No one becomes a skilled builder alone. Careers are built through mentors, relationships, hard work, and partnerships within the industry. For three Sundt employee-owners in the Northwest, that growth is happening through meaningful involvement with the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) on a local and national level.
 

Photo provided by Associated General Contractors of America (AGC)
 

The AGC is the leading association for the construction industry with over 27,000 member firms. It acts as a major voice for contractors and provides education and services to improve the construction industry. Through local chapters and national committees, AGC supports workforce development, safety, advocacy, education, and leadership growth.

This year the AGC National Convention was held in Orlando, Florida, and Sundt employee-owners attended to represent Sundt and contribute to the sharing of knowledge and best practices to shape the future of construction on a national level.

 

Developing construction’s next leaders

Project Superintendent Paul Rovianek first got involved with AGC in 2016 by attending AGC Construction Leadership Council (CLC) events. By 2018, he had joined the local committee, where he served for several years.

CLC gives early and mid-career professionals a place to build relationships, learn how AGC works, and find opportunities to serve through committees, events, and industry initiatives.

“The Construction Leadership Council really focuses on up-and-coming leaders. It’s a pretty good place to start with young people in the industry,” said Rovianek.

For many members, the Construction Leadership Council acts as a first step to learn more about AGC and then can lead to more leadership within the organization.

Project Manager Briana De Kalb learned of the AGC while attending Oregon State University, where she studied civil engineering and attended events hosted by the school’s AGC student chapter. Those events introduced her to contractors, internships, and the construction career path that eventually led her to Sundt. Other employee-owners encouraged her to get involved with the local Oregon-Columbia AGC chapter.

A both in-person and virtual events throughout the year, such as speaker meetings for young professionals with topics covering project management to leadership. During her year as chair, the CLC group started Construction Leadership Council Day at the Capitol, giving an opportunity for members to meet with AGC’s legislative teams in Salem, Oregon to learn about their efforts and ways to get involved. She also connected the AGC CLC with Project LEDO in Portland to bring construction to a fifth grade after-school program at Lents Elementary. The program introduced children to construction and gave them hands-on experience with building model size concrete canoes. Over the course of eight weeks, different members of the steering committee would teach a class related to construction.

“One of the reasons why I started with CLC was because I wasn’t sure what I wanted to get involved with or where I fit in within the larger AGC. But it was a really good intro and less intimidating because you are around other people in a similar stage of their career,” said De Kalb.

 

 

Going national

The national convention gave the group a wider view of AGC’s work and the people leading it. This was Project Manager Joshua Smith and De Kalb’s first time attending the national convention. Smith joined a national level committee in spring 2026 to take a more active role in the industry and build relationships throughout the country with people that he would otherwise not likely be able to meet.

At the national convention Rovianek and De Kalb participated in a working group focused on helping AGC members understand how to stay involved after they first show interest.

The working group, CLC Pathways, is creating a one-pager to articulate value, outcomes, and pathways into AGC involvement. The group’s mission is to address feedback that people engage with AGC and then feel lost on how to stay involved. The path hasn’t been released yet, but it will have different ways to go from student involvement to local CLC participation, committee service, and national leadership. The goal is to make that path clearer, so people continue to participate after their first AGC event.

“This is my first time going to AGC National… it was eye-opening and inspiring to go and be surrounded by people who are equally as passionate about the construction industry. You can have a real impact on the construction community at a national level,” said De Kalb.

 

 

Supporting service

Industry involvement takes time, and AGC meetings, events, and committee work often compete with project demands and other commitments. But it also allows our skilled builders to improve and make an impact on the industry.

“It’s not only a commitment; it’s an investment in your career,” said Rovianek.

Ken Kubacki, Regional Manager Pacific Northwest Transportation Group, has been involved with AGC for more than 20 years and encourages team members to find ways to serve. He sees AGC as a way for employee-owners to grow as leaders and build stronger industry connections.

“Seeing Josh, Paul, and Briana get engaged and starting to get the next generation going nationally is great to see. Everybody thinks about the local chapters, but getting involved nationally is big, and most people tend to forget about the national component,” said Kubacki.

AGC leadership is one way employee-owners serve beyond the jobsite by showing up locally, stepping into national roles, and helping others find their next step.

“It really has impacted my career. Some of the relationships I’ve started building with people across the country, not only at the same stage in their career as myself, but also at higher levels. I get to learn from them and bring ideas back to the local chapter,” said Rovianek.

To learn more about getting involved with your local AGC chapter, visit https://www.agc.org/