SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — June 4, 2026 — More than 130 infrastructure leaders from across the United States gathered at the Hyatt Regency San Francisco for the Equity in Infrastructure Project (EIP) Signing Ceremony and Playbook for a New Paradigm Workshop, marking a major milestone in the organization's continued growth and national impact.
The event celebrated the addition of sixteen new EIP signatories and brought together public agency executives, private-sector leaders, small business advocates, and infrastructure practitioners committed to expanding opportunities for small and Historically Underutilized Businesses (HUBs), increasing competition, lowering costs, and improving infrastructure outcomes.
A highlight of the day was EIP officially surpassing 100 signatory organizations nationwide, a significant milestone that reflects the growing momentum behind the coalition's mission. EIP now has 104 signatories.
The signing ceremony was led by EIP Co-Chairs and Co-Founders Phillip A. Washington, Chief Executive Officer of Denver International Airport; John D. Porcari, former U.S. Deputy Transportation Secretary; and Rick Jacobs, long time social and civic entrepreneur. The event featured remarks from California Secretary of Transportation Toks Omishakin, Abrar Sheriff, President of Turner Construction and leaders from across the infrastructure industry.
The event was generously sponsored by HUB International, EIP's 100th signatory, and hosted in partnership with BuildIT.
New EIP Signatories
The following organizations and signatories formally joined the Equity in Infrastructure Project during the June 4 signing ceremony:
- Darren D. Caesar, President & CEO, Central & Northern California, HUB International
- Michael Martin, Acting Executive Director, Port of San Francisco
- Ian Choudri, Chief Executive Officer, California High-Speed Rail Authority
- Commissioner Jahmese Myres, Vice President, Oakland Board of Port Commissioners, Port of Oakland
- Marco Barker, PhD, Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer, San Francisco Public Utilities Commission
- Jit Pahilajani, Executive Vice President, Webcor Builders
- Blake Christian, Executive Vice President, Buildings US, Graham
- Mike Duwel, Vice President, Holder Construction
- Karmyn Babcock, Executive Vice President of Strategy Execution, The Weitz Company
- Mowa Haile, Chief Executive Officer, Sky Blue Builders
- Stephen Edwards, Chief Executive Officer, Hornblower Group
- Paul Hinz, Vice President and Division Manager, Swinerton
- Emily Luster, President and Owner, Luster National
- Robert S. Bright, Founder and President, Talson Solutions
- Yessica Holguin, Executive Director, Center for Community Wealth
- Käto Cooks, Community Engagement Director, Construction Contractors Alliance
National Leaders in Attendance
The gathering included some of the nation's leading infrastructure executives and policymakers, including:
- Terri Mestas, Deputy CEO, Sound Transit
- Adam Van de Water, Executive Director, Transbay Joint Powers Authority
- Mike Nakornkhet, Airport Director, San Francisco International Airport
- Andrew Fremier, Executive Director, Metropolitan Transportation Commission
- Diana Mendes, Corporate President for Infrastructure & Mobility Equity, HNTB and EIP Advisory Council Chair
- Dwight Pullen, Senior Vice President and Global Market Leader, AECOM and EIP Advisory Council Vice Chair
Playbook Workshop Focused on Implementation
Following the signing ceremony, more than 100 EIP colleagues participated in a half-day workshop dedicated to implementing the Procurement for Prosperity Playbook, EIP's framework for increasing competition and expanding opportunities for small and Historically Underutilized Businesses.
Participants discussed practical strategies for transforming commitments into measurable outcomes and explored how agencies and firms can operationalize Playbook recommendations through policies, practices, and programs.
Key themes included:
- Moving from compliance to competitive advantage by recognizing the value that small and Historically Underutilized Businesses bring through innovation, expertise, relationships, and community impact.
- Driving results through leadership, accountability, and organizational commitment.
- Designing procurement systems intentionally to improve access through contract structures, financing, insurance requirements, risk allocation, and evaluation criteria.
- Translating proven best practices into long-term institutional policies that create lasting impact.
Workshop participants represented organizations including BBC, HUB International, Partners for Public Good, HNTB, AECOM, LA Metro, DRS Consults, Travelers, Global Electric, San Francisco International Airport, and many others.
Action Commitments
During the workshop, participants identified concrete actions they plan to undertake over the next three months, including:
- Expanding internal awareness and engagement around EIP.
- Encouraging additional organizations to sign the EIP Pledge.
- Increasing utilization of Historically Underutilized Businesses across contracts and operations.
- Exploring cooperative contracting strategies informed by EIP and Playbook best practices.
- Developing internal training and capacity-building programs.
- Advancing implementation efforts through measurable goals and accountability frameworks.
Looking Ahead
EIP will continue supporting signatories through implementation assistance, peer learning opportunities, innovation workshops, and national convenings.
The coalition's next virtual gathering is scheduled for September 10, 2026, at 10:00 AM PT, where participants will share progress on commitments made during the San Francisco workshop and continue advancing the goals of the EIP Pledge.
As EIP enters its next chapter with more than 100 signatories, the coalition remains committed to creating more competition for public contracts, delivering better value for taxpayers, and generating lasting economic opportunity through infrastructure investment.
For more information about the Equity in Infrastructure Project, visit equityininfrastructure.org.
