Countdown to 2028: Olympic Transportation Readiness and Resilience

Tyler Bonnano-Curley, Deputy City Manager, City of Long Beach

Tyler Bonanno-Curley is the Deputy City Manager for the City of Long Beach, where he has held several leadership roles over the past five years, including Acting Deputy City Manager and Manager of Government Affairs. He previously served as Legislative Director in the California State Senate and Chief of Staff to Councilwoman Lena Gonzalez. Tyler has also taught as a lecturer at California State University, Long Beach, and brings a strong academic background with a Ph.D. in Politics and International Relations from the University of Southern California, as well as a Master’s degree from the University of Washington Tacoma. His expertise in public policy, legislative affairs, and local government operations informs his work advancing effective civic strategies and regional collaboration.

Ernesto Chaves, Senior Executive Officer, Office of Strategic Innovation, LA Metro

During his 14 years at Metro, Ernesto Chavez has been responsible for the delivery of multiple highway improvement projects across LA County. Working with multiple stakeholders, Ernesto oversaw the initiation and development of the Measure R and M highway programs, as well the “modernization” of these programs in support of Metro’s sustainability and equity goals. Most recently, Ernesto led Metro’s 2028 Games Task Force in their development of a Mobility Concept Plan for the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Games.  Prior to joining Metro, Ernesto worked in the private sector as a transportation planner on various highway and transit improvement projects. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning from Cal Poly Pomona and a Master’s Degree in Transportation Management from San Jose State University and is a graduate of Metro’s Leadership Academy. 

Mishelle Laws, Assistant Vice President, Quality Improvement, CSU Long Beach

Mishelle Laws serves as the Assistant Vice President for Quality Improvement and Administrative Services at California State University, Long Beach. She has extensive experience in operational efficiency, institutional planning, and strategic process improvement, Mishelle plays a key role in enhancing service delivery and fostering a culture of continuous improvement across campus. Her leadership supports a wide range of administrative functions, and she is dedicated to promoting effective systems that align with CSULB’s mission and values. Mishelle is known for her collaborative approach and her commitment to excellence in higher education administration.

(Moderator) Hamid Rahai, PhD, Professor & Founding Director, Center for Energy and Environmental Research & Services (CEERS), CSU Long Beach

Dr. Hamid Rahai is a professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Department of Biomedical Engineering, and Department of Environmental Engineering and is the founding director of the Center for Energy and Environmental Research and Services in the College of Engineering at California State University, Long Beach. He has been the principal and co-principal investigator of 69 grants from federal and state agencies and industries for over 13.8 million dollars and has authored and co-authored more than 100 refereed technical publications. He is the owner and co-owner of five awarded and five pending patents related to wind energy, emission control technology, ambient NOx reduction, and optimized surfaces for reducing the drag of vehicles. Dr. Rahai is a senior member of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI).