Board & Committees

Laurie Berman, Ex-Officio Member
Laurie Berman was appointed in November 2009 as the District Director for the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) District 11, encompassing San Diego and Imperial counties. She has more than two dozen years of experience with Caltrans and is responsible for the daily operation of 1,300 employees and more than 1,000 highway lane miles. Ms. Berman oversees $1.3 billion worth of highway construction projects and programs throughout the two-county area. Prior to her appointment to District Director, Ms. Berman served as the district’s Chief Deputy Director of Project Delivery.

Ms. Berman earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering at Michigan State University in 1983 and began her career with Caltrans as a Junior Civil Engineer in bridge construction in Santa Barbara. Later, she worked at Caltrans Headquarters in Sacramento, and transferred to District 11 in 1994 to manage the seismic retrofit of the district’s bridges. Ms. Berman is a member of the Transportation Research Board’s Project Delivery Methods Committee and also serves as an Ex Officio Member on the San Diego Association of Governments.

Bruce R. Boland
Email - 619.400.2408

Bruce Boland is a retired Rear Admiral U.S. Navy with a Naval Service career of more than 30 years. He was a Naval Aviator involved in Fighter Carrier Aviation and commanded Fighter Squadron 24 at Naval Air Station Miramar flying F8 Crusaders. His Navy career culminated with his appointment in 1985 as the Navy's regional commander in San Diego. In 1987 he was appointed Deputy Chief Administrative Officer and later the Director of Public Works for the County of San Diego. One of his responsibilities at the County included oversight of the eight County owned airports. He was appointed in 1993 as President/CEO of the United Way of San Diego County and served until 1999.

Mr. Boland has a Bachelor's Degree in Government from the Naval Postgraduate School, a Master's Degree in Systems Management from the University of Southern California and is a graduate of the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. He continues his interest in aviation by flying his privately owned aircraft. City of San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders appointed Mr. Boland to the Board for a term ending on January 31, 2012.

Greg Cox, Executive Committee Member
Email - 619.400.2408

Greg Cox joined the San Diego County Board of Supervisors in 1995. He began his public service career as an educator in the Sweetwater Union High School District. He was elected to the Chula Vista City Council and later served two terms as Mayor of Chula Vista. The Governor of California appointed him Director of Local Government for the Office of Planning and Research from 1991 – 92. Mr. Cox also built successful businesses in the private sector.

Mr. Cox is the only elected official in California to have been elected by his peers to serve as both the President of the California State Association of Counties and the League of California Cities. Mr. Cox has also been acknowledged as “Legislator of the Year” by a number of state and local organizations throughout his career. The San Diego County Board of Supervisors appointed Supervisor Cox to a term ending on January 31, 2013.

Jim Desmond
Email - 619.400.2408

A fifteen year resident of San Marcos, Mr. Desmond was elected mayor of San Marcos in November 2006. Active in his community, he served as a San Marcos City Council member, Planning Commissioner, Chamber of Commerce Board member, and as President of the San Marcos Economic Development Corp. He is currently on the Board of the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG).

Mr. Desmond is a Federal Aviation Association (FAA) Certified Flight Instructor and a Pilot/Captain for Delta Airlines based in Los Angeles International Airport. He has flown Boeing 757s and 767s for 20 years. He is a U.S. Navy veteran with two letters of commendation and an honorable discharge. He received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering from San Diego State University. The mayors of north inland cities appointed Mayor Desmond to a term ending on January 31, 2012.

Ramona Finnila
Email - 619.400.2408

Ramona Finnila served on the Carlsbad City Council for 12 years. During that time she was Carlsbad's representative to SANDAG where she served two-year terms as Vice-Chair and then Chair. She was also on the Executive Committee of the Local Government Commission, which is based in Sacramento.

Ms. Finnila's current positions include Member of the University Council at California State University San Marcos (CSUSM) and a member of the Business Advisory Council at CSUSM. She is also an honorary member of the Board of the Women's Transportation Seminar of San Diego. She is the former Chair of McClellan-Palomar Advisory Committee and former Board member of the Niche Aviation Consortium. In 2004 she founded Finnila and Associates, a project-based consulting firm located in Carlsbad. The mayors of north coastal cities appointed Ms. Finnila to a term ending on January 31, 2011.

Robert H. Gleason, Board Chair, Executive Committee Member
Email - 619.400.2408

Robert Gleason is chief financial officer and general counsel for Evans Hotels, which owns and operates The Lodge at Torrey Pines, the Catamaran Resort Hotel & Spa and the Bahia Resort Hotel, where he has been employed for over 20 years. In addition, he is on leave as adjunct faculty member in the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management at San Diego State University.

