From Bond to Building

Tracking the Capital Improvement Pipeline, Funding, Procurement, and Delivering K-12 Projects in Today's High-Cost Environment

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  Carey Upton

  Chief Operations Officer

  Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District

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  Kate Hirsh

  Co-Head and Managing Director, Healthcare + Education

  Turner Impact Capital

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  Tracy Nishihira

  Executive Director, Facilities Development & Planning

  Long Beach Unified School District

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  Dave Amundson

  Dave Amundson is a project executive at C.W. Driver Companies. With 30+ years of experience, he provides direct oversight of projects from inception to close-out. Currently, Dave manages the financial health, contracts, and, most importantly, relationships for a mix of education and private projects within C.W. Driver’s portfolio. Most recently, he worked on the award-winning Santa Monica-Malibu USD - New Malibu High School, Phase 1; the Eldorado Country Club, Spa & Fitness Facility in Indian Wells; and is currently working on the Desert CCD - College of the Desert, New Palm Springs Campus, Santa Monica-Malibu USD - Malibu Middle School and High School, Phase 2 and Roosevelt Elementary School, TK/K New Classrooms & Library project, among a handful of other in-progress projects across Southern California.

  C.W. Driver Companies

  Project Executive

  Dave Amundson

  Project Executive

  C.W. Driver Companies

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  Tyree Dorward

  Tyree K. Dorward is an attorney at Best Best & Krieger who focuses on school business and facilities matters. He advises school districts and community colleges on school site acquisition, facilities development, and construction, including alternative delivery methods such as lease-leaseback and design-build. Ty also provides guidance on development impact fees, CEQA compliance, and the operation and use of school facilities, offering practical insight on navigating complex K-12 real estate and infrastructure projects.

  BBK

  Partner

  Moderator

  Tyree Dorward

  Partner

  BBK

The Future of Southern California K–12 Learning Environments

Building, Designing & Modernizing Schools for Safety, Flexibility, Technology & the Student Experience

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  Alix Walsh O'Brien, FAIA

  Alix O’Brien, FAIA, is the Deputy Chief Facilities Executive for the Los Angeles Unified School District. She oversees the planning, design, and construction of the District’s $41.8 billion capital bond program as well as the maintenance and operations of approximately 1,300 schools, centers, and administrative sites. The District’s Facilities Services Division, jointly led by the Chief Facilities Executive and Deputy Chief, includes approximately 3,400 professionals with expertise in planning, development, real estate, design, construction, inspection, and facilities operations. Alix brings over 40 years of experience in design and construction management for large-scale institutional and governmental projects across California. She was recognized by the American Architects and Engineers Association (AAa/e) with the 2025 Community Award for bringing aspirational design, memorable spaces, and a community focus to the District’s school facilities modernization efforts. In 2020, she achieved the designation of Fellow of the American Institute of Architects (FAIA) in recognition of her profound and lasting contributions to the profession through design excellence and community service.

  Los Angeles Unified School District

  Deputy Chief Facilities Executive

  Alix Walsh O'Brien, FAIA

  Deputy Chief Facilities Executive

  Los Angeles Unified School District

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  Micah Ali

  President

  Compton Unified School District

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  Kelvin Okino

  Executive Director of Facilities and Construction

  Irvine Unified School District

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  Anney Hall

  An authority on green, creative design solutions, Anney Hall, Principal at Lionakis, has 26+ years of experience in the development of educational, cultural, civic, and non-profit projects. Over the course of her career, she has implemented green, USGBC LEED, and WELL Building design concepts into her projects and works closely with the Client to prioritize goals for a holistic approach to healthy environments.

  Lionakis

  Principal

  Anney Hall

  Principal

  Lionakis

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  Rick Willison

  Rick Willison is Project Executive for Blach Construction’s Southern California operations, where he oversees project execution, client relations, operational leadership, and regional growth. With more than 25 years of experience delivering K-12, higher education, and public sector projects throughout Southern California, Rick specializes in modernization, occupied campuses, and collaborative project delivery. He is also recognized as an early advocate in advancing prefabricated building systems to improve efficiency, quality, and schedule performance in education construction.

  Blach Construction

  Project Executive

  Rick Willison

  Project Executive

  Blach Construction

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  Jerry Lam

  Jerry Lam brings decades of engineering and consulting expertise, specializing in K-12 and higher education facilities. Jerry partners closely with architects and school districts to balance energy efficiency, budget constraints, and long-term maintainability. His work emphasizes practical, durable systems that enhance student comfort and academic performance. Jerry Lam brings decades of engineering and consulting expertise, specializing in K-12 and higher education facilities. He focuses on high-performance HVAC, indoor air quality, acoustics, and resilient electrical infrastructure that support safe, healthy, and future-ready learning environments.

  Lam + Tea Engineering

  Principal

  Jerry Lam

  Principal

  Lam + Tea Engineering

• Moderator

  Corey Harris

  Director

  Kitchell

Remarks

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  Mick Dunn

  Technical Manager, Energy Saving Ceilings

  Armstrong World Industries