AGC of Utah 2025 Convention

Whitaker Construction President Brett Nielsen Takes Over as AGC of Utah Chairman;, is in line to become the first Utahn to serve as AGC of America Chair in 2030; former Chair Mike Kurz of Staker Parson presented with Ryberg Award.

The Associated General Contractors (AGC) of Utah successfully hosted its 103rd Annual Convention January 23-24 at Little America Hotel in downtown Salt Lake, a popular event that brought together A/E/C industry leaders, professionals, and stakeholders for two days of celebration, education, and networking.

The convention highlights the outstanding achievements of Utah's construction industry and provides valuable insights into emerging trends shaping the economically impactful sector, along with the announcement of new chapter leaders and board members for the 2025 season.

Brett Nielsen, President of Brigham City-based Whitaker Construction, who has served on the AGC of Utah board since 2017, most recently as National Governor, was installed as 2025 Chairman, taking over the reins of the venerable association from Slade Opheikens, President of Ogden-based R&O Construction. In addition, Nielsen is in line to become the first Utahn to serve as AGC of America President in 2030.

"What an honor to be standing here, to be in front of a group of people I have the utmost respect for," said Nielsen at Friday night's Installation Banquet. "It's still surreal to me to be here and know that I'm getting the opportunity to work with a group of people that I'm so passionate about. This chapter is truly one of the finest chapters in all of America."

Nielsen started as a Laborer at Whitaker Construction in 1992, gradually climbing the company ladder until taking over in 2021 as President of the powerhouse municipal/utility contractor, the first non-Whitaker to lead the firm. The firm cracked the $288 million mark in 2024 in annual revenues, a notable increase from $109 million in 2018.

Nielsen's introduction to the AGC was unassuming, attending the packed annual summer golf tournament and then his first convention in the late '90s.

"I saw it as more a networking opportunity, primarily with other Whitaker employees, vendors, and occasionally competitors," he said. His eyes were opened to AGC's real value when the chapter hosted a Young Constructors Forum in 2000, which is the predecessor to the Construction Leadership Committee (CLC).

"I remember meeting other young contractors from throughout the country, and discussing the nuances of our markets, type of interstate pavements [this is when the original I-15 was constructed pre-Olympics], margins to the segment of construction, etc." he recalled. "I vividly remember a general contractor telling me their margin and how low it was compared to our underground utility segment, and I for the life of me couldn’t understand why a contractor would subject themselves to such headaches for such a low margin."

In 2013, Nielsen became Chair of the Utility Infrastructure Committee for the Utah chapter and attended an AGC of America (AGCA) meeting in Phoenix later that year related to highway and utility contractor issues, something he called "an eye-opening experience." It was held at the posh Biltmore Resort and didn't know anybody. At the opening reception, he was standing alone when several individuals—including Toby Crow, AGC of South Dakota Chapter Executive, and his wife Liz—approached him to strike up conversation. They in turn introduced Nielsen to Scott Berry, who at the time was Director of AGC's National Utility Infrastructure Division, which led to dinner with long-time AGC CEO Steve Sandherr and several other AGC of America staff, along with fellow contractor members.

"The rest is history," said Nielsen, who has been a member of the AGC of America Utility Infrastructure Division since then, including a stint from 2018-2020 on the AGCA Board. "I'm a relationship guy. They are important to me, and AGC provides the platform for me to collaborate with like-minded individuals to work on being informed, educating, and ultimately protecting not only our company the livelihoods of our employee-owners, but our industry. The benefits that AGC brings are real and measurable. AGC members are the 'Voice of the Construction Industry' both on the hill here in Utah, as well as in Washington, D.C. The issues that face our industry are complex, and those who want to exploit regulation, slow growth, and leverage legislative change to benefit their personal or industry interests cannot be overstated. We as contractors need a collective voice and for the Construction Industry, that voice is the AGC."

Nielsen talked about the unique relationship that forms between AGC member firms, and how they work together for the good of the entire industry, despite competing against each other weekly to land new projects.

"It makes me proud for what we accomplish here within this state," he said. "We come together, we solve tough problems related to our industry and we compete fiercely against one another." He mentioned competing that week head-to-head with Orem-based W.W. Clyde & Co., led by its President, Dustin Olson, on two sizable projects. Each team won a job, and subsequently lost a job.

Said Nielsen: "I reached out to Dustin and congratulated him and told him it was a hell of a bid—he congratulated me as well [...] and followed up with the statement: 'If I'm going to lose to a contractor, I want it to be someone like you'. Many of us do that day-in and day-out. To be a part of a group that can accomplish what we accomplish, and then to turn around and be able to come to an event like this and celebrate all our hard work, is something that is astonishing to me."

Nielsen said recruiting and retaining new skilled talent for the industry will be one of his top priorities this year and encouraged AGC firms to get involved with the Construction Leadership Committee (CLC).

"I'm passionate about the future of people in our industry," he said. "I realize we're not the young spring chickens that we once were. It's our duty that we are setting the stage and making sure we're prepared to continue what we do. We all have great people who have gotten us where we're at today—we want to make sure we're bringing [new people] along."

Nielsen closed his remarks by thanking his immediate family, including wife Hilary, daughter Emery, his mother, Shirley Harding, and mother-in-law, Ginny Butikofer, in addition to the Whitaker family and fellow co-workers.

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Kurz Earns Ryberg Award

Michael Kurz, former President of Utah/Arizona for Ogden-based Staker Parson Companies and 2017 AGC of Utah Chairman, was presented with the Eric C. Ryberg Award for his lifetime contributions to the industry.

