Understanding “The Why”

s I have progressed through my career, I have had the opportunity to be immersed in the family of the Associated General Contractors, or AGC, of Alaska. This immersion has inspired my passion and love for Alaska’s construction industry while also fueling my career and professional trajectory. AGC of Alaska has provided professional partnerships and allies, some of whom are now lifelong friends who attend birthday parties, weddings, baby showers, and non-work-related trips. The support from these relationships helps strengthen, challenge, and encourage me as I progress in my career, participate in AGC committee meetings, and lead our local AGC of Alaska chapter as president.

The power of being involved in AGC is multi-faceted: it has impacted my life and ultimately the lives of others on so many levels. My love for the industry and the people that lead it inspires my conversations with people in school who are developing their goals and what their futures will look like. It has allowed me to mentor my peers and encourage them to try a career path in construction, a path they wouldn’t have otherwise chosen.

One of my goals as an executive board member has been to engage our public policy makers and educate them with my own tangible “boots on the ground” perspective as a small Alaska general contracting business. Being involved in AGC allows me to sit at the table with our local elected officials in Juneau and Washington, D.C. to discuss how their decisions on potential bills impact our industry and businesses here at home, no matter how large or small we may be. Our AGC of Alaska platform provides us all with a powerful opportunity to have our collective voice heard to affect real policy changes and decisions in OUR favor, to provide jobs and build Alaska.

It allows me to build relationships with my competitors so I can call them and ask, “How are you handling the implementation of Ballot Measure 1?” It puts me in contact with Alaska’s most reputable and knowledgeable subcontractors, vendors, banking, and insurance carriers that help me to build better, smarter, and more profitable projects.

I occasionally hear that people have a hard time investing time in AGC because they don’t understand “The Why.” They don’t see the value. But this is “The Why,” this is “The Value.”

Our AGC of Alaska chapter has made tremendous strides in reorganizing our committees, which are at the heart of what AGC does for our industry. These groups take ideas and turn them into real-world solutions. The Workforce Development Committee has racked their brains on how to get students interested in our industry to face the ongoing challenges of workforce availability. But the answer is simple: we need more people ready and able to volunteer an hour or two of their time talking to students.

Involvement doesn’t need to be complicated. It can be simple. But I can guarantee you will find value and you will find benefits. Active participation ensures our industry remains competitive, innovative, and united in facing the challenges of Alaska’s unique environment. “The Why” is simple: when you get involved in AGC of Alaska, you help build more than projects, you help build the future of Alaska.