2022

Sharon Suarez is a partner at the Gibbs Giden law firm in Los Angeles with over 30 years of experience in public and private construction law. Sharon focuses her practice on representing and counseling public schools and community college districts with respect to construction, facilities, real estate, purchasing, contracts and related matters. Her practice consists of providing advice, consultation and legal services concerning public works and procurement issues, including bidding procedures, alternative project delivery, award of contracts, preparation of construction, construction management, project management, design professional and other consultant agreements, contract administration and close-out and dispute resolution. In the course of representing schools and colleges, Ms. Suarez has worked on a wide range of issues, including site selection and development; documenting and handling real estate transactions including purchase and sale agreements, easements, entitlements, zoning and land use issues; drafting and implementing owner-controlled insurance programs; and managing bidding, contract and claims issues.

Ms. Suarez is actively involved in public agency and construction related organizations. She routinely speaks before various construction and facilities related associations and presents workshops and seminars throughout the State of California on topics of interest to schools and community college districts.

Sherman is a principal of Public Agency Law Group. Sherman’s practice is devoted to representing public education institutions in construction, purchasing, facilities and general business matters. He has decades of experience assisting CCDs in navigating the confusing complexities of public procurement laws, rules and regulations. He is a member of the LA County Bar Association and is admitted to practice in all California state courts, all United States District Courts in California and the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.

Theresa Robinson Harris currently serves as Director of Procurement Services at the University of San Diego (USD), where she is responsible for providing strategic direction for procurement operations while working in close collaboration with university constituents to lower costs, increase efficiency, improve compliance, reduce third party risks, and promote diversity, equity and inclusion within the supply chain.

She has over 20 years’ experience leading diverse teams of procurement and contract management professionals. Prior to USD she held contracting and procurement positions in both the public and private sectors. She served as President to the National Contract Management Association, San Diego Chapter (NCMA), currently serves as the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Chair with the National Association of Educational Procurement (NAEP), and as a Director with CAPPO. She holds a Doctorate in Organizational Leadership from Pepperdine University.

Tom Macias joined MiraCosta Community College District in March 2004 as the district’s Director of Facilities. His responsibilities include facilities managing the current Measure MM $455M facilities improvement bond program, non-bond capital planning and construction, maintenance and operations, grounds, custodial services, transportation, environmental compliance, hazardous waste management, safety compliance, industrial hygiene, recycling and fire prevention.

Mr. Macias’ 30+ years of senior management experience also includes positions held at NCR, National Steel and Shipbuilding, Northern Telecom and Callaway Golf Company.

Mr. Macias was born in Denver, Colorado. He graduated in 1982 from Colorado State University in Fort Collins, CO with a Bachelor of Science degree from the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Science in Environmental and Occupational Health. Mr. Macias is also a State of California Registered Environmental Assessor 05262 (REA).