Michal Healy, selected to represent building/facility owners for preK-12 schools, obtained her Bachelor of Architecture in Architecture from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and is a licensed architect in the State of California and has over 20 years of experience designing, planning, and constructing public K-12 schools. Currently, Healy is the Director of Facility Development and Planning for Santa Clara Unified School District, where she coordinates the design and implementation for facility upgrade projects for the district. Over the past few years, she has been coordinating with special education, wellness, and other special interest groups to create all-inclusive designs for the schools.

Seth Kalkman is Vice President at Brookwood Group, an owner's representation, and program management firm with 35-year track record guiding owners through complex public and institutional construction. He has spent more than two decades in the industry, starting in forensic construction, where he spent years reverse-engineering failed projects to understand exactly why schedules slip and budgets break. That work pulled him to the owner's side, where he has focused on public-sector programs across K-12 and higher education, helping districts plan, fund, and deliver projects with fewer surprises.

Today Seth pairs that field experience with technology, working alongside Zero RFI to bring AI into the owner's rep workflow so teams can get ahead of problems instead of just documenting them. He also hosts Constructive, a podcast on innovation and the human side of building. A Cal Poly construction management graduate, his goal is simple: make building faster, cheaper, and better.

With more than 20 years of experience, Juan serves as a K-12 Senior Project Manager specializing in translating client goals into thoughtful, effective design solutions. Rooted in collaboration and purposeful planning, he guides projects from early programming through construction, working closely with districts to deliver learning environments that reflect community values, support strong pedagogy, and stand the test of time.

Having grown up in the industry, Katie Ellington brings a lifelong understanding of commercial building to her work at Blach Construction, which she joined in 2014. Katie spent many years in operations on TK-12 projects, both modernization and new construction. Her interest in prefabrication and innovative construction methods led to her role as program director for Folia, Blach's patented prefabricated classroom building solution, where she guided business growth across cost analysis, design and construction planning, business development and marketing. Today, as vice president and an Associate DBIA-certified professional with an M.B.A. in real estate from The Wharton School, Katie leads Blach's preconstruction, marketing and risk management functions.

Eloy Vento began his career in 1998 in the construction and facilities field, building a strong foundation in

project management, maintenance operations, public works, and school facilities. Over the years, he advanced

through multiple leadership roles, gaining hands-on experience in construction management, facilities planning,

capital improvement projects, energy efficiency, safety compliance, and public agency operations. Education

includes, Chabot College, Modesto JC fire, Stanislaus State, Chattanooga State.

After serving as a Construction Manager, energy manager, he later became the Director of Facilities and

Planning for Lincoln Unified School District, where he continued developing his expertise in school

construction, modernization, maintenance operations, and long-range facilities planning.

Then recruited by a national energy conservation as his career progressed, Eloy worked with Cenergistic, where

he traveled throughout the United States supporting energy conservation and building performance initiatives

for public agencies and higher educational institutions.

His work included special energy projects with Oklahoma State University and projects in University of New

Mexico, where he gained valuable experience in energy management, utility efficiency, behavioral-based

conservation, and large-scale facility performance strategies.

Eloy later founded Equastar Energy Solutions, a company focused on developing smart metering, sensor-based

solutions, energy efficiency strategies, indoor air quality monitoring, and building performance systems. His

work continues to focus on helping public agencies, schools, and communities improve facilities, reduce energy

waste, enhance safety, and create healthier learning and working environments.

As his career progressed, Eloy taught Career Technical Education in Tennessee, where he helped students

develop practical skills, career awareness, and a strong foundation in the construction and technical trades. This

experience strengthened his belief in the value of CTE programs, workforce readiness, and the importance of

connecting education directly to real-world industry pathways.

In addition to his public education facilities leadership, Eloy served four years as a City Council Member and

six years as a volunteer firefighter for the City of Patterson. These experiences strengthened his commitment to

public service, emergency preparedness, community partnerships, and responsible stewardship of public

resources.

He now serves as the Director of Facilities and Planning for Tracy Unified School District, overseeing major

capital projects, Measure O bond improvements, modernization efforts, safety upgrades, energy initiatives, and

district-wide facilities.

Nathan Herrero, AIA, is a Principal and Vice President at SVA Architects and has been with the firm for over 20 years. He leads the SVA Pleasanton office and has built a portfolio of dynamic, efficient, and award-winning architecture for various clients throughout the Bay Area and across California.

Nathan’s career has been marked by his vision of learning spaces that are supportive of all learning modalities and can adapt to future needs. Under his leadership, the firm has been recognized with key design awards for architectural achievements locally, nationally and internationally. His experience is diverse with many project types, beyond TK-12 facilities, Nathan has designed and delivered college and university projects, staff and student housing, civic facilities, and a variety of mixed-use developments with a strong focus with affordable residential projects.

On a day-to-day basis, Nathan is fully engaged with the design and construction of his projects. For the firm, he provides strategic direction, oversees contract, budget, schedule, and quality-control matters, and ensures that each project aligns with the client’s goals and SVA’s standards.

Aaron Rhodes is the Vice President of Business Operations at TimberQuest, a leader in prefabricated mass timber solutions. In this role, he drives organizational strategy, oversees financial performance, and ensures operational excellence. Aaron’s approach combines innovation with a people-first mindset, positioning TimberQuest at the forefront of sustainable, high-quality, and cost-effective building solutions. From single building additions to full campus replacements, his leadership ensures that TimberQuest delivers spaces that are built fast, designed to last, and crafted with aesthetics and sustainability in mind.