lexibility and adaptation are skills the Associated General Contractors, or AGC, of Alaska team and members have honed well during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, when COVID-19 case counts were high in October, the annual AGC of Alaska conference was shifted to a two-part event, with a round of meetings held virtually in November and an in-person group of meetings scheduled for January.

Another virus spike in January led the group to cancel the main social event, the well-attended Dinner/Dance, but all other planned events were held at the Captain Cook Hotel in Anchorage, and members repeatedly said they appreciated being able to gather in person.

And gather they did. Although event organizers said it wasn’t as well-attended as past conferences, many AGC members were present at the Hotel Captain Cook from the opening presentation and mixer Thursday afternoon until the President’s Welcome reception Friday evening. Attendees celebrated the winners of the Excellence in Safety awards during the ConocoPhillips Excellence in Safety Breakfast, attended a management symposium with guest speaker Jeff Kortes, cheered on those who won the Parker, Smith & Feek Excellence in Construction awards, and attended one of several options for afternoon learning.

While AGC staff—and likely, most members—are looking forward to the possibility of a return to normal conference scheduling next year, this two-part hybrid conference was an inventive—and appreciated—way to bridge the gap.