The Annual BEX Public Works Conference brings together hundreds of A/E/C professionals to get an inside look into Arizona’s upcoming public works projects, capital spend, and more.
Don’t miss your chance to get a broad and comprehensive overview of the local market all in one afternoon. Register Today!
PROGRAM
12:00pm – Welcome & Introductory Remarks – Amanda Elliot, Redevelopment Program Manager, Town of Gilbert
12:05pm – Top 10 Capital Improvement Programs Across Arizona: A deep dive review of the top Capital Improvement Programs (CIP), along with her always popular data dumps on the state of the market, trends and projections on what’s to come.
- Rebekah Morris, President & Founder, BEX
12:40pm – Expanding Transportation Systems: Transportation & Transit infrastructure has been a major contributor to growth and development in the Valley and around the state. Check out what guest panelists from some of the Arizona’s top transportation players have to say about where we are and where we’re headed.
- Henry Ikwut-Ukwa, Director, Capital Development, Capital Planning
1:25pm – Quick Hit – TBD
1:35pm – Powering up Future Economic Development: Ensuring the reliability of the power grid – and delivering energy through increasingly sustainable and climate-friendly systems – are essential to the long-term development of Arizona as a growing national leader. This panel will generate expert commentary insights on the state’s energy present and future.
- Diane Fischer, Director of Generation Services, Kiewit – MODERATOR
- Karla Moran, Principal Economic Development Analyst, SRP
- Kelly Patton, Economic Development Manager, APS
2:05pm – Break
2:25pm – Reconvene
2:30pm – Show me the Money! Nothing gets built without the funding in place to pay for it. This panel will look at federal stimulus programs, grants and other cash infusions; regional infrastructure/transportation tax propositions, and bond measures in several locales to give a detailed overview of the Arizona public project money train and how it’s tracking.
- Casey Ambroise, Senior Project Manager, Town of Gilbert
- Audra Koester-Thomas, Transportation Planning Program Manager, Town of Gilbert
- Patti Olds, Economic Impact Advisor, Kuniklo – MODERATOR
3:15pm – Quick Hit – TBD
3:25pm – Upcoming Water Infrastructure Projects: Arizona has gotten clobbered with Colorado River restrictions and other water issues due to the drought. Where do some of the state’s fastest growing cities stand with plans to manage and maximize their water infrastructure?
- Marc Ahlstrom, Assistant City Engineer, City of Mesa
- Troy Hayes, Water Services Director, City of Phoenix
SPEAKERS
Marc Ahlstrom
Assistant City Engineer | City of Mesa
Marc Ahlstrom is one of two Assistant City Engineers with the City of Mesa Engineering Department, where he has been employed since 2004. Marc has held numerous positions in the Engineering Department including Civil Engineer, Senior Civil Engineer, Project Manager, and Deputy Engineer prior to being promoted to his current position in 2016. His project experience while at the City is diverse including buildings, streets, right of way acquisition, intelligent transportation systems, parks, water and wastewater treatment facilities, pipelines, and communication facilities. He has also acted as a liaison to multiple agencies including Valley Metro, ADOT, MCDOT, and Town of Gilbert. Marc has extensive experience negotiating contracts, intergovernmental agreements, and utility agreements. He is also experienced with alternative delivery of projects including Job Order Contracts, Construction Manager at Risk projects, and is developing the City’s first Design-Build contract. As Assistant City Engineer, Marc supervises a staff of more than 45 including project managers, contract staff, right of way management staff, and other support staff. Prior to joining the City of Mesa, Marc worked for Entranco as a design engineer on various roadway and freeway projects. Marc is originally from Idaho Falls, Idaho. He holds an AS degree from Ricks College, and BS and MS degrees in Civil Engineering from Brigham Young University with an emphasis on transportation. Marc is a Certified Public Administrator and a member of APWA and ASCE. He currently lives in Gilbert with his wife and five children.
Casey Ambrose
Senior Project Manager, Capital Improvement Projects | Town of Gilbert
Casey is a registered PE and has been involved with public works for over 18 years. The bulk of her career was spent on the private side designing airports and roadways. She adapted during the economic downturn of 2008 and learned the skills of a project manager. She put her skills to use working for a construction company who served the various mining communities throughout Arizona. In 2017, Casey decided that public works was her passion and that she was best suited to serve the community where she lived. Casey has now been with the Town of Gilbert for five years and continues to manage projects of various transportation types. In addition to her work at the Town of Gilbert, Casey has been member of the American Public Works Association (APWA) for seven years. She serves as the alternate delegate to her local Phoenix Chapter, as well as the Chair for Committee for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at the National level. At the end of the work day Casey resumes her role as mom and wife, to her husband and two daughters. Their time together is filled with club soccer games, school activities and watching sports. On rare occasions a quiet weekend is enjoyed.
