ADVOCATING FOR THE INDUSTRY
With the ever-evolving changes and complexities in new laws and regulations surrounding contractors, AGC of California is expanding its brain power to help advocate our elected officials on the impacts facing contractors.
AGC of California Advocacy Grows in Sacramento
BY FELIPE FUENTES A
s the construction sector con- tinues to be an important part of California’s economy, legislative
and political interest grows in further diversifying and overseeing its impor- tance in the state. Efforts continue to grow around prevailing wage requirements, public works contracts requirements and restrictions, alternative project delivery methods, and funding needs. With the ever-evolving changes and
complexities surrounding contractors, AGC of California is expanding its brain power to help advocate to the legislature and the governor’s administration on the impacts facing contractors. We are pleased that Melanie Perron has joined Te Apex Group as senior advocate, and her focus is predominantly on all matters relating to AGC of California. She will be alongside Felipe Fuentes, AGC of California’s lead legislative advocate, along with Paul Gladfelty and Bret Gladfelty, fighting for contractor interests. Perron brings a tremendous portfolio
of expertise to support AGC of California efforts. She has 20 years of legislative expe- rience in the legislature, administration, and local government. As a 12-year veteran of Governors Gavin Newsom, Jerry Brown, and Arnold Schwarzenegger, she has served in key legislative roles at the Califor- nia State Transportation Agency (CalSTA), California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), Department of Conservation, Department of General Services (DGS), and Gov. Schwarzenegger’s office.
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CALIFORNIA CONSTRUCTOR MAY/JUNE 2024
Melanie Perron
Most recently, she served as the deputy executive director of advocacy for the League of California Cities, overseeing the state and federal advocacy programs and policy development on behalf of 477 California cities. During her tenure at DGS serving as legislative coordinator for the state’s real estate legislative portfolio, she helped lead efforts during the Great Reces- sion to help unlock equity from the state’s high-valued real estate. She worked on a multitude of vertical structure and land use issues and helped expand the state’s authority to better deliver public works projects through streamlined contracting and alternative delivery methods. Perron was at the forefront of signif-
icant statewide transportation policy and funding negotiations for seven years during her time at Caltrans and CalSTA. She helped draft and finalize critical
transportation funds through SB 1. After the enactment of SB 1 (Beall, 2017), she further helped lead Caltrans in key initia- tives associated with the implementation of SB 1.
Among many accomplishments, Per-
ron also led efforts to secure construction manager/general contractor authority and design build authority for Caltrans, permanent federal environmental review authority to shorten project delivery timelines, and broad tolling authority for the state and local agencies. A native Californian, born and raised
in Quincy, Perron holds a B.A. in political science and a minor in information sys- tems from the University of Nevada, Reno. When she is not at the Capitol fighting for AGC’s interests, she can be found coach- ing on the basketball court at St. Francis High School. Help me welcome Melanie Perron to AGC of California! Her addition to AGC of California’s
lobbying efforts will be of significant value to contractors. Her broad knowledge of public works projects, transportation policy and funding, and understanding of the intricacies of the governor’s ad- ministration immensely increases the value that AGC of California brings to its members in its advocacy efforts.
Felipe Fuentes
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