Explore This Year’s Agenda
2024 Agenda
Schedule is subject to change.
Wednesday, October 9
11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Golf Check-in and Box-Lunch Pick-up
1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Golf Tournament
Join us for an unforgettable day of swing, strategy, and connections. Tee off with fellow attendees, sponsors, and industry leaders in a competitive yet relaxed atmosphere. Whether you’re a seasoned golfer or just starting out, this tournament is designed for fun and networking.
5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Registration
6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Welcome Reception
Thursday, October 10
7:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Registration
7:00 AM – 8:00 AM
Breakfast
8:00 AM – 8:05 AM
Welcome Remarks
Amy Hall
Owner at Armstrong Steel Erectors, Inc.
Amy is a native of Toledo, OH. She attended the University of North Carolina- Chapel Hill where she completed her undergraduate studies. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in physical education/sports medicine, she moved to New York to work for Delta Airlines as an international flight attendant. Several years later, while living in Dallas Texas, she became an account manager with Abbott Diagnostics, a division of Abbott Laboratories, in San Angelo, TX. For the next several years, she continued working in the biotech field in both Arizona and Georgia for Ventana Medical Systems, now Roche Diagnostics, and AmeriPath.
Due to the unforeseen passing of her father in 2003, Amy moved back to Toledo, OH to become president of Ebony Construction, a heavy highway construction company.
Amy is a strong advocate for the DBE program on both the state and national levels. In 2008, Amy testified before Congress’s House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee regarding the USDOT DBE Program on behalf of the AGC. Amy has participated in numerous DC fly-ins and many other events.
Amy is the former Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Ohio Contractors Association where she was the 1st Woman of Color, in the history of the country, to be chairman of the board for a state organization in the Heavy Highway Construction industry. She also chairs OCA’s DBE committee. Amy participates on the MITA/MDOT DBE committee. Amy is also a board member of the Toledo Lucas County Port Authority Board, Toledo Chamber of Commerce, and the Historic South Initiative board.
2021 Ohio Contractors Hall of Fame.
In 2016, Amy became a certified life coach.
Amy is very active in volunteering and supporting her local community. She is the Ambassador for the Esturado Mini Hospice for children in Guatemala City, Guatemala.
8:05 AM – 8:45 AM
Washington Update
Jeff Shoaf
CEO at AGC of America
Jeff Shoaf is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Associated General Contractors of America. He was selected to be AGC’s CEO in 2023 by a search committee made up of current and past leaders of the national association and assumed the position in April 2024. As the CEO, Shoaf leads a staff of over 65 professionals who work to advocate for, educate and connect the commercial construction industry in the United States, in coordination with the 89 AGC chapters across the nation.
Before being selected as CEO, Jeff was Chief Operating Officer (COO) of AGC for the last six years. In that role, he helped oversee day-to-day operations at the trade association, oversaw the implementation of the Board of Director’s Business Plan, and ensured the association’s management and budgeting priorities were met. Departments reporting to him in that role included Finance, HR, IT, BD, Marketing, Meetings and Education.
Before taking the post as COO, Jeff worked in AGC’s government relations department as a lobbyist and head of the department for over 20 years.
He worked on Capitol Hill prior to joining AGC where he served on the staff of the House Transportation Committee and for Congressman Bud Shuster of Pennsylvania for nearly 8 years.
He is a graduate of James Madison University.
Jeff lives in Virginia with his wife, has three daughters and two grandchildren.
8:45 AM – 9:00 AM
Break
9:00 AM – 9:45 AM
General Session – Passenger Rail Renaissance – Brightline Florida Project Highlight
Brian Kronberg
SVP of Development/Construction at Brightline & Founder of Amerified
Brian is responsible for overseeing all of Brightline’s development and construction initiatives throughout Florida. He leads a cross functional team that is responsible for expanding and improving Brightline’s system, which includes the development of new train stations in the Treasure Coast and Cocoa, a commuter rail system in Miami-Dade and Broward counties, adding additional safety improvements along the corridor and the company’s expansion to Tampa. He manages the team responsible for site acquisition, design, construction, schedule, budget, quality control, environmental, and implementation of safety measures.
Brian has been with Brightline since the beginning of the organization and has played an important role in all aspects of the company with a primary focus on station and infrastructure development. Early in the project, Brian assembled the necessary land for the train stations, transit oriented development (TOD) projects, as well as the land needed to construct the rail infrastructure. Brian was instrumental in the development of the MiamiCentral Station and most recently led the company’s successful expansion into Aventura and Boca Raton with the addition of two new stations.
Prior to joining Brightline in 2012, Brian was a project manager at Flagler Development where he developed large scale business parks which included several million square feet of industrial warehouses.
Brian holds a Bachelor of Science in Management and Finance from Tulane University and an MBA from University of Miami.
This engaging and insightful case study presentation will focus on the Brightline Florida train system, a pioneering example of modern rail travel in the United States. This session will provide an in-depth look at the development, implementation, and impact of Brightline, offering valuable lessons for transportation professionals.
