This address makes the case for a new delivery playbook grounded in early, integrated collaboration and strategic transparency. Rather than viewing P3s or alternative delivery as purely financing mechanisms, it highlights why owners, advisors, lawyers, lenders, and contractors must come together from day one to sharpen cost certainty, reduce waste, and manage risk before it escalates.
Drawing on real project examples and practical lessons, the talk illustrates how transparency can serve as a true competitive advantage...improving procurement, discouraging counterproductive behaviors, and building public trust.
Attendees will leave with actionable steps to apply this approach and elevate expectations for accountable, on-time, and on-budget infrastructure delivery across California. This opening address sets the tone for a conference dedicated to partnership and collaboration: showing that early investments in teamwork and openness deliver the strongest outcomes for our communities.
About the Speaker: Jim Ray, Corporate President, Advisory, HNTB
Jim Ray brings more than two decades of national leadership in transportation policy, innovative project delivery, and infrastructure strategy. His background includes senior roles at the U.S. Department of Transportation, the White House, Capitol Hill, and the private sector. At HNTB, he serves as a key advisor to both the firm and its clients, offering deep expertise in the legal, policy, and business frameworks shaping intelligent transportation systems, emerging technologies, and the future of infrastructure development. His experience and perspective provide a compelling foundation for this important discussion.
