People News: STV, SANDAG, POLB, Sound Transit
Written by Carolina Worrell, Senior Editor
From Left to Right: Robert Orlin, Vice President and Assistant General Counsel, STV; Clint Herrera, Director of Engineering Design, POLB; and Khristina Jason, Director of Human Resources, POLB.
STV hires Robert Orlin as Vice President and Assistant General Counsel. Also, the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) Board of Directors appoints Deputy CEO Coleen Clementson to Interim CEO; the Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners approves the appointments of new directors for the Port of Long Beach’s (POLB) Human Resources and Engineering Design divisions; and Sound Transit's CEO Julie Timm announces resignation.
STV
STV on Dec. 8 announced that Robert Orlin has joined the firm as Vice President and Assistant General Counsel. In this role, Orlin will be working with STV’s General Counsel and the leadership team in providing full in-house legal services.
Orlin’s responsibilities will include contracts, public-private partnerships, design-build projects, regulatory compliance, insurance, joint ventures, claims and litigation support, conflicts of interest and general corporate governance, among other priorities.
Prior to joining STV, Orlin held various senior positions at global architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) firms. Throughout his career, he has gained expertise in all aspects of the infrastructure space, including claims management, contract negotiation and operations support.
Orlin received his Juris Doctor from New York Law School and received a Bachelor of Science in Management from the A.B. Freeman School of Business at Tulane University. He is a longstanding member of the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) Legal Counsels Forum.
“Bob brings a savvy understanding of legal strategy and many years of industry knowledge,” said STV Senior Vice President and General Counsel Judith Held.
SANDAG
The SANDAG Board of Directors on Dec. 8 unanimously approved the appointment of SANDAG’s Deputy CEO Coleen Clementson to lead the agency as Interim CEO.
Clementson will begin serving as Interim CEO in January 2024. The current CEO, Hasan Ikhrata, has led SANDAG since 2018, and his last day is Dec. 29.
As Deputy CEO, Clementson has played a pivotal role in shaping the future of the San Diego region, according to SANDAG. Her work involves overseeing community engagement, an $800 million capital improvement program, and the implementation of the Regional Plan.
Clementson is a known expert and leader in the public and transportation planning sector. She has been a driving force behind numerous large-scale initiatives and neighborhood projects, “proving her deep commitment to improving the quality of life for all people in the region,” SANDAG stated in a release.
Clementson is a proud alumnus of the University of California San Diego (UCSD) and regularly lectures and mentors fellow Tritons. Recently, UCSD awarded her with their most prestigious award, Outstanding Alumna.
“I am thrilled that there was unanimous support for Clementson to serve as our Interim CEO,” said SANDAG and San Diego County Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Nora Vargas. “With so many projects in the pipeline, she is exactly the leader we need to hit the ground running. Clementson understands SANDAG and the needs of our communities. She is committed to carrying out our vision to empower and uplift community members through investments in our region’s infrastructure that help people get to the places that matter most.”
POLB
The Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners on Dec. 12 approved the appointments of new directors for POLB’s Human Resources and Engineering Design divisions, effective Dec. 16.
Khristina Jason, previously POLB’s Assistant Director of Human Resources since November 2021, will become Director of Human Resources. She joined POLB’s HR Division in April 2021 as Manager of Talent Relations and Engagement, having served various roles in the City of Long Beach Department of Human Resources beginning in 2015. POLB’s Human Resources Division oversees the Port’s human capital strategies and provides services for about 570 employees of the City of Long Beach Harbor Department.
Jason has a bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration with a minor in human resources management, as well as a master’s degree in public administration from California State University, Long Beach. Prior to her city service, she worked in human resources for the Transportation Security Administration.
Clint Herrera, who has been POLB’s Assistant Director of Engineering Design since 2019, will become Director of Engineering Design. Previously, he worked in public works with the cities of South Gate, where he was Deputy City Engineer; and Corona, where he rose to Senior Civil Engineer. Herrera’s experience also includes private sector engineering work on transportation projects. The Engineering Design division, POLB says, is critical to the development and maintenance of Port infrastructure, such as channels, roads, wharfs, utilities and other facilities, producing technical reports, studies, plans and specifications for Port construction projects.
Herrera is a registered Professional Engineer (PE) and earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Loyola Marymount University and a master’s degree in public administration from California State University, San Bernardino.
Sound Transit
Sound Transit CEO Julie Timm announced Dec. 12 that she will be leaving the agency in order to return to the East Coast to take care of family matters. Jan. 12, 2024 will be her last day.
Since joining Sound Transit in September 2022, Timm has overseen a “renewed emphasis” on the rider experience as Sound Transit approaches the opening of several new extensions, starting with East Link next spring. “Her focus and leadership in centering current and future riders in the agency’s capital and operating programs will benefit the region for years to come,” the agency stated in a release.
Sound Transit’s Board and staff leadership will form a transition team to navigate the agency through the leadership transition. The Board is expected to appoint an Interim CEO in the weeks ahead.
