resources Board (CARB), and other agencies. An environmental advocate since 1988, Magavern worked as Staff Attorney for the U.S. Public Interest Research Group, Director of Public Citizen’s Critical Mass Energy Project, Sacramento Director of the Committee to Bridge the Gap, and Director of Sierra Club California.

Bill received his A.B. in American Civilization, magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, from Brown University and his J.D. magna cum laude, from the State University of New York at Buffalo Law School. CARB honored him with a 2022 Haagen-Smit Clean Air Award for outstanding contributions in policy.

Danielle Mark is a Principal Hydrogen Program Manager at Pacific Gas & Electric Company, where she leads evaluation of hydrogen blending readiness and low carbon gas integration across the company’s 50,000-mile pipeline system. Her work focuses on developing the framework and strategy to decarbonize the gas supply with clean hydrogen. A licensed Professional Engineer with more than 15 years in the natural gas industry, she works at the intersection of emerging technology, regulatory uncertainty, and real-world infrastructure, helping turn complex engineering challenges into practical deployment plans.

Mark Mulliner has served as the Northern California Regional Director for the California State Building and Construction Trades Council since 2022, bringing more than 34 years of experience in the construction industry. In his current role, he focuses on emerging energy sectors, including hydrogen, geothermal, wind, lithium, oil and gas, and carbon sequestration.

He began his career in 1992 as a pipeline helper and joined United Association Local 342’s apprenticeship program in 1993, becoming a journeyman in 1997. Over the years, he developed deep expertise in pipeline welding and worked across a wide range of sectors, including underground utilities, oil and gas refineries, power generation, hydroelectric, geothermal, and data centers.

Mulliner has held numerous leadership roles in the field, including project foreman, general foreman, superintendent, general superintendent, and project manager. He later served as Business Manager of United Association Local 228 in Marysville for more than a decade (2011–2022).

Additionally, Mulliner served as President of the Mid-Valley Building Trades Council (2018–2022) and as President of the Marysville Central Labor Council (2015–2022).

Toks Omishakin was appointed the fourth Secretary of Transportation for the state of California by Governor Gavin Newsom in February 2022. As Secretary of the California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA), he oversees eight state departments, boards, and commissions with more than 42,000 employees and annual budgets exceeding $30 billion. His transportation vision for California focuses on building a safe, equitable, sustainable, and multimodal transportation system through strong local partnerships, innovation, and intelligent risk-taking. The agency’s work is centered around four priorities: Safety, Equity, Climate Action, and Economic Prosperity.

Prior to his appointment as Secretary, Omishakin served as Director of the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), where he managed a $17.5 billion budget and more than 22,000 employees. During his tenure, he and the leadership team established the department’s five strategic priorities in 2019.

Before joining Caltrans, Omishakin spent eight years as Deputy Commissioner with the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT). As Deputy Commissioner for Environment and Planning, he managed administrative and project budgets exceeding $300 million annually and oversaw the divisions of Environmental Services, Long-Range Planning, Multimodal Transportation Resources, and Freight and Logistics.

Earlier in his career, he served as Director of Healthy Living Initiatives in the Nashville Mayor’s Office, where he helped guide the city’s multimodal transportation efforts and contributed to the development of Nashville’s Complete Streets Policy. He also helped establish a more balanced approach to transportation planning and design, including the creation of two bicycle-sharing programs.

In December 2019, Omishakin became Chair of the Council on Active Transportation for the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), following two years as vice chair and service as inaugural chair of AASHTO’s Multimodal Task Force. He serves on the boards of Oxford University Press, Veloz, Mineta Transportation Institute, ITS World Congress, the University of California system ITS program, and America Walks, where he served for 10 years. He has also advised the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis through its Transportation Council Board.

In October 2020, Omishakin was appointed to the Biden-Harris Transportation Transition Team. He received the Excellence in Leadership Award from COMTO NorCal in December 2020 and was named Person of the Year by the California Transportation Foundation in May 2021.

Born in Knoxville, Tennessee, Omishakin and his wife have two children. He holds a Ph.D. in Engineering Management from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville; a master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning from Jackson State University; and a Bachelor of Arts in Engineering Technology from Mississippi Valley State University.

California Assemblywoman Blanca Pacheco was elected in 2022 to represent District 64, encompassing parts of southeastern Los Angeles County and northern Orange County. She chairs the Assembly Rules Committee and serves on the Appropriations, Governmental Organization, Judiciary, and Local Government committees. Before coming to the Assembly, Blanca served two terms as Mayor of Downey, the largest city in her district, becoming the first Latina elected to that position. She was elected to the Downey City Council in 2016 and became Mayor in 2020. She also served as President of the League of California Cities Los Angeles Division, where she chaired the Housing, Community, and Economic Development Policy Committee and was an at-large director on the League of California Cities State Board.

