Dates: June 2 - 4, 2024
Location: Boulder, CO
The Forum is an annual meeting of a select group of public and private sector leaders in U.S. Infrastructure to share best practices and key learnings in a confidential and neutral environment.
Using candid, seminar-style discussion, the group shares experiences and engages in meaningful dialogue on the industry’s most pressing issues.
The Steering Committee, comprised of experts in the field, personally nominates all invitees and develops the Agenda, which forms the basis of our discussions.
Ms. Vander Valk is the Chief Commercial Officer for Vinci Concessions North America, focusing on the development of large complex transportation infrastructure. She has over 20 years’ experience working with global developers and contractors like ACS Group, HOCHTIEF, Turner Construction, Flatiron, ASTM North America, and Halmar International, as well public sector champions. Throughout her career, she has garnered the confidence and trust of executives in both the public and private sector, both nationally and internationally.
More than ten years ago, she orchestrated and led more than sixty roundtables across the US within the highest levels of government as part of our industry’s first platform aiming to hurdle challenges via collegial means as founder and chair of the Executive Infrastructure Club under the British Foreign Commonwealth Office using Chatham House Rules.
Melanie has a Bachelor of Economics from Laurentian University in Canada, a Master’s in Public Administration-International Development from NYU and holds multiple certifications in Project Finance with Infrastructure-UK, Mazars, the UNDP, and the International Ex-Im Bank. She has been a member of the National Governors Association (NGA) Infrastructure Advisory Council, the Forbes Business Council, and the American Road Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) P3 Board of Directors.
William Gorham is a Vice President within the Business Development and Partnering Group at Plenary Americas. In this position, Will’s primary role is to identify and cultivate new projects, serve as the initial contact with public sector clients, and to assemble the optimal project team to successful win and deliver projects. In addition, Will often provides ongoing client relationship, stakeholder management, and strategic insight during the procurement, delivery and operations phases of projects.
Prior to joining Plenary, Will worked at an LA-area public and government relations firm providing energy and environment clients with strategic planning, media relations and community outreach assistance. He started his career as an analyst for a strategy consulting firm providing strategic market analysis across a variety of industries.
Will graduated from UC San Diego with a BA in International Studies, Economics, and from the UC San Diego School of Global Policy and Strategy with a Master of International Affairs with a focus on International Management and Latin America.
Greg Slater is the Executive Director/CEO of the Tampa Hillsborough Expressway Authority (THEA) – a dynamic transportation agency that owns, manages and operates the Selmon Expressway, Meridian Avenue, Brandon Parkway, and the Selmon Greenway. With over 200,000 daily expressway commuters and thousands of pedestrians utilizing the agency’s network of urban trails, Slater oversees an agency focused on adding value to the community and offering transportation options that enhance the quality of life.
Slater is a transportation leader committed to serving people with passion, integrity, and trust. He has over two decades of public service experience in various transportation modes, most recently serving as Secretary of the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT). He oversaw 17,000 lane miles of highways, 2,500 bridge structures, and tolled facilities, including two tollways, two tunnels, and four major bridge structures: a local and commuter bus network, a light rail metro system, commuter rail, and paratransit services.
At THEA, he continues to serve the community and organization with the values that have guided him over the last 25 years of his professional career. Greg is committed to building a transportation system foundation for the next generation, a roadway of the future, and creating partnerships that make transportation in Tampa Bay safer and more efficient.
Under Slater’s leadership, the agency continues its legacy of implementing connected vehicle technology as an autonomous vehicle testbed site. THEA is instrumental in helping move safety technologies from the testing phase to real-life applications.
Slater is a key leader in public-private partnerships for multimodal transportation, transit-oriented development, and walkable neighborhoods as a community champion. His vision for the Selmon Greenway as a vital connection for the areas around the urban core to accommodate pedestrians and cyclists with Vision Zero safety assurances for seamless mobility and create community gathering spaces – mostly under the shade of the expressway – is helping to map out a better Tampa poised for growth.
Throughout his distinguished career, Slater has built a legacy of organizational leadership and fiscal acumen, along with a commitment to building a foundation for the transportation system for the next generation. At THEA, he is committed to bringing the best technology and most progressive concepts possible to address transportation challenges.
THEA processes 58 million toll transactions and serves almost 2 million customers annually, with an investment plan to deliver over $1.2 Billion in capital improvements to the community over the next 10 years.
Slater is a proud Towson University alumnus.
Mariana Torres is a Senior Investment Officer at the International Finance Corporation (IFC), where she leads new business investment opportunities in the transportation sector. Prior to IFC, Ms. Torres was responsible for deal origination, execution, and related asset management activities on large-scale public private partnerships (P3s) across a wide range of infrastructure sectors at Shikun & Binui USA Concessions (S&B) and John Laing (a KKR company). She was part of the closing team for the Hurontario LRT (Canada), Ruta del Cacao (Colombia), and I-77 Express Lanes Additional Equity Stake (USA) transactions, and held Board of Director positions in various toll road projects. Ms. Torres also served as Director of Infrastructure Economics advisory practice at Louis Berger (now WSP) and held roles at the World Economic Forum and the World Bank.
Ms. Torres is passionate about supporting the P3 industry and its future leaders: she’s a former Co-President for Young Professionals in Infrastructure, is on the Advisory Board for the Cornell Program in Infrastructure Policy (CPIP) and holds the Co-chair position for the Transportation Research Board’s P3 Subcommittee, in addition to her position as Board Member of the Women’s Infrastructure Network (WIN) NYC Chapter. Ms. Torres holds a Master’s degree in City and Regional Planning from the University of California, Berkeley.
Brenna joins Cambridge Forums with 20 years of experience in events, fundraising, and development. She has spent most of her career in the music industry, working for the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, overseeing the planning of high-profile events like the JUNO awards. Most recently, she launched a successful national advocacy campaign for the live music sector resulting in significant relief funding from the federal government. Her early career involved raising funds and executing events for non-profit organizations and foundations, including the University of Toronto and the Ireland Fund of Canada. Brenna looks forward to her role as Forum Director to blend her experience and passion for bringing people together and fostering meaningful connections. She is a mother of two, a fitness enthusiast, and is best known for her sense of humour.
Built on meaningful interactions and genuine connections, the Forum is an unparalleled opportunity for preeminent leaders in infrastructure law.
"The Forum for Infrastructure Leaders provides a rare opportunity to speak candidly about the challenges which are inhibiting progress in our industry. By coming together with thought-leaders, we are able to diplomatically talk through solutions to real problems and discover what is possible, while gaining new perspectives from all corners of our industry. Just an all-around refreshing event which is well-orchestrated and a highly professional environment one would be grateful to access. Best event I have been to in quite a long time!"
Melanie Vander Valk Chief Commercial Officer Vinci Concessions Carrollton, TX"The inaugural Forum for Infrastructure Leaders was a truly unique opportunity for industry leaders to meet, engage in focused dialogue on key issues, and develop a better understanding of perspectives from DOT leaders, infrastructure advisors, contractors and P3 developers. The conversations surely will lead to a better interdisciplinary view on how to better implement projects across the spectrum of transportation infrastructure."
Steve DeWitt Senior Vice President for Business Development ACS Infrastructure Development, Inc. Coral Gables, FL"Great venue to have frank and honest conversations with decision makers from both the private and public side of infrastructure delivery."
François Wasselin Senior Vice-President American Global, LLC London, UKHear how our participants describe the practical benefits of our forums.