League of California Cities – Annual Conference & Expo
October 8–10, 2025 | Long Beach, CA
Event Info: https://www.calcities.org/education-and-events/event/2025/10/08/default-calendar/annual-conference-and-expo
Overview
We are pleased to present several recommended speakers in the Technical Understanding of Local Government talk track for the 2025 League of California Cities Annual Conference & Expo. These experts offer practical insights into the complex systems and emerging innovations shaping the future of cities. Each speaker brings a strong foundation in public policy, infrastructure, economic trends, and technology—with a direct connection to how local governments operate, adapt, and lead through change.
Speaker Fee: up to $15,000 + $2000 Flat Travel Fee to cover RT Airfare, Ground Transfers, Hotel in addition, up to 1-2 nights provided by Organizer
Timothy is based near Palm Springs, CA, Travel and Expenses may not be required
Speaker Showreel - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrzzehvC0JE
Speaker Video - The Art of Building a City - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDU5D58SfBQ&t=90s
Speaker Profile - https://www.gravityspeakers.com/speakers/timothy-papandreou
Timothy Papandreou is a globally recognized authority on smart mobility, transportation, and urban innovation. As the Chief Innovation Officer at the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA), he led groundbreaking projects to modernize transit infrastructure, promote sustainability, and integrate emerging technology into everyday city operations. Working closely with the Mayor’s Office, city departments, and regional partners, Timothy helped shape San Francisco’s approach to future-focused urban planning. His ability to navigate the intersection of public policy, city operations, and tech innovation makes him an invaluable voice for civic leaders ready to take bold steps forward.
Description: This keynote guides municipal leaders through the evolving landscape of urban mobility and infrastructure. Timothy breaks down the trends—from AI and EVs to autonomous transit and climate resilience—and helps attendees develop a roadmap for thoughtful, citizen-centered innovation that meets both today’s needs and tomorrow’s demands.
Key Takeaways:
Highlights:
“Thank you so much for your incredible energy! Many have commented on your presentation and perspectives specifically.”- Multinational Development Corporation. Toronto, Canada
“Timothy, as you were such an excellent speaker at the TRANSITION Forum, I’m writing to invite you to speak again at this year’s event” - Transition Forum, Paris, France
“Tim - your session was a blinder! so many takeaways- everyone was furiously taking notes!.” - Private Equity Firm, London, UK
Speaker Fee: up to $10,000 + $2000 Flat Travel Fee to cover RT Airfare, Ground Transfers, Hotel in addition, up to 1-2 nights provided by Organizer
Leonard is based in Corona Del Mar, CA; travel and expenses may not be necessary
Speaker Video: FutureAiSummit'24 | California, Irvine Üniversitesinden Prof. Dr. Leonard Lane - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_1KQ9tGhC4
Speaker Profile - https://www.gravityspeakers.com/speakers/leonard-lane
Leonard Lane is a global strategy expert with deep experience in helping organizations—both public and private—manage disruption. While his background is rooted in corporate supply chain and innovation, Leonard customizes his insights to show how city systems can become more adaptive, efficient, and forward-thinking.
This keynote explores what cities can learn from modern supply chain strategies to improve efficiency, service delivery, and crisis response. Leonard offers a powerful framework for leading through disruption—whether driven by climate, technology, or population shifts—and helps public officials future-proof their approach to governance.
Key Takeaways:
Highlights:
Speaker Reel - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQTmUsqs5RA
Speaker Profile - https://www.gravityspeakers.com/speakers/todd-hirsch
Todd Hirsch is a renowned economist who brings clarity and context to complex economic shifts. Known for his relatable speaking style and storytelling approach to data, Todd helps city officials understand how local economies are influenced by global change—and what that means for policy and planning.
Description:
In this insightful and timely keynote, Todd breaks down the global and local economic forces shaping our world—from labor trends to inflation to climate resilience. He then translates those insights into strategic thinking tools city officials can use to build more adaptive, future-ready communities.
Audiences will leave with:
Highlights:
"Todd was extraordinary. We loved hearing from him and he delivered exactly what we were looking for. He navigated some tough questions while remaining neutral and positive. We also loved having him spend some time getting to know our group." - The Alliance of Community Association Management
"Todd's perspective on adapting to change and his holistic view of what makes an economy thrive was inspiring to our team. He's a unique and memorable guest speaker whose ability to connect with our audience and leadership team made our session a huge success. I highly recommend Todd for his thoughtful content, clear and energetic delivery, and joyful collaboration." - Renée Francis, Senior Manager, Executive Communications, Finance - Autodesk - San Francisco
Speaker Highlights - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7X0xIMf5YUI&t=106s
Speaker Profile - https://www.gravityspeakers.com/speakers/joseph-kopser
Joseph Kopser is a seasoned tech entrepreneur, military veteran, and public policy innovator who bridges the gap between government, business, and technology. With real-world experience advising cities on mobility, energy, and workforce transformation, Joseph is uniquely positioned to help municipal leaders navigate the intersection of innovation and governance. In 2013, he was recognized as a White House Champion of Change for his efforts in Energy and Transportation. In 2014, his company, RideScout, won the U.S. Department of Transportation Data Innovation Award. In 2018, Joseph ran for Congress in a race that attracted more voters than any of the 36 districts in Texas. Losing by less than 3 points in a heavily gerrymandered district, Joseph demonstrated that voters want civility and problem solvers in Congress.
Based on his book, catalyst, Joseph will walk the audience through how change works, why disruption is happening more quickly, how to adapt, and what leadership it necessitates. He also identifies several emerging catalysts that are altering market and geopolitical realities today and demonstrates how corporate, government, and academic sectors can thrive amid these transformations.
Key Takeaways:
Highlights:
"I have collaborated closely with Joseph for many years in the area of sustainable mobility in my role at the University of California, Berkeley. He is a pioneer and leader in many areas. I have had the great pleasure to be on several conference panels with him over the years and have greatly enjoyed our interactions on stage and off. He is passionate about making a positive contribution to society, and this is evident when he speaks to a group. He is a talented connector and communicator. " - S.S., CO-DIRECTOR, TRANSPORTATION SUSTAINABILITY RESEARCH CENTER, UC BERKLEY
"Joseph was recently a panelist at our University's Don Edward Lecture Series. We only bring in top notch and nationally known speakers for this venue; speakers who have the experience and knowledge to make a contribution to not only our students, but the community in which our University resides. Joseph performed beyond expectations. He deftly spoke to the audience about veterans issues and synchronized his comments with those of the preceding panelists without a break in the theme of the program. I know his speech was well received because after the event, students and veterans from the community approached him to thank him for delivering such a heartfelt and motivating talk and to ask more questions and continue to engage him more. As an educator hosting an education lecture series, I couldn't have had a better outcome." - L.L., PROFESSOR OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND FACULTY FELLOW, SAN JOSE STATE UNIVERSITY
"We recently hosted large transportation technology summit as a part of CES in Las Vegas using Joseph as our facilitator and lunchtime speaker. I am still receiving comments from attendees about how AMAZING he was. The amount of research and effort he put into learning about our community, our industry, and our speakers' bios was unlike anything I have experienced. I was nervous about the event because it was our first of such magnitude, but within 10 minutes of him starting the program, my heart was bursting with pride. I knew right away it was going to be a successful day due wholly to his energy, competence and communication skills." - T.Q., CEO, REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION OF SOUTHERN NEVADA