Blanca is a proud alumna of UCLA, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in political science with a specialization in Chicano/a studies in 1998. She later attended Loyola Law School and has been an attorney since 2003. The daughter of a nurse and a public school bus driver, her upbringing instilled in her an appreciation for hard work and the importance of community.

In and out of the legislature, Blanca is known for her warm and approachable demeanor. She is also a frequent boxer and holds a black belt in karate. When she is not advocating for her constituents, she enjoys spending time with her Miniature Schnauzer puppy, Reyna.

Melinda Palmer joined Kern Energy (Kern) in 2011 and has become one of California’s leading voices navigating the complex intersection of energy production, environmental stewardship, and community responsibility. She is recognized for advancing an innovation-driven approach that balances care for people and the planet while ensuring the reliable production of transportation fuels.

As Vice President – Regulatory & Public Affairs, she develops strategy and leads advocacy and engagement with agencies, elected leaders, community partners and organizations. Palmer is a trusted voice who understands the importance of building partnerships that drive industry innovation, support job creation, and improve the environment.

Prior to joining Kern, Palmer served in regulatory compliance positions with Shell Oil and Big West of California, leading Health, Safety and Environmental teams within both organizations. Palmer serves on the California State University, Bakersfield (CSUB) Foundation Board and the Dean’s Industry Advisory Board for CSUB’s College of Natural Sciences, Mathematics & Engineering. She also serves as a Trustee for the Bakersfield Ronald McDonald House and is an active member of the AB617 Arvin-Lamont Community Steering Committee.

Palmer earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from California State University, Bakersfield and is proud to be a native of the community. In her free time, she can be found training for her next half-marathon or spending time with her family.

Jim Park is the senior vice president of commercial vehicle and hydrogen business development at Hyundai Motor North America. Park is responsible for Hyundai’s hydrogen initiatives in North America, including commercial vehicle sales, infrastructure development, hydrogen commercialization, and related future mobility solutions. He joined Hyundai in June 2023.

Park has more than three decades of experience in the automotive industry, with leadership roles at both Harman-Samsung and Chrysler. Prior to joining Hyundai, he served as president of Harman International Korea, where he led strategies for its automotive business units and Samsung’s Automotive Electronic Business. He managed four divisions, including connected car, car audio, consumer electronics, and professional solutions, overseeing sales growth, market share, cost management, compliance, and employee development.

Before Harman International, Park was president and CEO of Global Auto Systems, an advisory and consulting services company he founded in 2000. Over nearly two decades, his firm worked with automotive leaders and decision makers worldwide, providing industry insights, product expertise, market knowledge, and strategic guidance.

Park also served on the Board of Governors for the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea, where he advocated for investment and trade development between South Korea and the United States. Earlier in his career, he held various managerial positions at Hyundai Motor America and Chrysler Corporation.

Park graduated from the University of Michigan with a bachelor’s degree in management information systems.

Tanya Peacock is Managing Director for Hydrogen and California at EcoEngineers, an international clean energy consulting firm with deep expertise in carbon life-cycle analysis and carbon markets. Based in Los Angeles, she is responsible for expanding EcoEngineers’ energy transition practice in California.

A well-known clean energy advocate, Tanya currently serves on the Board of Directors of First Public Hydrogen, which was established to scale the renewable hydrogen marketplace in California and beyond. She chaired the Board of Directors of the California Hydrogen Business Council in 2023 and 2024 and continues to serve as a board member. Throughout her career, she has played a key role in developing foundational policies and programs to support clean energy production and use, and has held board and leadership roles with the American Biogas Council, MoveLA, the Coalition for Renewable Natural Gas, and the California Stationary Fuel Cell Collaborative.

In her role at EcoEngineers, Tanya works with clean energy stakeholders to assess project viability, navigate policy and regulatory frameworks, determine carbon intensity, maximize credits and incentives, and identify opportunities in both regulated and voluntary carbon markets. In addition to consulting, EcoEngineers provides verification services for clean fuels programs, IRA tax credit claims, and greenhouse gas inventories. Her clients include some of the largest hydrogen producers and project developers in the United States.

Tanya holds a Master of Regional Planning from Cornell University and a bachelor’s degree from Mills College in Oakland, California.

