his year has been an unprecedented time for the Associated General Contractors of Alaska and its members. While AGC has always relied on member input to guide its operations, the connection between members and leadership has never been more vital, as AGC repeatedly heard from members about what was and was not working, as it relates to business practices during a global pandemic, and helped see that those concerns were addressed through state-mandated operating procedures.

While networking has been more challenging than in past years, AGC and the creative members who volunteer their time to help coordinate events have brought virtual learning to workplaces across Alaska.

AGC of Alaska would like to welcome the 2020-2021 Executive Board and all the members of its board of directors as we embark on a new year of service.

Gary Klebs was born in Wisconsin but has called Alaska his home for more than four decades. Klebs started in the construction industry in 1981, working his way up from an entry-level position to general manager. He started KLEBS as a one-man truck and metal fabrication business in 1986. He has been at the helm of KLEBS, leading it forward in growth for the past 26 years to the multi-faceted company that it is today.

Klebs’ roots in the industry and education run deep. He is one of the founders of the Associated Builders & Contractors of Alaska. He is also a member and the past president of the board of directors for the ABC of Alaska. He has a vision for KLEBS to continue to grow and flourish as a family business that reflects the original values of candor, teamwork, ingenuity, and integrity that he originally brought to his one-man operation. Under his direction, KLEBS has supported the community through sponsorship of various local athletic teams, including Aces hockey. KLEBS also encourages employees to volunteer.

Klebs is married and has three children: Matt, Mike, and Amy. His favorite pastimes outside of growing KLEBS into an industry leader include fishing, time at the cabin with his family, and occasionally flying his plane.

Sarah Lefebvre was raised in Montana and moved to Alaska as a young military wife. After working in retail, insurance, and accounting, she discovered a passion for the construction industry and has now been with Exclusive Paving for 20 years. She has held many roles in the company and was a part owner for five years until the Colaska acquisition. University Redi-Mix was acquired in 2006, giving Sarah expanded experience in construction materials.

Sarah serves on the Construction Industry Progress Fund Board, the State of Alaska Worker’s Compensation Board, and is active in the Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce, chairing the Transportation Infrastructure Committee. She enjoys biking (summer and winter), cross country skiing, snowmachining, hunting, fishing, and anything else outdoors. Otherwise, if not in the kitchen, she is likely to be found behind a book or whatever reading material is within reach.

Sarah’s son, Brandon, lives in Montana with his wife and children. Her daughter, Jenifer, lives in Fairbanks with her husband.

Brian Midyett began his career in construction early, working summers with a local contractor in his hometown of Reedsport, Oregon in the 1980s. After a few years of college, he started an apprenticeship with the Carpenters Union and won the Oregon Apprenticeship Contest upon journeying out in 1992. Midyett represented Oregon later that year at the International Apprenticeship Competition. Armed with confidence, a set of tools, and a Journeyman’s card, Midyett sailed a small boat he refitted from Portland, Oregon to Hawaii and hired on with Kiewit, working on building and civil projects while climbing through the ranks to operations manager for the building group.

In 2006, the tug of the ocean and a young family led Midyett back to sailing for a couple years in the Caribbean, traveling as far south as Grenada. In 2008, he returned to the US, sold the family boat, and moved to Alaska, ending the tropical chapter and starting an Alaska adventure. Midyett returned to work and started with CH2M Hill in their federal design-build group and, later, in program management roles on notable projects including Alaska Stand Alone Pipeline, AK LNG, the Anchorage Port Modernization, and the Point Thomson project.

Midyett is currently president of STG Pacific and Brice Builders for the Calista family of companies and is serving his ninth year on the AGC board of directors.

Marcus Trivette was born and raised in Southeast Alaska and moved to Fairbanks to pursue a civil engineering degree from the University of Alaska Fairbanks. During summer breaks he worked for the Brice family, starting in 2004 on remote projects throughout Alaska. After graduation, Trivette continued his employment with Brice holding positions of project engineer, superintendent, and project manager. In 2014, he became the manager of Brice’s construction division.

Trivette holds professional registrations as a civil and environmental engineer and serves on the UAF Civil and Environmental Engineering Advisory Board. He is passionate about promoting the construction industry, education, and the opportunities the industry affords its workforce.

He calls Fairbanks home, along with his wife, Jodee, and their two sons, Owen and Rylan.

Saigen Harris is a lifelong Alaskan who began her path in construction studying construction management at the University of Northern Iowa. Missing the mountains and family back home, Saigen came back to Alaska and graduated from University of Alaska Anchorage in 2012. She began her career at STG, Inc. as executive assistant; her knack for organization and project planning promoted her to a project management position in less than three years. In 2016 she went to work for F&W Construction Company as project manager where she not only manages projects, but manages companywide safety and quality control programs, proposals, and marketing.

Saigen’s involvement with AGC began in high school, participating in national AGC scholarship opportunities and conferences. This involvement sparked her desire to form the AGC of Alaska Construction Leadership Council in 2014. Since the formation of Alaska’s CLC, Saigen has participated as a steering committee member for the AGC National Construction Leadership Council. Saigen currently serves as a member of the AGC National Business Development Forum and is an active board member for AGC of Alaska.

Saigen enjoys spending time in the mountains with her husband Nathan, daughter Magnolia, and their two dogs Monty and Maxwell.

Kirk Currey made his way to Alaska from Almont, Michigan, in 1975 by hitchhiking 3,800 miles. Within his first week of arriving in Anchorage, he found a job as a day laborer, then truck driver and operator. In 1975, Currey got a chance to work on the Trans Alaska Pipeline. From 1975 to 1977, Currey ran just about every piece of equipment used on the pipeline for vertical and civil construction through calls from the Operating Engineers 302. Next, he worked for McDonald Industries in crane and concrete pump truck sales and rentals and operated rental businesses in Anchorage and Prudhoe Bay until 1985. For the past 35 years, Currey has been in sales with Construction Machinery Inc. and Construction Machinery Industrial LLC.

Currey loves people and has been a fierce advocate for contractors across Alaska. He has been involved with AGC and the Alaska Miners Association for more than 20 years and has served on the AGC board of directors for nine years.

Currey’s two children, Kirk Jr. and Rebecca, are his greatest accomplishments, along with his grandchildren, Grace and Claire. His lovely wife, Carrie, has been part of his life for 25 years and is also active with him in the AGC of Alaska community.

Chris Reilly was born and raised in Anchorage and attended Roger’s Park Elementary and Wendler Middle schools before graduating from East High School in 1993. From 1993 to 1995, he attended Oregon State University and from 1996 to 1997, Portland State University. Reilly spent summers working in roofing and the construction industry in Anchorage and Portland.

Reilly returned to Alaska in spring 1997 and began working in the field as a laborer for Rain Proof Roofing. He earned journey roofer status and achieved a foreman position during the summer of 1999. In 2000, he moved into the office as a contract administrator and estimator for residential and commercial projects.

In 2007, Reilly became owner of Universal Roofing LLC where he remained until 2012. In fall 2012, he returned to work at Rain Proof Roofing managing commercial and remote site projects. He is currently vice president and part owner of Rain Proof Roofing. He is active in the National Roofing Contractors Association and AGC of Alaska. He has three sons: Conner, Parker, and Brady.

In addition to the executive board, dozens of other Alaskans are on the full AGC of Alaska board of directors. In total, forty-one people serve as directors of the association, many of whom work on several committees. We’ve included the 2020-2021 list of board members, including nine new voting members elected Dec. 9. If you see a name you recognize, tell them thank you for their service.