Amanda Elliot
Redevelopment Program Manager | Town of Gilbert
Amanda Elliott has served in the Gilbert, Arizona Office of Economic Development since 2012 and leads town-wide redevelopment efforts including a focus on the downtown Heritage District. Amanda has 19 years of experience in the public and private sector focused on development, revitalization and marketing. She holds a Bachelor of Science and a Certificate of International Business from Arizona State University and is currently pursuing her Master of Public Administration from Park University. Amanda is an active member and former Board Member of the Arizona Association for Economic Development (AAED), is a founding member for AZDowntowns, is an International Downtown Association Emerging Leaders fellow, served as IDA Top Issues Council Chairperson for Municipal Partnerships, and is a member of the Urban Land Institute where she is currently serving on the Adaptive Reuse, Infill and Revitalization Council. Amanda is a past AAED Economic Development Distinguished by Excellence Award Winner and recipient of the AAED Presidential Award. She has been nominated as a Most Valuable Player for the Town of Gilbert and received the Mayor’s Best in Class Award. Amanda was named 40 Under 40 by the Phoenix Business Journal in 2021 and was also named a person to know in Economic Development by AZRE Magazine.
Diane Fischer
Director of Generation Services | Kiewit
Diane is Kiewit’s Director of Generation Services and Long Duration Energy Storage Services. She has more than 30 years of experience in the power industry, including project management and system engineering, consulting, client advocacy, business development, EPC contract development and oversight, equipment specification, equipment procurement contract development and negotiation, vendor management, conceptual design, front end engineering design studies, regulatory permitting and support, program management, and scenario planning. As Director of Generation Services for Kiewit's Engineering Group, Diane is responsible for overseeing all services provided for fossil generation and long-term energy storage. Diane supports Kiewit’s clients in developing and implementing solutions to meet the challenges and demands of a low carbon energy market. She is a graduate of Iowa State University and a Bachelors of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering.
Troy Hayes
Director of Water Services | City of Phoenix
Troy Hayes oversees one of the largest potable water utilities in the United States. With over 1,400 dedicated employees, Phoenix Water Services treats and delivers high-quality tap water to 1.7 million customers throughout a 540 square mile service area. Phoenix Water Services provides wastewater collection and treatment services for 2.9 million residents in the Valley. Troy has been with the City of Phoenix for over 20 years, serving in a broad range of roles and responsibilities. Troy is a registered Professional Engineer (P.E.) in Arizona and Colorado.
Henry Ikwut-Ukwa
Director, Capital Development | Valley Metro
Henry Ikwut-Ukwa is a transportation executive with over 23 years of experience in transit industry leadership and management. He is currently the Chief of Capital and Service Development at Valley Metro where he leads the Capital and Service Development Division of Valley Metro Rail, Inc. and the Regional Public Transportation Authority (RPTA). Prior to this he held executive and management positions with Atlanta BeltLine Inc., Birmingham Jefferson County Transit Authority (BJCTA), and Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA). His early career covers extensive consulting experience with major engineering companies including Parsons Corporation, URS Corporation, and HDR Inc. Henry holds a PhD in civil engineering with minor in public policy from the Georgia Institute of Technology and is a graduate of the Atlanta Regional Leadership Institute and a 2016 graduate of Leadership APTA, the executive leadership program of the American Public Transportation Association. He is a registered professional engineer (PE).
Audra Koester Thomas
Transportation Planning Program Manager | Maricopa Association of Governments
A proud graduate of Texas A&M University, Audra joined Maricopa Association of Governments in 2015 to facilitate long-range transportation planning efforts for the nation's second largest metropolitan planning organization. Previously, Audra’s work included dozens of iconic land use, transportation and economic development efforts across Arizona and the Southwest. Audra’s current focus is leading the extension of the dedicated Maricopa County half-cent sales tax to fund multimodal transportation investments included in MOMENTUM, MAG’s new regional transportation plan.
