The New Frontier: High-Speed Rail and the Women Leading the Way

WTS-Central California proudly presents: “The New Frontier: High-Speed Rail and the Women Leading the Program in California.”

Join us for an inspiring panel discussion on Wednesday, October 16, from 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM. Meet the visionary women at the helm of the California High-Speed Rail Authority’s flagship project.

• CAHSRA staff presentation on the planned Central Valley Stations
• An “I Will Ride” Tour of an active high-speed rail construction site in downtown Fresno

Date: Wednesday, October 16, 2024

The presentation and tour will take place in the morning before the luncheon. More information is coming soon.

Panel Discussion and Luncheon: 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Location: Pardini's Catering and Banquets, 2257 W. Shaw Avenue, Fresno, CA

Diamond Event Sponsor - $2,000

• Panel Moderator—opportunity to share the stage and moderate the discussion

• Prime table location of 10 tickets

• Logo/company recognition—website, e-blasts, LinkedIn, Instagram, and event signage

• 5 tickets to exclusive stations presentation and construction tour

• Photo opportunity with panel members

Platinum Event Sponsor - $1,000

• Premium table location of 10 tickets

• Logo/company recognition—website, e-blasts, LinkedIn, Instagram, and event signage

• 3 tickets to exclusive stations presentation and construction tour

• Photo opportunity with panel members

Gold Event Sponsor - $600

• Table of 10 tickets

• Logo/company recognition —website, e-blasts, LinkedIn, Instagram, and event signage

• 2 tickets to exclusive stations presentation and construction tour

Event Tickets - $60 (members/public sector)

Event Tickets - $70 (non-members) Not a member? !

Christine Inouye is the Chief Engineer of Strategic Delivery at the California High-Speed Rail Authority. Appointed by Governor Gavin Newson in May 2019, she is responsible for the successful delivery of the engineering elements of the high-speed rail program throughout the entire project lifecycle. She leads the Authority’s Engineering Services Branch, which consists of civil engineering, design and construction support, tunneling, geotechnical engineering, structural engineering, and seismic engineering. Christine has more than 30 years of experience in transportation.

Prior to this appointment, Christine served as undersecretary of the California State Transportation Agency. She supported developing and coordinating the policies and programs for the state’s transportation departments, including the California Department of Transportation, Motor Vehicles, Highway Patrol, and High-Speed Rail Authority, to achieve the state’s mobility, safety, and air quality objectives from its transportation system. She also served as deputy secretary for project management and implementation, overseeing the coordination and implementation of Senate Bill 1, Road Repair and Accountability Act.

Christine graduated with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of California, Berkeley. She is a recipient of the Federal Highway Administration Partnering Excellence Award for her contributions to the State Programs Team and Implementation of the Recovery Act.

Margaret Cederoth is the Director of Planning and Sustainability at the California High Speed Rail Authority. An experienced urban planner specializing in sustainable infrastructure and transportation planning, she has over two decades of experience in the field, working both in the United States and internationally.

Appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom in 2019, she oversees policy development, station planning, greenhouse gas emissions tracking, renewable energy planning, and sustainable design initiatives.

Before joining the California High-Speed Rail Authority, she led sustainability initiatives, focusing on carbon-neutral operations and developing tools for implementing sustainability in various infrastructure projects2. She holds a master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. Ms. Cederoth’s expertise is with complex transportation infrastructure projects as well as international urban development throughout North Africa and the Middle East. Ms Cederoth’s project management experience includes managing a diverse team of experts as well as managing planning and sustainability tasks for major projects, such as California High-Speed Rail, the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, Chicago's Sustainable Urban Infrastructure Guidelines, Anacostia Waterfront Transportation Infrastructure Master Plan, and the Lower Georgia Avenue Streetscape Project.

Catrina Blair is the Chief of Process and Program Development at the California High-Speed Rail Authority. She plays a crucial role in developing and implementing processes and programs that support the high-speed rail project. Her responsibilities include overseeing the Small Business Program, which aims to ensure that small businesses have opportunities to participate in the project. Ms. Blair has over 12 years of experience in state services, covering various areas such as management, personnel, training, fiscal system implementation, eProcurement strategies, and Small Business Certifications. She holds a Master’s in Business Administration from the Golden Gate University, Edward S. Ageno School of Business.

Ms. Blair has successfully managed and expanded the Small Business Program, achieving a 30% participation goal, which includes 10% for Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) and 3% for Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE). She has developed evaluation frameworks to assess the effectiveness of these programs, ensuring continuous improvement and alignment with the project objectives. All while leading a high-performing team, focusing on hiring, training, and performance management to meet organizational standards and program goals, promoting a culture of excellence and accountability within her team.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Pardini's Catering & Banquets, 2257 West Shaw Avenue, Fresno, United States