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Breathe SoCal's Conversations with the Chair series features policymakers from agencies with focuses including air quality, climate, energy, transportation, and sustainability. Each event includes a networking reception followed by a discussion led by Breathe SoCal CEO Marc Carrel, with an opportunity for audience questions.
GNA is the leading North American consulting firm specializing in market development for low- and zero-emission transportation technologies, infrastructure, and ultra-low carbon fuels for commercial transportation. Over the past 30 years, the company has managed the design and development of more clean fleet deployment projects than any other firm in North America, as well as facilitated development of some of the largest alternative fuel corridors in the world. In addition to its leading consulting practice, GNA operates a full-service creative services group to provide expert marketing and communications services to its clients in the clean transportation space, and it produces industry-leading educational events and tradeshows, including its flagship event, the Advanced Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo.
At Sunrun, we know going solar can be complicated. We are here as your expert guide every step of the way. With our customers, we are creating a planet run by the sun.
Our expert Solar Advisors offer one-on-one consultations to guide you through all the complexities and details of solar—from understanding your energy bills to installation and more. Each Sunrun solar system is custom designed using our proprietary software to fit your home's unique energy profile and needs. And our industry-leading guarantee gives you peace of mind for the life of your Sunrun solar system.
David Hochschild was appointed chair of the California Energy Commission by Governor Gavin Newsom in February 2019. He fills the environmental position on the five-member Commission where four of the five members are required by law to have professional training in specific areas - engineering or physical science, environmental protection, economics, and law.
Chair Hochschild's career has spanned public service, environmental advocacy, and the private sector. He first got involved in the solar energy field in 2001 in San Francisco as a special assistant to Mayor Willie Brown where Chair Hochschild launched a citywide $100 million initiative to put solar panels on public buildings. He also cofounded the Vote Solar Initiative, a 60,000-member advocacy organization promoting solar policies at the local, state, and federal levels. He was executive director of a national consortium of leading solar manufacturers and worked for five years at Solaria, a solar company in Silicon Valley. From 2007 to 2008, he served as a commissioner at the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission.
For his work to advance clean energy, Chair Hochschild was awarded the Sierra Club's Trailblazer Award, the American Lung Association's Clean Air Hero Award, and the U.S. Department of Energy's Million Solar Roof True Champion Award. Chair Hochschild holds a bachelor of arts from Swarthmore College and a master of public policy from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. He also was a Coro Fellow in Public Affairs.
Clean Energy Fuels is the largest provider of renewable natural gas for the transportation industry in North America. Our extensive network of 550+ fueling stations across the U.S. ensures convenient access for the 25,000 heavy-duty trucks, buses, and large vehicles running on RNG daily.
Renewable natural gas (RNG) is a transportation fuel made from organic waste. It drastically reduces carbon emissions by an average of 300% versus diesel, and at a fraction of the price. Unlike conventional natural gas, renewable natural gas is not a fossil fuel and does not involve drilling.
Liane Randolph has spent most of her career in public service, specializing in environmental law and policy, effective administration, and a commitment to transparency and public process. Governor Gavin Newsom her appointed as Chair of the California Air Resources Board in December 2020. Starting in 2015, Randolph served six years as a Commissioner at the California Public Utilities Commission, managing decisions on energy efficiency, integrated energy resource planning, and regulation of transportation network companies.
Randolph served from 2011 to 2014 as Deputy Secretary and General Counsel at the California Natural Resources Agency, where she worked on a wide variety of legal and policy issues. Her work at the state level builds on experience with local government that she gained while practicing municipal law as a contract City Attorney for the Cities of San Leandro and Suisun City. Randolph earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law and lives in Oakland with her husband and family.
Ara Najarian was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. In 1980, Ara’s family decided to move to Glendale and he transferred to Occidental College for his Junior and Senior years. He majored in Economics and graduated in 1982. Ara went on to receive his J.D. from USC Law.
Ara was appointed to the Glendale Transportation and Parking Commission in 1997, serving for 7 years, including two as chairman.
In 2003, Ara was elected to the Glendale Community College Board of Trustees, the Glendale City Council in 2005, and to the MTA Board in 2006. He was voted Chairman of the MTA for the 2010-2011 fiscal year. Ara served on the Board of Directors of the Southern California Regional Railroad Association (Metrolink) from 2006-2012. He was selected by his peers to serve as the Chairman of the San Fernando Valley Council of Governments for the second year in a row. Ara was selected to be Mayor for the city of Glendale for the 2007-2008 year, and again from 2010-2011.
GNA is the leading North American consulting firm specializing in market development for low- and zero-emission transportation technologies, infrastructure, and ultra-low carbon fuels for commercial transportation. Over the past 30 years, the company has managed the design and development of more clean fleet deployment projects than any other firm in North America, as well as facilitated development of some of the largest alternative fuel corridors in the world. In addition to its leading consulting practice, GNA operates a full-service creative services group to provide expert marketing and communications services to its clients in the clean transportation space, and it produces industry-leading educational events and tradeshows, including its flagship event, the Advanced Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo.
Cynthia McClain-Hill is widely regarded as one of the keenest, forward-thinking public policy practitioners and opinion leaders in the State of California. She is the president of the all-female Los Angeles Department of Water and Power Commissioners that governs the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, the largest municipal utility in the country.
Under Board President McClain-Hill’s leadership, LADWP has implemented many customer programs that promote equity and assist the most vulnerable customers, while also transitioning to clean energy, strengthening local water supplies and promoting jobs. She is a champion of initiatives that create partnerships with LADWP, non-profit organizations, businesses, the scientific community and the academia to bring real world solutions especially for the disadvantaged, including bill affordability, affordable housing, and workforce development.
SponsorIn her work as a highly regarded and widely respected attorney, McClain-Hill oversees and manages complex legal and public policy issues for clients as managing director of Strategic Counsel PLC. Apart from running her private law practice, Cynthia is generous with her time on countless civic boards. She has served on the Los Angeles Police Commission, the City’s Community Redevelopment Agency Board, the California Coastal Commission, and currently sits on the Board of Advisors of her alma mater UCLA’s Luskin School of Public Affairs.
As a business owner herself, McClain-Hill has volunteered her time to help promote economic development and support entrepreneurs, especially women-owned, minority-owned and small businesses. She had previously served in Los Angeles City Small and Local Business Advisory Committee, and is former president of the National Association of Women Business Owners – Los Angeles (NAWBO-LA).
She has also been honored repeatedly by business and civic organizations for her leadership. She received the "Women in Business Advocate Award" from the U.S. Small Business Administration, “2005 Chapter Public Policy Advocate of the Year Award" from NAWBO, the inaugural "Ruth Standish Baldwin Award" from the Greater Sacramento Urban League, and the "Thurgood Marshall Award" from Minorities in Business Magazine.Ms. McClain-Hill earned her Juris Doctorate from UCLA School of Law in 1981. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Political Science from UCLA in 1978. She is the proud product of California’s public school system. She is married, the mother of two adults and proud grandmother to Malaya.
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