Rebekah Morris
President & Founder | BEX
Rebekah started the twice-weekly AZBEX publication in February 2010, and has since grown the service into a multi-faceted resource for local Commercial Real Estate & A/E/C firms to find leads on upcoming projects, industry news, trends, and market insights. In 2015, AZBEX started producing events and now features four annual half-day conferences and six breakfast panels known as the Leading Market Series. In 2016, the AZBEX Database or DATABEX was launched. Both the events and database are engineered to bring opportunities to clients – whether it’s the contacts made at a half-day conference or bi-monthly breakfast program or the early stage notice of a project in the database, every service of AZBEX is focused on bringing opportunity to clients. Rebekah’s background as a large General Contractor enabled her to spot the opportunity to start BEX, but it is her grit, determination and eternal curiosity for the industry that has kept it going and growing each year. In her spare time (what spare time?!?), Rebekah enjoys reading, cooking, hiking and playing with her three kids. It is her dream to travel more. Realistically, that’ll happen when the youngest turns 18.
Karla Moran
Principal Economic Development Analyst | Salt River Project
Karla Moran is a Principal Economic Development Analyst for the Salt River Project. She is responsible for attracting and expanding business and industry within SRP’s service territory; providing site-specific electrical infrastructure identification and cost analysis; and working collaboratively alongside state, regional and municipal partners to identify targeted company attraction, expansion and retention efforts conducive to building a healthy economy to advance well-planned growth throughout the Valley. Karla has been in economic development for more than 15 years, including roles at the Arizona Department of Commerce, the Arizona Commerce Authority and the Town of Gilbert.
Kelly Patton
Economic Development Manager | Arizona Public Service
Kelly Patton has spent 20 years in the economic development industry with 15 years of experience specific to Arizona. She currently holds the title of Economic Development Manager at Arizona Public Service (APS) and is responsible for working with all state, regional, county and community partners in the attraction and expansion of business and industry within Arizona and APS service territory. Prior to joining APS, Kelly spent eight years in the Gilbert, Arizona Office of Economic Development and five years with the Kansas City Area Development Council. A Kansas City native, she holds a Bachelor of Science degree in journalism from the University of Kansas and a master’s in business administration from Ottawa University. She serves in a leadership capacity for several regional and national economic development organizations including the Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECoNA), Northern Arizona Council of Governments (NACOG), Pinal Alliance for Economic Growth, Greater Phoenix Economic Council (GPEC), and the Utility Economic Development Association (UEDA). Kelly was also recently recognized by Consultant Connect as one of North America’s Top 50 Economic Developers in 2022.
sponsorship opportunities
Looking for a Great Sponsorship Opportunity?
Becoming a sponsor at this event will give your company the following exposure:
• Event Signage
• Website Exposure
• PowerPoint Recognition at Event
• Printed Collateral & More
Click the Sponsorship Matrix to View
a Full List of Opportunities
a
Prefer to register for this event outside of Paypal?
No problem! Please call or email Beth Beeson at (815) 904-2360 or bbeeson@azbex.com to pay with a credit card or request an invoice for payment by check. Please note: Refunds are offered without exception up to three days prior to the event. Within three days, we can exchange ticket types (from in person to virtual for example) or switch the attendee’s name. Unfortunately, refunds are not offered within 72 hours or the day of the live event.
| First Name | Last Name | Company | Title |
| Ryan | Abbott | Clayco | Executive Vice President |
| Mark | Adams | Agate Construction, Inc. | Vice President |
| Tony | Ames | Emery Sapp & Sons | Executive Vice President |
| Jesus | Angulo | PCL Construction, Inc. | Project Manager |
| Carrie | Bailes | Buehler | Business Development Manager |
| Darin | Bailey | Haydon Building Corp | Preconstruction Director |
| Dave | Banbury | DCS Contracting | Business Development Manager |
