AGC of Utah Installs Gary Ellis as 2026 Chair at Annual Convention

Doug Watts, former President of St. George-based Watts Construction, honored with prestigious Eric W. Ryberg Award.
By Bradley Fullmer

If the turnout for the 104th Annual Convention for the Associated General Contractors (AGC) of Utah is any indication of the current state of the construction industry in the Beehive State, 2026 will indeed be a robust year.

The popular industry convention—held January 29-30 at Little America Hotel in downtown Salt Lake—continues to draw room-busting crowds at its events. The AGC's 2026 Awards Breakfast kicked off the convention on January 29, with the Utah chapter handing out nearly 50 awards for innovative projects and dedicated people.

The second day—an all-day event—included entertaining keynote speakers at breakfast and lunch, along with informative breakout sessions in between. The convention was capped by an always-entertaining Installation Banquet, where Gary Ellis, President/CEO of Salt Lake-based Jacobsen Construction, was installed as 2026 AGC of Utah Chairman of the Board.

Brett Nielsen, President of Brigham City-based Whitaker Construction and 2025 AGC of Utah Chairman, thanked AGC's staff of 13 for their efforts to elevate the association, and highlighted the work of the Construction Learning Committee (CLC), which aims to cultivate the next generation of construction industry leaders.

"Earlier today, I made a comment that the generation that's coming into our industry today is about 20% of our population, but they are 100% of our future," said Nielsen. "We owe it to them to make sure we're providing the same tools, the guidance, the leadership that we received as we were coming up in the industry."

Ellis followed with an initial plug for Nielsen, who is in line to serve as the AGC of America's 2030 President—a first for the Utah chapter.

"We're excited to share Brett and his wisdom and terrific leadership to the entire country with regard to our industry—he'll do a great job and carry Utah in his heart," said Ellis.

Ellis said he never imagined working in the construction industry, thinking he'd rather be a river running guide or physical therapist. Ultimately, he pursued accounting, earning a Master of Accounting from Provo-based Brigham Young University in 1995 and spending the first five years of his career as a Senior Auditor for KPMG in Salt Lake. He was hired in December 2000 at Jacobsen Construction as a Financial Controller, later ascending to his present title of President/CEO in January 2021.

"The amount of construction experience I had before I landed at Jacobsen Construction was two weeks sweeping floors at a residential construction site," said Ellis. "I never imagined I would be part of the construction industry, but it's been life-changing for me. Our theme for the convention this year is Building What Matters—I wanted to do something that mattered [...] I wanted to be part of growing something, something I could put my arms around and say, 'wow, look what we just did together'. That's really what my motivation was when I found the construction industry."

During the first five years of his career at a large corporate firm, Ellis said the gig lacked fulfillment. Joining Jacobsen opened his eyes to a new world, one he quickly gained a true passion for.

"My kids are sick and tired of me pointing out every [Jacobsen] building as we go up and down I-15, I-80—I know, I'm preaching in the choir. There are incredible things that we do at Jacobsen; quite often, we talk about the 'wow factor'. That is what we have in this group. It is the wow factor, being able to [bask] in the pride we feel."

Ellis also thanked his team at Jacobsen for believing in the AGC's mission and recognizing the importance of giving back to the industry.

"I'm indebted to Ted [Jacobsen] and his family for what they've created at Jacobsen. The day I was asked [...] to take over as President, my very first phone call was to Ted Jacobsen [...] to let him know that I commit to making sure his family name is known in good standing in this marketplace."

From Left to Right: Brett Nielsen, President of Whitaker Construction and 2025 AGC of Utah Chairman, passes the “hammer” to Ellis; Annie Howell, President of Watts Construction, accepts the Eric W. Ryberg Award on behalf of her father, Doug Watts; Ibi Guevara of Hunt Electric was honored with AGC’s “Service to the Industry” award; Doug Watts with the Ryberg Award.

Watts Truly Honored to Receive Ryberg Award

When Doug Watts took over from his father, Richard, as the second-generation leader of St. George-based Watts Construction in 2010, he honestly wasn't sure whether the then-42-year-old general contractor would survive the Great Recession, which hit Southern Utah particularly hard.

