Joseph Kane is a researcher at the Brookings Institution’s Metropolitan Policy Program in Washington, DC. His work contributes to the Metropolitan Infrastructure Initiative, with a focus on transportation and freight movement. Within these areas of research, he has explored infrastructure’s central economic role across different regions as well as its relationship to opportunity and resiliency. He has engaged directly with a variety of public and private sector leaders at the federal, state, and local level, aiming to better quantify the effects of increased infrastructure investment, including impacts on metropolitan labor markets. Prior to Brookings, he was an economist at the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. He holds a master’s degree in urban and environmental planning from the University of Virginia and a B.A. in economics and history from the College of William and Mary.
Fran Inman
Fran Inman directs government relations and community affairs activities for Majestic Realty Co., one of the nation’s largest privately held real estate development companies. With a real estate portfolio totaling approximately 73 million square feet of commercial properties, Majestic Realty has offices in Los Angeles, Atlanta, Bethlehem, Dallas, Denver and Las Vegas.
Inman is recognized as a leader in the push to improve the nation’s failing transportation infrastructure. With Majestic properties playing a critical role in the supply chain, Inman is an outspoken advocate for transportation infrastructure funding in Los Angeles and beyond. Widely recognized for her leadership and ability to develop solutions and build consensus, Inman possesses a unique portfolio of skills that combine a profound understanding of the balance required to build sustainable communities. In 2014, Inman was re-appointed by Governor Brown to the California Transportation Commission where she has served since 2010. In 2013, Inman was also appointed to the National Freight Advisory Committee and co-chairs the sub-committee on project delivery and operations.
A graduate of California State University, Fullerton, Inman holds both a BA and a MBA in finance. In 2010, Inman was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Business Administration from Woodbury University.
Kevin Fleming
Dr. Fleming supports all Career & Technical Education programs at Norco College as well as CTE curriculum development for multiple state and federal grants. He also serves as the Principal Investigator for the National Science Foundation’s National Center for Supply Chain Automation. Dr. Fleming’s professional background includes experience working in higher education at community colleges as well as both public and private 4-year universities. Beginning his career in academia within student services, he has experience in classroom instruction, fundraising/foundations, economic development, academic affairs, and professional speaking/training. He most recently analyzed industry and workforce needs providing customized labor market research for the California Community College system through the Centers of Excellence.
Kevin Fleming earned his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and his Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy at Loyola Marymount University; a Master of Arts in Educational Policy & Leadership at The Ohio State University, a Master of Business Administration at the University of Redlands, and a Ph.D. in Education at Claremont Graduate University.
Kristin Decas
A proven leader, Kristin Decas repeatedly demonstrates her ability to build vision and implement strategy through open, collaborative processes that foster results.
Since beginning her tenure with the Port of Hueneme in February 2012, the Port has realized several successes. The total tonnage for FY 2013 jumped to over 1.4 million metric tons marking the Port’s most active trade year since its inception in 1937. The Port also turned a significant corner in FY2014 achieving its strongest fiscal numbers in history at over $14.3 million in gross operating revenue. The Port is now launching a Strategic Action Plan and rebranding campaign. Kristin championed the first annual Port Banana Festival, drawing over 10,000 visitors to the Port. Port of Hueneme related activities generate $1.1 billion in annual economic impact and create more than 10,200 direct, indirect, induced and influenced jobs.
Prior to serving for the Port of Hueneme, Kristin served as CEO and Port Director for the Port of New Bedford, MA, the nation’s number one value fishing port. In 2007, when Kristin took the helm as the director for the Port, she inherited a $200,000 deficit. Kristin literally ‘cleaned up’ the financial and physical landscape. During her five years at this post, she orchestrated a complete fiscal turnaround; from 2008, and every year thereafter, her prudent fiscal management generated a healthy profit for the Port. Kristin played a vital role in the development of a new terminal to support commerce and offshore wind energy projects. Under her leadership the Port also realized significant growth in cruise and recreational boating activity.
Kristin is recognized by Trade Administration officials for her impressive work in promoting economic development through international trade promotion, and for her service on scores of federal level shipping and port committees. Most recently Kristin was awarded a high-profile appointment by the U.S. Department of Transportation to both the National Freight Advisory Committee (NFAC) and the U.S. Marine Transportation System National Advisory Council (MTSNAC).
The board of directors of the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA), a trade association representing more than 130 public port authorities in the US, Canada, the Caribbean and Latin America, elected Kristin as the association’s chair for the 2014-2015 activity year. Ms. Decas took office at the conclusion of the association’s annual convention in Houston in November.
Kristin was the first woman to run both the Port of New Bedford in its 50 year history and the Port of Hueneme in its 75 year history. She is the 4th woman to chair the AAPA in its 103 years.
She lives in Oxnard, CA with her husband and is the proud mother of two daughters.
Kelli Courreges
Kelli Courreges is a Director Human Resources for BNSF Railway Company. Kelli started her career as a Labor and Employment law attorney with Hill Gilstrap, P.C. in Arlington, Texas and joined BNSF in February of 2000 as the Manager Employee Relations. During her time with BNSF she has held roles of increasing responsibility supporting all aspects of BNSF’s business as an HR Business Partner. Additionally, she led the implementation of SAP for Human Resources and has led the HRIS and Workforce Planning initiatives. Kelli has a Bachelor’s degree in Business from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, a Juris Doctorate in Law from Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas and her SPHR certification.
Jennifer Cleary
Jennifer Cleary performs a variety of research, evaluation, and capacity-building activities. Her current work is focused on understanding and improving the responsiveness of higher education to the emerging needs of the labor market and assisting policymakers and educators to build industry-focused workforce strategies. Several recent projects have been focused on addressing workforce challenges in the nation’s transportation industry, including the National Transit Virtual Career Network and the Transportation, Logistics, and Distribution Talent Network in New Jersey. She has also authored several studies on the workforce and education issues associated with emerging industries, including clean energy and other green sectors and she managed New Jersey’s Ready for the Job initiative, a multi-year project to ensure New Jersey educates qualified workers for the state’s key industries. Cleary has also evaluated adult literacy and dislocated worker programs, managed customer satisfaction surveys for several states, and coordinated work on the New Jersey Consumer Report Card System, an interactive directory of training providers.
Cleary has over 10 years of experience managing social service programs and spent 5 years coordinating events and projects for nonprofit organizations. Her previous experience includes working as the executive director for a shelter for homeless families in New Jersey. She also served as an events coordinator for the Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Foundation. Cleary earned her master’s degree from the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University and has completed over 30 credits of additional coursework in evaluation methods and public policy areas.