| Shirley | Barker | FCI Constructors, Inc. | Marketing Manager |
| Jason | Beaver | Concord General Contracting | Vice President/COO |
| Kevin | Benton | SRP Business Solutions Program | Senior Project Coordinator |
| Eric | Bergman | Caliente Construction | Director of Client Services |
| Brent | Borchers | Terrcon | Regional Manager |
| Lorin | Brown | DWL Architects & Planners | Director of Business Development & Marketing |
| Sue | Cardis | SBD, Inc. | Estimating Coordinator |
| Tammy | Carr | Mortenson | Market Executive |
| Lea | Cheshareck | The Weitz Company | Senior Business Development Manager |
| Geoffrey | Child | Sunrise Engineering, Inc. | Principal/Engineering Manager |
| David | Clark | Empire Cat | Rental Sales Manager |
| Joe | Clarken | Constructors Bonding, Inc. | Principal |
| Curtis | Courter | Hazen and Sawyer | Associate Vice President |
| Bill | Davis | Advanced Drainage Systems | Advanced Drainage Systems |
| Tina | Davis | Consultant Engineering, Inc. | Marketing Manager |
| Keli | Dobberstein | Hunter Contracting | Business Development Manager |
| Jennifer | Dolan | Girls Can Build | Sales |
| Reggan | Dumpert | APS Solutions for Business | Marketing Strategist |
| Randy | Eskelson | Gray Wolf | Vice President of Business Development |
| Chase | Farnsworth | Mortenson | Senior Project Development Manager |
| Eric | Froberg | City of Phoenix | City Engineer |
| Lisa | Garrison | APS Solutions for Business | Unknown |
| Deann | Gates | Martin White Griffis Structural | Director of Business Development |
| Jaime | Germann | Ferguson Waterworks | Outside Sales |
| CG | Gnanasambanthan | Olsson | Business Development Leader |
| Matt | Gorman | Arrington Watkins Architects | Principal Architect |
| Derrick | Greene | Empire Cat | Governmental Rental Account Manager |
| Greg | Griffith | CBI Bonding, Inc. | Senior Vice President |
| Tracy | Grunden | Coe & Van Loo Consultants, Inc. | Director of Water/Wastewater |
| Mark | Guatney | Ninyo & Moore | Principal Engineer, Enviornmental |
| William | Haas | Coe & Van Loo Consultants, Inc. | Director of Stormwater Engineering |
| Robert | Haggard, Sr. | Fleming Complete | Vice President |
| Jeff | Hamilton | Sundt Construction, Inc. | Vice President – Transportation Group, Southwest Region Business Development Manager |
| Gregory | Heinz | Hill International, Inc. | Senior Vice President; Manager, West Region |
| Kent | Henderson | Ferguson Waterworks | Geo Specialist |
| Jake | Hollingsworth | Okland Construction | Business Development Analyst |
| Jeff | Hollowell | Buehler | Associate Principal |
| Dean | Howard | Alston Construction | Director of Business Development |
| Kevin | Hutchings | Fleming West, LLC | Business Development |
| Pamela | Iacovo | WOODPATEL Civil Engineers and Survey | Marketing and Business Development Manager |
| Monika | Ibarrola | Arrington Watkins Architects | Architect, Associate |
| Danielle | Intorf | Sundt Construction, Inc. | Business Development Representative |
| Mike | James | Sundt Construction, Inc. | Chief Estimator |
| Kailee | Jodarski | Kuniklo Corporation | Marketing & Communication |
| Anita | Johari | Wood PLC | Lead Traffic Engineer |
| Melissa | Johnson | Danson Construction | Director of Business Development & Marketing |
| Ben | Johnson | HW Johnson | Foreman |
| Fred | Johnson | Gray Construction | Project Executive |
| Scott | Jones | Ames Construction | Regional Alternative Delivery Manager |
| Jason | Kahn | Rummel Construction | Vice President |
| Bruce | Kay | Ninyo & Moore | Principal Engineer |
| Scott | Kirchofer | Achen-Gardner Construction | Business Development and Marketing Manager |
| Kent | Kleven | Sunstate Equipment Co. | Regional Sales Manager |
| Ashley | Knipp | Knipp Contracting | Business Development |
| Colin | Laisure-Pool | MPSW, Inc. | Account Executive |
| Dimitrios | Laloudakis | SRP Business Solutions Program | Program Manager |
| George | Lane-Roberts | J. Banicki Construction, Inc. | Alternative Delivery & Preconstruction Manager |
| Tom | LaRue | Advanced Drainage Systems | Business Development Manager |
| David | Livolsi | Advanced Drainage Systems | Sales |
| Kristina | Locke | Coe & Van Loo Consultants, Inc. | Director of Business Development |
| Scott | Macpherson | Rider Levett Bucknall | Executive Vice President |
| Tony | Magers | APS Solutions for Business | Unknown |
| Jodi | Malenfant | W&W Structural, Inc. | Owner |
| Jared | Malone | Associated Architects | Architect |
