
Thursday, Dec. 7
8 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Sheraton Grand Los Angeles
SCAG will host the 14th annual Southern California Economic Summit on Dec. 7 at the Sheraton Grand Los Angeles. The Economic Summit brings together leading voices to discuss the long-term health of Southern California’s economy and to explore the major economic factors that inform Connect SoCal 2024, SCAG’s draft Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy.
From generating new jobs to creating efficiency gains for commuters, shipping and travel, a strong regional transportation system has economic benefits for all of the nearly 19 million people in the region. Southern California has the resources to accelerate its economy toward stability, growth and prosperity—and can build momentum with regional collaboration toward shared goals.
Online registration is closed. Tickets will be available onsite during the event. Please contact update@scag.ca.gov with any questions.
Program & Agenda
TIME
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AGENDA
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8:00 a.m.
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REGISTRATION & NETWORKING
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9:30 a.m.
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WELCOME & OPENING REMARKS
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9:50 a.m.
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SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ECONOMIC UPDATE
This session will present SCAG’s analysis of the state of the region’s economy, providing an overview of sector-specific employment changes and highlighting opportunities for growth. The full findings of this analysis appear in the “Regional Briefing Book” publication.
- Gigi Moreno, Senior Economist, SCAG
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10:15 a.m.
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ACCELERATING THE ECONOMY THROUGH CONNECT SOCAL
Beyond getting people from point A to point B, what is the value of transportation to the region’s economy? This panel will tie major areas of regional planning economic outcomes—jobs, equity, housing—to economic and environmental resilience for the entire region.
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Hasan Ikhrata, Chief Executive Officer, San Diego Association of Governments
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Lynn von Koch-Liebert, Executive Director, Strategic Growth Council
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Shannon Sedgwick, Director, Institute for Applied Economics at Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation
Moderator:
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11:30 a.m.
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LUNCH
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12:15 p.m.
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KEYNOTE ADDRESS
- Greg Lindsay, Urban Tech Fellow, Cornell Tech
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12:45 p.m.
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ACCELERATING THE REGION’S PRODUCTIVITY AND POTENTIAL
Accelerating the region isn’t possible with the same old planning formula, and the region can’t rest on past successes. It’s time to prepare for a different future—with more automation, artificial intelligence and slower population growth. How do we take advantage of these coming changes to create the future of mobility, remove barriers to housing and make significant progress toward economic and environmental sustainability?
- Jasson Crockett, Head of California State Policy, Snap, Inc.
- Brian Merchant, Technology Columnist, Los Angeles Times
- Kameale Terry, Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer, ChargerHelp, Inc.
Moderator:
- Paul Granillo, President & Chief Executive Officer, Inland Empire Economic Partnership
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2:00 p.m.
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ADJOURN
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Pricing
Online
Price: $275
Ends Friday, Dec. 1
Onsite
Price: $300
Day of Event
Elected Officials/City Managers: Free
Keynote Speaker

Greg Lindsay
Urban Tech Fellow, Cornell Tech
The keynote speaker for the 14th Annual Southern California Economic Summit is Greg Lindsay, urban tech fellow at Cornell Tech’s Jacobs Institute. Register today to attend the event and hear Lindsay discuss the shifting landscape of economic opportunity in Southern California.
As an urban tech fellow, Lindsay explores AI and augmented reality at urban scales. He also serves as a senior fellow of MIT’s Future Urban Collectives Lab, a senior advisor to Climate Alpha and a non-resident senior fellow of the Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Strategy Initiative. Lindsay has been cited as an expert on the future of cities, technology and mobility by the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, CNN, NPR and the BBC, and has advised Intel, Samsung, IKEA, Starbucks, Audi, Hyundai and assorted G20 government entities. He was previously the urbanist-in-residence at URBAN-X (BMW MINI’s urban tech accelerator), the director of applied research at NewCities and founding director of strategy at its mobility-focused offshoot, CoMotion.
Lindsay is also a two-time Jeopardy! champion—and the only human undefeated against IBM’s Watson.
Looking for ways to prepare for the challenges facing the economic future of Southern California? Register today for the 14th Annual Southern California Economic Summit to hear from leading experts like Lindsay, along with elected officials and business leaders, on the challenges and opportunities facing the region.