Salinas Infrastructure Summit Recording is Now Live

The recording of the City of Salinas Infrastructure Summit is now live! The Summit was a day of great conversation around state, local, and regional projects, funding opportunities and challenges, and innovative approaches to address funding gaps, industry challenges and partnership opportunities to help shape the future of Salinas infrastructure.

Key Highlights:

• Opening Remarks from Salinas Mayor Dennis Donohue

• Federal Insight
  Regional Director Kathy Mahan (Senator Adam Schiff) framed the federal landscape, setting the stage for productive discussion.

• State Funding Trends
  Experts Executive Director Kiana Valentine (Transportation California) and Commissioner Bob Tiffany (California Transportation Commission) discussed current funding and infrastructure opportunities and trends at the State level.

• Local Projects on the Horizon 
  Assistant Public Works Director/City Engineer Adriana Robles (City of Salinas), Project Manager Meg Henry (Caltrans), Executive Director Todd Muck (TAMC), General Manager/CEO Carl Sedoryk (MST), and District Manager Brenda Granillo (Cal Water) spotlighted major infrastructure investments underway and planned for the next 5–10 years in and around Salinas.

• Innovative Procurement Pathways and Public‑Private Partnerships
  A pivotal session facilitated by Assistant City Attorney Rhonda Combs (City of Salinas), featuring panelists Founder and CEO Stephanie Gripne (Impact Finance Center), Managing Principal Craig Hill (NHA Advisors) and Vice President Erin Birkenkopf (Public Facilities Group) discussing public-private partnerships (PPPs), progressive design-build methods, and innovative financing models like leveraging local private capital noting that just 0.84% of Salinas estimated $593 billion private wealth could seed transformative infrastructure in Salinas.

• Keynote: Funding the Future
  Larry J. Kosmont, CEO of Kosmont Companies, shared strategic frameworks for infrastructure investment, PPPs, and economic development aligned with sustained growth.

• Contractor Roundtable
  Local industry leaders including Real Estate Entitlement, Investment, and Special Projects Lead Kathryn Avila (Avila Construction), Vice President/Business Development Frank Lopez (Harris & Associates), Executive Director Christie Cromeenes (Central Coast Builders), and Vice President of Business Development Bill McGowan (Granite Construction) led the conversation on opportunities and challenges in public‐project execution, streamlining timelines, and boosting collaboration.

• Fireside Chat & Closing
  Salinas Mayor Dennis Donohue and Granite Construction’s Senior Vice President of Construction Brian Dowd wrapped up the day with a fireside chat highlighting local-global infrastructure priorities.

The Infrastructure Summit took place on June 5, 2026. The video can be viewed on @TheSalinasChannel on YouTube.