Tierra West Advisors at the 2025 California Land Recycling Conference
- Zarah McGarvey
- Sep 18
- 1 min read
Tierra West Advisors was thrilled to participate in the 2025 California Land Recycling Conference, recently hosted in Carson, CA. Our Principal, John Yonai, and Associate, Lauren Yonai, joined Leo Rebele (Principal, Ramboll) along with Commerce City Manager Ernie Hernandez and Mayor Ivan Altamirano for a dynamic panel discussion: “Making the Mess Make Sense: Communicating Brownfields without Causing Panic.”
The session explored how cities and their partners can build trust and inspire action when addressing Brownfield cleanup projects. Together, the panelists shared messaging strategies designed to reduce community anxiety, spark curiosity, and empower residents to become part of the solution.
Key takeaways included:
Speak with, not at, the community
Truth builds trust
Brownfield cleanup is technical - but communication is human
When residents understand the process, they can become true allies in a city’s revitalization efforts
At Tierra West, we know that community outreach is just one piece of the puzzle for land revitalization efforts. As an public agency consulting leader, we help City clients successfully manage Brownfield cleanup efforts through grant application and management, executive leadership strategic consulting, community outreach, project management, public advocacy, and developer engagement. If your community is navigating Brownfield challenges, Tierra West Advisors is here to help turn complex projects into opportunities for sustainable growth, building community trust, and site revitalization.