9:45 AM – 10:00 AM
Break
10:00 AM – 10:45 AM
General Session – Bridging the Gap: Office Planning to Field Execution with Utility AI
Stuart Drahota
Southeast Field Technology Group Leader at DPR Construction
Stuart Drahota is a Senior Field Technology Manager at DPR Construction, based in Orlando, Florida. In his role, he leads the DPR Southeast USA’s sUAS operations, overseeing a team of 35 UAV pilots and collaborating with DroneDeploy to ensure effective drone data integration across the company. Stuart also heads the Virtual Building team in Florida, where he supports VDC/BIM and field technology operations such as RTS and LiDAR surveying.
Stuart has been pivotal in the growth of the Field Technology Group in the Southeast, expanding the team from 5 to over 30 members in just five years. His work focuses on developing and implementing advanced workflows and technologies, which has significantly enhanced DPR’s project execution capabilities. An expert in Terrestrial LiDAR and a certified Part 107 pilot with over 1000 flight hours, Stuart bridges the gap between real-world data and digital solutions. He has supported over 150 projects and pursuits at DPR Construction, showcasing his ability to deliver value and innovate across diverse workgroups and technology applications.
Taylor Mirwald
Account Executive at 4M Analytics
Taylor is a Territory Manager at 4M Analytics, based in Austin, TX. He focuses on business development, specifically educating and building partnerships with civil engineering firms, general contractors, and project owners. Before joining 4M Analytics, Taylor spent five years at Procore, working closely with specialty contractors to improve processes such as manpower tracking, change order management, and more. His passion for construction technology drives his commitment to making job sites safer and more efficient, a value he’s demonstrated throughout his career.
Join our live session to explore how Utility AI is transforming infrastructure projects and bridging the gap between office planning and field execution. Discover how DPR Construction uses 4M’s utility data and DroneDeploy to access, verify, and monitor utility information from planning through on-site construction. Learn how this new workflow improves coordination between the office and field, reduces delays and cost overruns, and enhances safety, resulting in faster and safer project outcomes.
10:45 AM – 11:00 AM
Break
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
General Session – Key Trends Facing Contractors
Brian Moore
Partner at FMI Corporation
Brian Moore consults with contractors on various strategic, organizational and operational issues. His primary focus is the identification of future construction trends, market conditions and competitive issues that impact strategic decisions. He works with businesses to achieve their goals with organizational capabilities that align with their strategies.
Brian is an expert in heavy civil construction and contracting issues, helping produce FMI’s Heavy Civil Construction Index and writing extensively on the sector. He is a sought-after advisor on trends affecting the industry, strategic planning and ways heavy civil companies can optimize their businesses.
Before joining FMI, Brian was a business developer with a nationwide, environmental consulting and contracting company where he performed market and competitive analysis to support strategic geographic expansion. Brian also worked as commercial sales manager for the Firestone Agricultural Tire Company.
David Kearby
Executive Director at TRIP (The Road Information Program)
Dave Kearby was named executive director of TRIP in January 2020. Dave brings experience in the construction industry and surface transportation field, having served with the Associated General Contractors of Washington for more than a decade as well as chair and board member of TRANSAction, one of Washington State’s first regional transportation partnerships. Besides managing the day-to-day operations of TRIP, Dave serves as a spokesperson to the news media.
Dave has a graduate degree in Business Administration from Auburn University, is a graduate of Central Washington University and is a Certified Association Executive.
This compelling presentation will delve into the latest trends shaping the construction industry and provide valuable insights into the innovations, challenges, and opportunities driving the future of infrastructure development.
12:00 PM – 1:30 PM
Networking Lunch
1:30 PM – 2:30 PM
Surety Implications From Changing Procurement Methods
Ed Reilly
Senior Vice President at American Global, LLC
Ed Reilly is a Senior Vice President at American Global working with contractors both in the Greater New York region as well as firms with a national and global presence. Ed brings over 30 years of legal and surety underwriting expertise providing strategic surety solutions to contractors throughout North America. Ed has been a broker for over a decade and prior to that spent over twenty years on the carrier side in various surety underwriting and legal roles with Chubb. Ed regularly writes articles and presents on various construction and legal topics related to surety to industry organizations including the Associated General Contractors, the Construction Financial Management Association and the ABA Fidelity and Surety Law Committee. Ed holds a J.D. degree cum laude from Seton Hall University School of Law and a B.S. in Economics from New York University
Ken Kubacki
Vice President, Northwest Region Manager at Sundt Construction
Ken Kubacki, Vice President and Northwest Region Manager with Sundt Construction, has 31 years of construction experience. He specializes in alternative procurement for large, complex critical infrastructure projects and has been directly involved in the successful pursuit and project management of $2.5 billion in design-build, progressive design-build, and CMGC contracts in the Western U.S. This experience has provided him the operational and strategic skills necessary to ensure sound fiscal planning and decision-making. Collaborative by nature, he is a proven team builder and a five-time winner of the AGC Marvin M. Black Excellence in Partnering Award.
