People

Cecilia Estolano
Co-CEO and Co-Founder, Estolano LeSar Perez Advisors

Cecilia V. Estolano is an expert in sustainable economic development and urban revitalization. The many projects she has directed as co-founder of ELP Advisors include advising local governments, non-profits, and foundations on redevelopment dissolution and economic revitalization, overseeing research on green infrastructure and job creation in Philadelphia, and managing complex multi-stakeholder processes. Ms. Estolano is a graduate of Boalt Hall School of Law and holds an master’s degree in urban planning from UCLA. She received her undergraduate degree in social studies with honors from Harvard-Radcliffe Colleges. Ms. Estolano has taught urban planning at UCLA and UC Berkeley. She serves as vice president of the California Community Colleges Board of Governors and sits on the University of California Board of Regents and the boards of directors of Manufacturing Renaissance and the National Employment Law Project.

Gail Goldberg
Former Planning Director, City of Los Angeles

Gail Goldberg, FAICP, is the former executive director of the Urban Land Institute Los Angeles and the former planning director of Los Angeles and San Diego. In Los Angeles, she was responsible for organizing and directing the policies and activities of the City’s Planning Department, including the development, maintenance and implementation of all elements of the City’s General Plan as well as a range of other special zoning plans. In San Diego, she oversaw a planning process to update the city’s 20-year-old General Plan; this “City of Villages” vision and strategy became an international model for urban revitalization. Goldberg is a native Californian and holds a degree in urban studies and planning from UC San Diego. She served as an Urban Land Institute trustee, chair of the San Diego/Tijuana ULI District Council, and on the Statewide Coordinating Committee for ULI’s California Smart Growth Initiative.

Fran Inman
Senior Vice President, Majestic Realty Co.

Fran Inman directs government relations and community affairs activities for Majestic Realty Co., one of the nation’s largest privately-held, family-owned real estate development companies. Fran was appointed to the California Transportation Commission in July 2010 and also serves on the board of several other local and state economic and nonprofit organizations. Prior to transferring back to the corporate headquarters in 2001, Fran was executive vice president of the Silverton Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. Previously, she served on the development team for the STAPLES Center in downtown Los Angeles. A graduate of California State University-Fullerton, Fran holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees of business administration in finance.

Therese McMillan
Chief Planning Officer, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority

Therese McMillan joined LA Metro in 2016 from her position as the acting administrator of the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). Previously, she held the position of deputy administrator at the FTA since her appointment in July 2009. Ms. McMillian lead a staff of more than 500 in Washington D.C. and 10 regional offices throughout the United States. Prior to the FTA, Ms. McMillian was the deputy executive director for policy at the San Francisco Bay Area’s Metropolitan Transportation Commission for nine years. Preceding her position as deputy executive director, Ms. McMillian served as MTC’s manager of funding and external affairs for seven years. Ms. McMillian holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental policy and planning analysis from UC Davis and a joint master’s degree in city and regional planning and civil engineering from UC Berkeley.

Mott Smith
Co-Founder and Principal, Civic Enterprise

Mott Smith is co-founder and principal of Civic Enterprise, a founding board member of the California Infill Builders Association, and adjunct faculty in the University of Southern California’s Master of Real Estate Development Program. Earlier, he was the acting director of planning for the Los Angeles Unified School District after serving as founding executive director of New Schools-Better Neighborhoods. He also worked as editor/business manager of The Planning Report. He received a master’s degree in real estate development from USC and a bachelor’s degree in linguistics from UCLA.