Gleason is a long-time San Diegan who has played a leadership role with many community agencies and organizations, primarily in the areas of the arts, electoral politics and civil rights. He is Vice Chair of the City of San Diego’s Commission for Arts and Culture and a director of the Old Globe Theater. He is a past Chair and director of the San Diego Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Community Center and currently serves as chair of the San Diego LGBT Community Leadership Council.

He received an A.B. in Economics from Princeton University and a Juris Doctor (summa cum laude) from the University of San Diego School of Law. City of San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders appointed Mr. Gleason to the Board for a term ending on January 31, 2011.

Jim Panknin
Email - 619.400.2408

James "Jim" Panknin has worked in aviation- related activities for over twenty five years. He is a graduate of the University of Southern California with a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering. He successfully completed a 20-year career as a Marine Corps Pilot flying helicopters and turboprop aircraft in airports all over the world. Mr. Panknin flew commercial charter aircraft based at Lindbergh Field from 2004 to 2008 as the Chief Pilot at Jimsair. Jim is the President of San Diego Executive Flight, a local Aircraft Management and Charter Company.

Mr. Panknin is active in his community, serving as a Director on the Santee School District Foundation and Chairman of the Grossmont Union High School District's Citizen's Bond Oversight Committee. The mayors of East San Diego County appointed Mr. Panknin to the Board for a four-year term.

Colonel Frank A. Richie, Ex-Officio Member

Colonel Richie is currently serving as the Commanding Officer of Marine Corps Air Station Miramar. He served operational tours at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, California, Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, South Carolina and Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California. During his operational tours he participated in Operation Desert Storm, contingency operations over the former Bosnia Herzegovina, Operation Iraqi Freedom and numerous deployments to the Pacific region.

His command assignments include: Company Commander, Officer Candidates School; Company Commander, The Basic School; and Commanding Officer,Marine All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 121. He recently served in the Office of Secretary of Defense, Program Analysis and Evaluation, tactical Aviation Division. Colonel Richie has accumulated over 2700 hours in the F/A-18. Colonel Richie occupies an ex-officio seat on the Board designated for a representative of the United States Navy.

Paul Robinson

Since 1982, Mr. Robinson has served as partner for the San Diego law firm of Hecht Solberg Robinson Goldberg and Bagley, where he was also an associate from 1980 to 1982. Previously, Robinson was assistant to San Diego Mayor Pete Wilson from 1978 to 1980 and was deputy city attorney for San Diego from 1973 to 1978. He is a member of the Real Property and Public Law Sections of the California State Bar and of the Real Estate and Land Use Sections of the San Diego County Bar Association.

Mr. Robinson is a member of the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties, Partners for Livable Places/San Diego, the Mission Bay Park Committee (Chair) and the City of San Diego’s Parking Advisory Board. He is active in the San Diego Chamber of Commerce and the San Diego Downtown Partnership. The Governor of California appointed Mr. Robinson to a term ending on June 30, 2011.

Tom Smisek, Vice Chair, Executive Committee Member
Email - 619.400.2408

A long time resident of Coronado, Mr. Smisek was first elected to the Coronado City Council in 1992. He was elected Mayor in November, 1996 and re-elected in November 2000 and 2004. Active in his community, he served as City Councilmember and Planning Commissioner for the City of Coronado for eight years before becoming Mayor. He also served as a Board member on the Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) Board and the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) Board.

After graduating from Coronado High School, he received a B.S. Aeronautical Engineering degree from the U.S. Naval Academy, and a M.S. Management Science degree from U.S. International University. He served in the U.S. Navy and Navy reserve for 26 years and flew the F-8 Crusader in Vietnam, was a TOPGUN graduate, and then flew the A-4 as an adversary instructor. Mr. Smisek had three commands in the Naval Reserve and retired as a Captain. Other aviation experience included 10 years with Tracor Flight Systems as a tactical analyst and Program Manager at Nellis AFB, NAS Miramar, and Mojave Airport. He completed 25 years of flying with Western Airlines and Delta Airlines as a Captain. He was a member of the joint Port Authority/SANDAG Committee that started the new Master Plan for San Diego International Airport in 1997. The mayors of south county cities appointed Mr. Smisek to a term ending on January 31, 2012.

Anthony Young
Email - 619.400.2408

A life-long resident of San Diego, Mr. Young was elected City Councilmember in January 2005 and was appointed City Council President Pro Tem in January 2006. He graduated from Howard University in Washington, DC with a Bachelor of Science degree in socio-economics. After graduation he earned his teaching credentials at the University of San Diego on a full academic scholarship. Prior to his election to City Council, he served as Chief of Staff to the late City Councilmember Charles L. Lewis III, Legislative Aide to San Diego County Supervisor Leon Williams and Intern for Congressman Jim Bates. He also taught within the San Diego City School District for many years. He represents the City of San Diego and was appointed by City of San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders. Mr. Young's term ends on January 31, 2013.