2022 Conference a Great Success

hat a difference a year makes! 2022 saw us back in person for our traditional conference and dinner dance celebration. The energy for both events was off the charts as members from across the state gathered for the week. We appreciate our members’ support of this important annual program that provides news and information for hundreds of Alaskans working in the building industry (not to mention a heaping portion of fun).

I am proud to report that, following the conference, it is clear our membership is fired up. The desire to get involved with our chapter spiked in the days since. My phone has chimed with texts and rung nonstop with offers from members eager to increase their involvement with Associated General Contractors, or AGC, of Alaska. We welcome this trend and will gladly take everyone up on these generous offers. If you or your employees are looking for opportunities to get engaged with chapter activities, drop me a line. Whether you want to advocate for the industry with elected officials, help young people enter the field, or recruit new members, we can find a role for you.

We are so grateful to our all-volunteer board and the work they do to keep AGC strong. Our newly elected 2023 board members are in place and ready to keep pushing the construction industry forward. We all owe them a collective “thank you” for giving freely of their time and expertise; the strength of our organization relies on a high-functioning board that supports member priorities.

Keeping our elected officials informed and holding them accountable is one of AGC’s biggest assets. During our recent conference, Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Jason Brune, Acting Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Akis Gialopsos, and Department of Transportation and Public Facilities Commissioner Ryan Anderson updated the board on the multi-agency effort to collaborate on infrastructure initiatives in Alaska. Rural Alaska is the focus, specifically the attempts to fulfill a “one dig” principle of multi-faceted construction objectives. This includes enhanced Village Safe Water, an enhanced rural airport and Statewide Transportation Improvement Program, or STIP, and broadband funding and permitting. We appreciate the open door offered to us by Governor Mike Dunleavy’s office and will follow the upcoming legislative session very closely.

Speaking of the legislature, many new faces will arrive in Juneau for the start of the legislative session in mid-January. Fortunately, because of our meetings with legislative candidates throughout the summer and fall, many of them are already familiar with AGC’s priorities and the impact of the construction industry in Alaska. We won’t take anything for granted, however, and will be active during the session to ensure all legislators, new and returning, understand how important our industry is to the state economy. Our annual Legislative Fly-In is scheduled for March 7 and 8, where we will convene in Juneau to visit with lawmakers face-to-face during the height of session. If you would like to join us, mark your calendar and watch your email for details.

Former AGC President Sarah Lefebvre & Vice President Brian Midyett joined me in our nation’s capital this fall for the AGC National Chapter Leadership Conference. We met with Senators Dan Sullivan and Lisa Murkowski, as well as newly elected Congresswoman Mary Peltola. Meeting with our elected officials maintains AGC’s reputation as a resource and keeps them informed of the critical issues facing Alaska’s construction industry. In addition, we met with our fellow AGC chapter leaders from across the country to coordinate efforts on our top federal issues.

Here’s what we are working on:

• Support increases in investing in and flexibilities for workforce education
• Support streamlined permitting reform
• Oppose government-mandated project labor agreements

I would be remiss not to remind members to support our collective work by renewing your membership. Our strength lies in our membership roster, and it helps us keep the momentum we’ve built in 2022 moving at full speed into 2023.

All of us at AGC of Alaska love the work we do and appreciate the trust placed in us to serve as the voice for Alaska’s building industry. We believe in the industry, especially our membership. Stay involved, stay engaged, and hold us accountable as we continue to advocate for Alaska’s construction industry. We are receptive to member feedback and input, so reach out anytime.