Registration Table Open
All attendees, participants, and speakers please have your mask on, photo identification card, and proof of vaccination when you reach the registration table.

CDC Recommended Masks for in-person events are either certified N95 or KN95 masks: Please note if you do not have these masks NARC will have some available upon request.  

Major Metros Roundtable Meeting   

Location: NACo Board Room, 660 North Capitol Street NW, Washington DC 20001 

1:00 PM – 4:00 PM ET

Walking Tour of Capitol Crossing: DC Economic Development Project  

Optional: Additional Cost of $15 

Join us for a walking tour of the major urban design, infrastructure, and economic development project currently underway at Capitol Crossing. As one of the largest city design efforts in the nation’s capital in decades, this 2.2. million square foot complex will restore three city blocks on land reclaimed by decking over an existing urban Interstate. The development includes office space, housing, and 70,000 sqaure-feet of retail in five new mixed-use buildings; restores street grid connectivity; and improves biking and walking on Massachusetts Avenue.  

Additional Details will be provided closer to the event.  

5:30 PM – 7:00 PM ET

Opening Reception 

Kick off the conference by meeting new colleagues and reconnecting with familiar faces.

Opening Session: Welcome Address  
The Honorable Robert Cannon, Town Supervisor, Clinton Township Michigan, NARC President 

Panel Discussion on What is in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) for regions?
Join administration staff and experts as discuss implementation strategies for funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and what is in it for regions. 

Moderator:  The Honorable Christian Dorsey, Board Member, Arlington County, Virginia; Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments; NARC Board Member  

Speakers: 
Matt Chase, CEO/Executive Director, National Association of Counties (NACo) Tom Curtin, Program Director for Infrastructure, National Governors Association (NGA)  

Keynote Speaker:  Michelle Perez, Assistant Deputy Secretary for Field Policy and Management, US Department of Housing and Urban Development  

BREAKOUT SESSIONS

11:00 AM – 12:15 PM ET

Expanding Broadband Opportunities 
Join state and local partners as they discuss new opportunities for broadband funding under recent legislation and how regions can get in on the action.   

Moderator: The Honorable Judge Gary Moore, Judge and Executive of Boone County, Kentucky; NARC and NACo Past President and NARC’s current Representative from NACo  

Speakers: 
Angelina Panettieri, Legislative Director Information Technology and Communications for the National League of Cities (NLC) 

Julia Pulidindi, Broadband Program Specialist at US Department of Commerce, NTIA 

Transportation Committee Meeting
Join NARC’s Transportation Committee for a presentation about and discussion of what to expect in 2022 and beyond regarding federal transportation and infrastructure policy.

• Co-chair: The Honorable Fred Strong, Councilmember, Paso Robles, California; San Luis Obispo Council of Governments 
• Co-chair: Greg Stuart, Executive Director, Broward Metropolitan Planning Organization 

Lunch Plenary Session: The Federal Footprint in Your Community
The Public Building Service of the General Services Administration owns, rents and maintains more 370 million square feet of space in more than 9,600 properties across the nation. Hear what they are planning for a changed workforce, revitalizing local economies and sustainable development.

The Honorable Robert Cannon, Town Supervisor, Clinton Township Michigan, NARC President 

Keynote Speaker: Nina M. Albert, Commissioner of the General Services Administration’s (GSA) Public Buildings Service 

BREAKOUT SESSIONS

2:15 PM – 3:45 PM ET

Public Safety Committee Meeting  

Border communities as well as many other communities throughout Texas are being directly impacted by immigration at the southern border.  Cesar Prieto from the Office of Congressman Tony Gonzales, whose district includes a large stretch of the U.S. — Mexico border, will speak about the border and immigration and the impact being felt in Texas and the nation and discuss a bi-partisan and bi-cameral bill that Rep. Gonzales has introduced entitled the “Bipartisan Border Solutions Act.” 

• Co-Chair: Diane Rath, Executive Director, Alamo Area Council of Governments, San Antonio, Texas @AACOGCEO @AlamoAreaCOG 
• Co-Chair: The Honorable Byron Ryder, Judge, Leon County, Texas 

Speaker: Cesar Prieto, Office of Congressman Tony Gonzales (TX-23), Washington, DC 

• Co-Chair: The Honorable Lee Constantine, Commissioner, Seminole County, Florida; East Central Florida 
• Co-Chair: Kristina Egan, Executive Director, Greater Portland Council of Governments

Speakers: 
Carolyn Berndt, Legislative Director of Sustainability at the National League of Cities (NLC) 

Josh Murphy, Office of Coastal Management at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) 

Wendi Wilkes, Senior Advisor for the Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Water 

Executive Directors Council Meeting 

(All conference attendees are welcome to join) 

Opening Session 
Welcome the Economic Development Administration to learn more about the work they are doing to support regions and promote sustainable local economies. 

Keynote Speaker: Alejandra Y. Castillo, Department of Commerce Assistant Secretary for Economic Development 

Think Regionally! 
Our host COG shares their “Think Regionally” approach to the connected challenges of housing, transit, equity and climate. 

Speaker: Chuck Bean, Executive Director, Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments 

BREAKOUT SESSIONS

10:45 AM – 12:00 PM ET

• Co-chair: Jennifer Robinson, Council Member, Town of Cary, North Carolina; Triangle J Council of Governments; NARC Senior Vice President 
• Co-chair: Betty Voights, Executive Director, Capital Area Council of Governments 

Speakers: 
Mike Wallace, Program Director for Community and Economic Development at the National League of Cities  

Michele Chang, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy at the Economic Development Administration (EDA) 

Eryn Hurly, Deputy Director of Government Affairs at the National Association of Counties 

Technology for Mobility 
Hear from industry leaders on new funding available through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to support the deployment of intelligent transportation technologies that promote sustainability, increases efficiency and productivity, and learn about what lies ahead for improvements in intelligent mobility.  

Speaker: Nicole DuPuis, PhD Vice President, Innovative Mobility and Emerging Technology ITS America  

Lunch General Session: Workforce Development — Past, Present, and Future
Workforce development programs have a long history of helping workers gain necessary skills and employers find the workers they need.  COVID-19, infrastructure spending, and other recent events have highlighted the need for skilled workers.  Workforce development programs are well positioned to meet this challenge.  Learn from two of Washington’s experts on workforce development as they discuss the past, present, and future of workforce development programs and how regions can benefit from becoming involved in their local workforce development programs even if they do not administer the program.  

Moderator:  Stephanie Martinez-Ruckman, Legislative Director of Human Development for the National League of Cities

Speakers: 
Mary Gardner Clagett, Senior Director, Jobs for the Future, Washington, D.C. 

Katie Striker, Managing Director, Government Affairs, National Skills Coalition, Washington, D.C. 

Conference Closure: Final Remarks and Takeaways/What’s Next 

2022 Annual Conference in Columbus
NARC’s 56th Annual Conference & Exhibition will be in Columbus, OH from June 12 through the 15. The Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission will be hosting the conference.  

Speakers:   
William Murdock, Executive Director at the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission   

The Honorable Richard “Ike” Stage, Board Member at the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission 

Board of Directors Meeting

Location: NACo Board Conference Room, 660 North Capitol Street