"It was very difficult," recalled Watts, 69. "I had [Watts current CEO] Chris Boudrero (Watts' nephew) working for another firm for a year because we didn't have any work. I kept [Watts President] Annie (Howell) because she's my daughter, and we had a little backlog to get us through to 2010. In 2012, it started getting a little better [...], but I remember sitting in AGC board meetings, thinking, ‘I'm not sure how long I stay on like this.’"

Watts credited former AGC President/CEO Rich Thorn for instilling confidence in him and allowing him to serve on the AGC Board, including Chairman in 2015.

In 2014, the company turned the corner and started gradually hiring back full-time staff, and over the next decade Watts, along with Howell and Boudrero, guided the company to record heights, including annual revenues of $65 million in 2022, and $62 million in 2023, Watts' last year as President before retiring in December, a few months after the dedication of the Washington County Administration Building, one of the most significant projects in Watts Construction's history.

Watts continues to keep close tabs on the company, and raves about the progress being made under the leadership of Annie and Chris. He's enjoying retirement and is still a bit wistful about his career in construction, which spanned 50 years.

"Most of the time I'm thinking about the kids and interacting with them about the business and their success," said Watts, ever-proud of Watts Construction's 40-plus-year history building Southern Utah. Watts referenced a video made for the AGC Convention, in which he was standing on a bluff overlooking St. George.

"You could point to every intersection and see something we had built," he said. "That is cool—a lot of great history there."

Watts said beyond the Washington County Administration Building, he's particularly proud of the Washington County Senior Citizens Center and the Washington County Children's Justice Center. He also referenced the Shops at Zion on River Road—building in the early 1990s—and the Promenade retail development as key projects during the company's first decade in St. George.

"It's hard for me to comprehend my career being 'over' and looking back on it like I'm an old man," said Watts. "I've been in this business a long time. It's amazing to see how much work is going on here. Back in the day, we made a decent enough living to get the business to a point where we could turn it over to the kids. It's been a fantastic success—they're doing just great."

New AGC Staff Additions

The AGC of Utah announced a major staff change, with the hiring of Cindy Powell as its new District Manager for Southern Utah. Powell brings more than 25 years of combined experience in construction, marketing, and operations, along with a strong understanding of the region's growth and the needs of its contractors and communities.

Powell began her career in the construction industry, where she owned and operated a residential construction company in Northern Utah for more than two decades. During that time, she built a reputation for relationship-driven leadership, efficient operations, and community-focused work. Her hands-on industry experience provides a practical perspective on the challenges contractors face and the collaboration required to support a thriving construction environment.

She later worked at Utah Tech University in the athletic department, managing business operations and special events, supporting day-to-day operations and major initiatives during a period of significant change for the university. Her time there coincided with the institution's transition to NCAA Division I and a university name change and rebrand.

Powell holds a Bachelor of Marketing and Communications from Utah Tech University and is known for her strength in building authentic relationships, improving processes, and connecting organizations with their communities.

"Construction plays a critical role in the continued growth and stability of Southern Utah," Powell said. "Our region is experiencing rapid population growth, increasing workforce demands, and the logistical realities that come with building in a desert environment."

In her role as District Manager, Powell will focus on strengthening AGC of Utah's relationships across Southern Utah, supporting contractors and industry partners, and expanding workforce and community initiatives throughout the region.

The AGC also announced the hiring of Blaine Cantwell as its new Workforce Development Specialist, strengthening the association's efforts to connect Utah's growing construction industry with the skilled workforce needed to sustain it.

Cantwell grew up in Davis County and graduated from Northridge High School in 2020. He is currently completing his degree at Weber State University, with plans to graduate in spring 2027. Prior to joining AGC, Cantwell spent five years at America First Credit Union, including the past two years working in Human Resources as a Recruiting Specialist. In that role, he focused heavily on workforce development—partnering with educators, students, and job candidates to build talent pipelines within the organization.

In addition to his professional background, Cantwell has spent the last five years serving as an Assistant Coach for a high school debate team, a role that reflects his passion for mentorship, education, and developing young talent.

"The need for skilled construction workers in Utah is real and immediate," Cantwell said. "Construction companies, educators, and legislators have all recognized that the industry is growing faster than the workforce needed to support it. I believe AGC of Utah can play a critical role in bringing those groups together, and I'm excited to help strengthen the future of Utah's construction industry."

In his new role, Cantwell will work closely with educators, students, contractors, and industry partners to expand workforce development initiatives, support career pathways, and help address labor shortages across Utah's construction sector.

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