Michael Pimentel serves as the Executive Director of the California Transit Association, the non-profit trade organization that represents 85 transit and rail agencies in California and more than 220 member organizations nationwide. Michael was named Executive Director of the Association in 2021 and previously served as the Association’s Deputy Executive Director and Legislative and Regulatory Advocate. Michael has been recognized for his advocacy on behalf of California’s transit industry in leading industry publications, including Capitol Weekly’s Top 100 (2023 and 2024) and Mass Transit Magazine’s 40 under 40 (2023). In 2023, he was named Transportation Advocate of the Year by the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials – Northern California and, in 2025, he received the Ray LaHood Award from the Women’s Transportation Seminar – Sacramento.

Prior to joining SYASL, Michael held various appointed positions in the administration of Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr., including in the Office of the Governor and at the California High-Speed Rail Authority, focused on policy and budget issues impacting transportation and environmental programs. Michael began his career in Sacramento politics as an aide on the Brown for Governor 2010 campaign.

Michael received a Master of Public Policy from the University of California, Berkeley’s Goldman School of Public Policy, and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of California, Berkeley.

Michael served on the California State Transportation Agency’s Transit Transformation Task Force and currently serves on the California Energy Commission’s Advisory Committee for the Clean Transportation Investment Plan, and the Advisory Boards for the multicampus University of California’s Institutes of Transportation Studies as well as the UC Davis Institute of Transportation Studies.

Assemblymember Chris Rogers proudly serves California’s 2nd Assembly District, which encompasses Eureka, Arcata, and Santa Rosa. Before joining the State Assembly, Chris made a significant impact as a Santa Rosa City Councilmember and Mayor, where he led efforts in wildfire recovery, housing affordability, and environmental sustainability. Known for his collaborative leadership style, Chris has been instrumental in securing resources to support small businesses and protect vulnerable communities during challenging times.

Chris holds degrees from UC Santa Barbara and Sonoma State University, where he developed a passion for policymaking and community engagement. He brings this passion to the State Assembly, focusing on creating a modern and equitable rural economy, healthcare access, and driving climate action. A lifelong resident of Santa Rosa, Chris is dedicated to preserving Northern California's natural beauty while ensuring its residents a prosperous future.

Sarah Smith has served as a consultant to the Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee since 2018.  As a consultant for the committee, she analyzes and provides policy recommendations on a variety of utility, telecommunications, and energy issues. Prior to joining the Senate, she served as the Legislative Manager for the California Energy Commission.  Sarah has over 20 years of experience providing policy analysis and legislative management in both the public and private sectors, including positions at the California Department of Public Health and the Assembly Speaker’s Office. Sarah lives in Sacramento, California, and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Government from Claremont McKenna College and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Southern California.

With more than 25 years of experience in the public and private sectors, Derek Toups has built a career focused on innovation, sustainability, and strategic leadership. His professional background fuses financial management, public policy, and engineering disciplines with a focus on structured project management and technology deployment.

At Santa Cruz METRO, Derek is managing a $220 million portfolio of grants and capital projects including one of the nation’s most ambitious zero-emission bus (ZEB) and hydrogen fuel infrastructure transitions, new integrated ticketing system, and multiple affordable infill housing/transit-oriented joint development projects. He holds degrees in Sustainable Development and Urban Planning from the California State University system and is a current member of the Transportation Research Board’s (TRB) Standing Committee on Transit User Experience and the Zero Emissions Bus Resource Alliance (ZEBRA) Hydrogen Workgroup.

Imon Uduehi currently serves as Cummins Global On-Highway General Manager for Alternate Fuels and Delivery Systems.

Imon has 18+ years of Cummins experience across various fields including manufacturing operations, supply chain, strategy and sales.

Through his leadership, Imon’s team is positioning Cummins to successfully help customers through the energy transition. He is responsible for the Natural Gas product portfolio in the Engine Business, as well as building on the foundation for the expected growth in hydrogen internal combustion engines (H2-ICE), driving product vision and profitability. Further, Imon serves on the Board of Directors for our Natural Gas Fuel Delivery Systems joint venture, CCFT (Cummins Clean Fuel Technology) alongside being the Business Leader for our Hydrogen Fuel Delivery Systems Business, NPROXX. Imon represents Cummins as a founding member of the Hydrogen Engine Alliance North America.

Imon is a Cummins Chairman’s Award and Business Impact Award winner, an Amazon Continuous Improvement Award winner and a certified Six Sigma Green Belt, Black Belt and sponsor. He is also a practitioner of Lean principles with certifications relevant to his background in supply chain.

Imon resides in Tennessee. He is described as an avid learner. He holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in manufacturing technology from Purdue University, as well as an education specialist (EdS) degree from Tennessee Tech University where he has pursued a PhD in program planning and evaluation.