"We deal with problems every single day and with every problem comes an opportunity," said Kurz in his video tribute highlighting his 40-plus-year career. "Those challenges are really what identify us and move us forward. The exciting thing about the construction industry is it becomes very inclusive; we're open to listening to people. We never know when the next great idea is coming from and those are just wonderful things for the development of people."

Kurz said he entered the construction industry by chance via a friend, starting out with Staker Paving in the early 1980s as a laborer. Having grown up on a farm, he learned the value of hard work from his parents, which set the tone for his career.

"There was nothing given to us, ever," said Kurz, who said he entertained several career options before realizing he simply loved working in construction, remarking that the industry allows a person to see what they've accomplished every day.

He praised his family for their support and patience as he worked long hours, often times out of town on remote jobs. He gradually progressed within the company, saying that progress often comes via learning from the mistakes you make along the way. He's impressed with how much the industry has grown in recent years via technology, including the automation of various processes and procedures, and said he worked on more projects than he can count, including the Utah State Capitol Restoration, the Salt Lake Temple Restoration, and the West Davis Corridor highway project.

"When I think about the contracting community, it is a really, almost a family feeling, as we've all grown together and worked together," said Kurz. "I've seen so much growth over the years, it's just been a fabulous journey for me."

"I'm thrilled that Mike has been recognized with the prestigious Eric C. Ryberg Award from AGC of Utah," said Scott Parson, President, CRH Americas Materials and 2023 AGC of Utah Chair. "Mike represents the very best of the construction industry and embodies AGC's values of skill, integrity and responsibility. While Mike has helped build a legacy of projects across Utah that benefit Utahns every single day, his most enduring and impactful legacy is his family both at home and across Staker Parson Materials & Construction. We are knitted together as a "family of families" because of Mike's stellar leadership."

Building CLC a Top

Priority in 2025

Nielsen has made it no secret that strengthening the Construction Leadership Committee is at the top of his agenda. In 2022, AGC of Utah joined nearly half of the 88 AGC of America chapters in forming local CLC chapters. The CLC was established to fulfill the need to cultivate the next generation of leaders in the construction industry as well as introducing these future leaders to AGC both at the chapter and national levels. CLC creates a conduit for participants to network, exchange ideas about their careers, the industry, serve local communities, and continue their education for both their professional development and leadership skills.

"I am passionate about growing the leadership and talent of our industry, and I will be working with our chapter’s President/CEO Joey Gilbert and Director of Communications and Member Engagement Parker Davis to advance our chapter’s CLC activation," he added. Sage Thorpe of Whitaker Construction was named Chairman of AGC of Utah’s CLC and will begin holding committee meetings in March.

2025 Convention Shows

Appetite to Meet and

Network Remains Strong

AGC executive staff made a conscious decision five years ago to streamline the annual convention, which has been well-received by member firms. Each of the main events were packed, a testament to a strong overall program (with tons of top shelf raffle prizes), and the industry's desire to get together, mingle, and talk shop.

"The changes that have been made the past few years have been exciting, with the energy of the convention being off the charts," said Joey Gilbert, AGC of Utah President/CEO. "We had an incredible turnout, with members from all sectors of the industry coming together to share ideas, discuss challenges, and celebrate successes."

Gilbert continued: "The variety of sessions this year was a game-changer, offering fresh, actionable insights on everything from cutting-edge technology such as AI to company emergency preparedness. What really stood out was the sense of unity—there's a genuine excitement about the direction our industry is headed, and AGC is eager to be part of shaping it."

AGC Awards Breakfast

Recognizes Projects, People

The AGC of Utah convention kicked off January 23 with a prestigious awards breakfast honoring the recipients of the chapter's Annual Awards. This year, 39 awards were presented, recognizing excellence across various project categories and individual contributions to the industry.

Major project awards included: Building Project of the Year to Salt Lake-based Jacobsen Construction for the Primary Children's Hospital Larry H. & Gail Miller Family Campus in Lehi; Transportation/Utility Infrastructure Project of the Year to Lehi-based Gerber Construction for the CWP—North Shore Terminal Reservoir Phase II.

Firm honors were given to Salt Lake-based MHTN Architects as Outstanding Architect of the Year; Midvale-based Michael Baker International earned Consultant/Engineering Firm of the Year; Metropolitan Water District of Salt Lake & Sandy was tabbed as Owner of the Year.

Day two of the convention (January 24) was packed with insightful sessions and opportunities for professional growth. A Service/Supplier Expo showcasing new industry products and innovations was followed by a Kick-Off Breakfast featuring keynote speaker James Spellos, a recognized expert in artificial intelligence (AI) and technology trends.

Attendees then had the opportunity to participate in multiple breakout sessions, covering topics such as: AI's Top 40–Navigating the New Wave Of Business Tools (James Spellos); Achievement Now–Elevate Your Success! (Tyler Enslin); Adapt Your Leadership to Changing Environments (Spencer Horn); Mental Health Crisis in Construction (James P. Smith of BYU's Civil and Construction Engineering department); The Brand Blueprint: Crafting a Cohesive Identity (Julie Warnick); Emergency Preparedness (Be Ready Utah).

The AGC Membership Luncheon featured an engaging presentation by Tyler Enslin on Mastering Your Memory, equipping attendees with practical techniques to enhance focus, recall names, and improve professional performance.

The convention's closing Installation Banquet, with the theme Mission: ImPossible, celebrated AGC of Utah's 103-year legacy with an exciting night of networking, recognition, and a shared vision for the future, with Opheikens passing the "AGC Hammer" to Nielsen, marking the beginning of his term as Chairman of the Board.

As the association looks forward to another year of progress and innovation, the insights and connections gained at this year's convention will help contribute to the continued success of Utah's construction sector.

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