In his current role as region manager, Ken is responsible for growing Sundt’s civil infrastructure business in the Pacific Northwest states of Oregon and Washington. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Sundt Foundation, the AGC Oregon Columbia Chapter, and as treasurer of AGC of America.
As procurement methods evolve in the construction industry, surety bonding faces new challenges and opportunities. This session will explore how alternative delivery models, such as Design-Build impact surety requirements and risk management. Industry experts will discuss the shifting landscape of surety bonds, how contractors can adapt to these changes, and the implications for project delivery, cost control, and risk mitigation.
Safety Planning for Utility Contractors
Kevin Turner
Principal & Owner at KP Turner & Company
Kevin is the principal and owner of KP Turner and Company, where he provides strategic management consulting to a wide range of clients, helping them optimize their operations, culture, risk, and leadership. Kevin leverages his expertise and credentials in construction/contract management, operational risk, and workplace safety to drive world-class performance and innovation for his clients. He also serves on national and international committees and roundtables to improve industry standards and best practices. His mission is to build a more sustainable future for all by collaborating with team members, clients, and partners who share my vision and values.
KP Turner and Company is dedicated to solving operations and culture issues by providing strategic management consulting to a wide range of clients, including renewable energy, private equity, insurance, construction, and not-for-profits. The company provides M&A due diligence, executive leadership/culture consulting, HSE/Risk management guidance, fractional executive services, and expert witness assignments.
Brandon Anderson
Vice President of Safety at AGC of Missouri
Anderson is certified as an instructor in first aid, CPR and AED (both adult & pediatric) by the National Safety Council. He also is a certified instructor in fall protection, including EM385 24-hr. fall protection competent person, competent person, equipment inspector and end user and is a certified ATSSA traffic control supervisor
With so many different types of utility contracting, it is important to always have a safety plan when preparing for a project. Session attendees will learn the different types of safety plans they should be undertaking for various project types, and safety practices contractors should be doing on their own.
2:30 PM – 3:00 PM
Break
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Alternate Delivery Best Practices
Emily Beardall
Senior Consultant at FMI
Emily Beardall develops creative analytical tools that deliver powerful solutions for FMI’s clients as a senior consultant. She is committed to utilizing these strategic tools to improve company performance and profitability.
In addition to leading client engagements, Emily is responsible for FMI’s quarterly construction activity forecast for Canada and other thought leadership pieces. She an expert in the design/build space and a sought after speaker.
Before joining FMI, Emily was a volunteer consultant for Entrepreneurship Empowerment in South Africa. In that position, she spent a summer working with a general contractor to improve day-to-day operations and to develop a strategic plan to manage Cape Town’s booming market.
Explore best practices for alternative project delivery methods and gain insights on how to optimize project timelines, manage risks, and improve collaboration across stakeholders to ensure successful project outcomes. Whether you’re navigating your first alternative delivery project or looking to refine your approach, this session will offer practical takeaways to enhance your construction strategy.
811 Planning, Best Practices and Working with your States
Randy Norden
Executive Director at Missouri 811
Randy Norden is the Executive Director of Missouri 811 which is the notification center for the Missouri “one call” system. Randy embraces the mission statement of Missouri 811, “Enhancing public safety and preventing damage to underground facilities.” as the hallmark of service to improving the one-call system for the benefit of utilities, excavators, and the general public alike. Randy has worked in the utilities industry, specifically drinking water, wastewater, electric, gas, and broadband, in various capacities since 1994 as a trainer, non-profit executive, and legislatively in both Washington, DC as well as the capitol of Missouri.
In this session, attendees will learn about best practices they may not be aware of throughout utility excavation practices and how to work with your states on incorporating 811 best practices into state laws. Discussion topics will feature real life examples where contractors discuss how they created positive change within their 811 systems and what are some best practices and new advances contractors should be incorporating into their own utility excavation work.
5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Networking Reception
Friday, October 11
7:00 AM – 8:00 AM
Breakfast
8:00 AM – 9:30 AM
Utility Infrastructure Roundtable
Join members from AGC’s Utility Infrastructure Division for a dynamic update and discussion that delves into the world of utility infrastructure construction. During this session, experts, practitioners, and thought leaders from the industry will come together to share the latest from AGC, challenges from around the country, and opportunities to shape the future of utility infrastructure development.
9:30 AM – 9:40 AM
Break
9:40 AM – 11:00 AM
Highway & Transportation Roundtable
Join members from AGC’s Highway and Transportation Division for a dynamic update and discussion that delves into the world of transportation construction. During this session, experts, practitioners, and thought leaders from the industry will come together to share the latest from AGC, challenges from around the country, and opportunities to shape the future of transportation construction.
11:00 AM – 11:15 AM
Break
11:15 AM – 11:20 AM
Closing Remarks
Chair, Utility Infrastructure Division
11:20 AM – 12:00 PM
Closing General Session – PFAS Compliance and Liabilities
Dave Scriven-Young
Senior Counsel at O’Hagan Meyer
As awareness of PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances) contamination grows, it is crucial for construction professionals to understand the regulatory landscape, compliance requirements, and potential liabilities associated with these persistent chemicals.