| Chris | Maroney | Säzän Group, Inc. | Principal in Charge |
| Sara | Martin | Tekline Electrical Services | Director of Marketing and Business Development |
| Arielle | Mason | Arrington Watkins Architects | Architect in Training |
| Phillip | McDonell | Advanced Drainage Systems | Senior Sales Manager |
| Allie | McGranaghan | SRP Business Solutions Program | Energy Efficiency Program Coordinator |
| Dustin | McGrath | Archer Western Construction | West Division Marketing Manager |
| Katie | Melendez | Big-D Construction | Business Development and Marketing Strategist |
| Mark | Mitchell | Adolfson & Peterson Construction | Director of Business Development |
| Gigi | Moran | Vanir Construction Management | Marketing and Business Development Manager |
| Bryan | Mueller | Achen-Gardner Construction | Project Executive |
| Stephanie | Munoz | Dibble | Business Development Director |
| Kim | Murphy | Chasse Building Team | Business Development |
| Dean | Neaverth | Advanced Drainage Systems | Northern Arizona Sales Manager |
| Suzanne | Nelson | Corelab Structures | Business Developement Representative |
| Peter | Nichols | Advanced Drainage Systems | SW Regional Sales Manager |
| Don | Nottke | Derek Builders | Vice President of Business Development |
| Patti | Olds | Kuniklo Corporation | Economic Impact Advisor |
| Stephen | Olds | Kuniklo Corporation | JOC Project Manager |
| Joshua | Onstott | B&F Contracting, Inc. | Executive Director |
| Steve | Orosz | Paradigm Design | Regional Civil and Transportation Director |
| John | Ott | Desert Drones | President |
| Eric | Ownby | Ames Construction | Business Development |
| Julie | Pederson | Clayco | Marketing and New Business Coordinator |
| Rod | Penniman | Wood PLC | Senior Project Manager |
| Jonathan | Peters | CMT Technical Services | Heavy Civil Department Supervisor |
| Joseph | Piotrowski | Travelers | Associate Account Executive |
| Mike | Quinn | Arrington Watkins Architects | Principal |
| Mauricio | Ramos | PCL Construction, Inc. | Operations Manager |
| Karen | Ratliff | Advanced Structural Engineering, Inc. | Principal/Marketing and Business Development |
| Craig | Rees | Ninyo & Moore | Principal |
| Sarah | Reynolds | GLHN Architects & Engineers, Inc. | Senior Marketing Coordinator |
| Kay | Rimbey | Rummel Construction | Business Development Manager |
| Greg | Ringle | Derek Builders | Vice President of Construction |
| Roger | Rowley | B&F Contracting, Inc. | Director of Preconstruction |
| Brad | Sanders | Archer Western Construction | Business Group Leader |
| Matthew | Savage | Ferguson Waterworks | Senior Inside Sales Manager |
| Jennifer | Schaefer | Caliente Construction | Marketing Manager |
| Jeff | Schaffer | Caliente Construction | Project Director – Operations |
| Kristine | Shaner | Olsson | West Region Marketing Leader |
| Lisa | Shanley | Hardison/Downey Construction | Director of Business Development |
| Laura | Shivers | Big-D Construction | Vice President |
| Chad | Shultz | Corbins | Vice President of Operations |
| Lisa | Simons | Van Boerum & Frank Associates, Inc. | Business Development |
| Ken | Slota | PCL Construction, Inc. | Senior Construction Manager |
| Andy | Stewart | ActiveG | Managing Partner |
| Eric | Stiler | True Metal Solutions, LLC | CEO/CIO |
| Scott | Sumners | Rider Levett Bucknall | EVP |
| Brooke | Taff | WOODPATEL Civil Engineers and Survey | Business Development |
| Cortney | Tilley | Breckenridge Group Architects/Planners | Marketing Coordinator |
| Saki | Toor | Travelers | Account Executive Officer |
| Marci | Utakis | Rider Levett Bucknall | Associate |
| Justin | Van De Graaff | Sunrise Engineering, Inc. | Project Manager |
| Jayson | Vanvolkinburg | B&F Contracting, Inc. | Director of Field Operations |
| Jennifer | Villalobos | Girls Can Build | Vice President of Business Development & Marketing |
| Milton | Williams | ActiveG | System Analyst |
| Diane | Wilson | Haydon Building Corp | Business Development |
| Jeff | Winney | Pulice Construction | Capture Manager |
| Kevin | Woudenberg | Western Tech | Business Development Manager |
| Craig | Yakubow | PCL Construction, Inc. | Estimator |
| Eric | Zite | Ninyo & Moore | Principal |
Are you a Public Agency Employee or a Private Real Estate Developer who wants to learn about this topic? We have reserved a small block of complimentary tickets for persons who qualify. Reach out to Beth Beeson to verify eligibility and availability by email at bbeeson@azbex.com or (815) 904-2360. Restrictions apply.